The Caledonia City Council met in regular session Monday, March 28, from 6-7:44 p.m. at city hall. Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council members in attendance included Robert “Bob” Klug, Amanda Ninneman, Mayor DeWayne “Tank” Schroeder, David Fitzpatrick, and Brad Rykhus.
Also present were Houston County Commissioner Bob Burns, Brent (BJ) Augedahl, Peter Molling, Public Works/Zoning Director Casey Klug, Clerk/Administrator Adam Swann, and Finance Officer Stephanie Mann.
Members approved the minutes from the March 14 regular city council meeting. In addition, the eight items on the consent agenda were approved in one single motion.
Houston County Commissioner Bob Burns appeared before the council to discuss the county’s plans to make improvements to the parking lot on the west side of the courthouse this summer. Burns explained, “We would like to start the process of getting city approval to encroach on the south side of Washington Street. We would like to eliminate the parking on that side and move the sidewalk out, so it is in line with the doors to the courthouse. The sidewalk will go all the way to the courthouse doors, creating a handicap entry to the courthouse. The road will still be open, but drivers won’t be able to access the back parking lot. Drivers will come down Marshall street and around the courthouse and out to Kingston Street; drivers will not be able to access the back parking lot. Because the sidewalk will go straight across to the courthouse, there will not be any parking on the south side. There will still be parking on the northside.”
Finance Officer Mann reported that the auditors have been in the office conducting fieldwork and will attend the first council meeting in May to present their findings. Mann mention, “Everything went well, fieldwork and whatnot, they are moving along. There were not any real issues.”
Clerk/Administrator Swann reported, the Bluff Country Ominium bike race is moving forward. The race will take place on Saturday, April 20, in Caledonia and the county roads on Sunday, May 1. In addition, Swann mentioned that youth baseball and softball registration (ages 9U-14U) has started.
Caledonia is switching from garbage bags to totes. The council approved the 10-year proposed contract with Richard’s Sanitation to collect residential solid waste. The cost for the 65-gallon trash tote is $10.66 per month, picked up weekly. The 95-gallon recycling tote is $7.50 per month and is picked up every other week. Council member Fitzpatrick confirmed that the diesel fuel surcharge requested by Richard’s Sanitation was standard.
The first hearing addressed the application by Brent Augedahl for a 30’ setback variance to construct a 30’x50’ addition to the existing building on the property at 312 N. Ramsey Lane. The property is in an I-1 industrial zoning district, resulting in a setback of five feet. Augedahl was in attendance to answer questions from council members and the property’s neighbor, Peter Molling. After returning from the public hearing, the council unanimously approved Augedahl’s application and his request to install a 2,000 gallon holding tank in the new addition.
After the second public hearing, the council approved ordinance 2022-01: An Interim Ordinance Establishing a Study Period and Moratorium for a Period of up to Twelve Months on Developments in the Agricultural (AG) District.
The council went into closed meeting at 7:20 p.m. and reconvened the regular meeting at 7:36 p.m. Mayor Schroeder explained that during the closed session, the council had discussed negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Local 49 to appoint an interim clerk/administrator. Schroeder affirmed that the council had not approved an agreement or voted on one during the closed session.
Announcements
Bring your fluorescent and HID bulbs to the Caledonia recycling center in Caledonia on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Officers Storm Davis and Kaleb Fish will be sworn-in on April 11 at 6 p.m.
The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization (LBAE) meeting is scheduled on Monday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at the beginning of the Caledonia City Council meeting.
The next regularly scheduled Caledonia City Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 11 at 6 p.m. at the Caledonia City Hall, 231 E. Main Street, Caledonia. The meeting is open to the public.
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