Due to COVID-19, the regular May 19, 2020, Spring Grove City Council meeting was held remotely via Zoom to comply with social distancing policies and practices.
City Council members in attendance included Sarah Schroeder, Karen Folstad, Travis Torgerson, Scott Solberg and Chad Roland.
The Council approved the consent agenda items, including April 21, 2020, regular meeting minutes, claims and accounts, and Resolution 20-27 Accepting Donations for Summer Recreation Program.
Public Hearing
Mayor Schroeder asked for a motion to open the public hearing. Approved. Proposed amended change to Conditional Use Permit for RockFilter Distillery (Christian Myrah), allowing the distillery to stay open until 1 a.m. This change does not mean that the distillery will be open every night until 1 a.m. The Planning and Zoning Committee was okay with it. The Legion was contacted and stated that they are okay with it. There were no public comments. The public meeting was closed. The resolution passed.
Old Business
The only old business on the agenda was the discussion about the design and color scheme of the water tower artwork and an update on funding. The mayor presented two samples of artwork. The council selected option two because the lettering was larger than the lettering on option one. The changes suggested at April’s council meeting were incorporated into the design, making it easier to see the rosemaling. The color of the image is cadet blue, and the text is black.
New Business
Kathy Rosendahl, Music in the Park, presented three options to the Council. (1) Cancel the 2020 Music in the Park, (2) Keep the music and cancel the foodservice, and (3) Keep the music and food service. After a lengthy conversation discussing several different procedures to protect the attendees, the council moved to allow Music in the Park if not barred by the governor. The organizers will not be able to sell food or move inside the fest building in case of rain. The attendees will be notified that they need to bring their lawn chairs, and the organizers will be required to install appropriate signage at places such as playground equipment and picnic tables informing the public that they are not sanitized.
The council spent time discussing whether to open the swimming pool this summer or not. Council members participated in the League of Minnesota Cities webinar regarding suggested procedures for reopening communities. Based on information gleaned from the webinar, the council set a tentative date to open the pool, June 15, which is depending on the governor. June 15 will give maintenance time to make necessary repairs to the pool and for staff to create a COVID-19 plan which is required by the state to open. Public chairs will not be available for swimmers to use, and swimmers will not be able to use the driving board or slides. Concessions will be limited to the sale of pre-packaged food only. Swimmers will need to sign in and out. The city plans on offering private lessons to groups of two or a family depending on the size. Staff will post appropriate signage.
Nothing has changed with overnight parking since the last meeting. Currently, there is one RV parked in Trollskogen Park. The RV is the owner’s primary residence.
The city will offer the softball and baseball program as both sports allow for social distancing. All travel to other communities for games will not happen this summer. The city also agreed to pay a portion of the cost to build two batting cages. The Booster Club will pay approximately half, and the city and school will split the remaining balance.
Playgrounds – Fest Building and Trollskogen – as well as the basketball and tennis courts, will open per the Governor Walz’s executive order 20-56.
The council approved opening the public restrooms and facilities – Fest Building, Concession Stand, and Log Cabin – plus implementing a schedule to clean and disinfect facilities twice a day – once in the morning and once mid-afternoon.
City staff presented a list of potential applicants to hire for the swim center.
The council will need to designate an official newspaper – Resolution 20-29. The official newspaper for Spring Grove can be either the Caledonia Argus or the Fillmore County Journal. The council tabled the decision until the June council meeting, allowing members to talk with community members.
Policies/Ordinances
The following personnel policies (1) Policy Statement 1-00, (2) Organization Chart and Policy 2-00, (3) Family and Medical Leave Policy 03-00, (4) COVID-19 Temporary Federal Leave Policy 03-01, and (5) Funeral Leave Policy 3-05 were approved.
Planning and Zoning
Commission
1.Approval of Storage Building Permit at 100 1st St NW (Ellingson Elevator) – The plan includes the removal of an old building and replaces it with a new building.
2.Call for public hearing on June 16, 2020, for Conditional Use Permit at 500 East Main Street (Fat Pat’s Brew Pub and BBQ).
3.Maple Drive/Josh Myhre Sub Division: a. Approval of Resolution 20-30 Waiver of Sub Division. b. Approval to Allow Native Grasses on Northern Unbuildable Lot – Tabled till the June meeting, so city staff has an opportunity to review the ordinance pertaining to grasses and trees on vacant property and plan on asking Josh Myhre for a plan on the unbuildable lot.
The next regular meeting is June 16, 2020, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Contact City Hall at (507) 498-5221 to be included in remote meetings.