Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
The Spring Grove City Council met Tuesday, September 21, from 6-7:14 p.m. at the Spring Grove Communications meeting room.
Council members in attendance were Mayor Scott Solberg, Travis Torgerson, Karen Folstad, and Chad Rohland. Trent Turner was absent. The council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda.
Mayor Solberg led the council and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
There was no public comment.
The council moved to approve the actual utility rates. City Clerk/Administrator Julie Amundson will publish them in the paper.
Amundson told the council that the task they assigned her last month regarding junk vehicles in the city was impossible. Amundson and the city attorney, Greg Schieber, met and reviewed the junk vehicle ordinance. Following are the exceptions to the junk vehicle ordinance that the city clerk/administrator and city attorney came up with that would be considered lawn art:
•Be 45 years or older;
•Be placed on a concrete or gravel parking pad or on top of any other weed barrier that prohibits plant growth underneath and immediately around the vehicle;
•Be maintained and cared for in a manner that makes the vehicle visually appealing or charming to the average passerby;
•Not have significant body damage beyond the customary wear and tear for the vehicle’s age;
•Not harbor wild animals, pests, vermin, noxious insects, or noxious weed;
•Not be within the public right-of-way or positioned in a manner to be a visual obstruction at intersection;
•Include at least one of the following characteristics: a.) Perennial flowers or shrubs on or immediately surrounding the vehicle; b.) Annual flower displays on or immediately surrounding the vehicle; c.) Seasonal displays on or immediately surrounding the vehicle (i.e., flowers during the summer, pumpkins or cornstalks during the fall, garland in the winter); d.) Rock garden or retaining wall landscaping around the vehicle. In addition, a property is not allowed more than one vehicle under this exception.
Amundson shared with the council that the State statutes say the city may make changes to the ordinance and the city attorney is comfortable with it. After hearing from Chief of Police Paul Folz and an in-depth discussion, the council asked Amundson to contact Schieber with their questions. The council scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, September 28 at 5 p.m. at city hall to decide on the junk vehicle ordinance. Mayor Solberg wants to “get it right instead of getting it done fast.”
The council authorized Mayor Solberg to sign the agreement with Richard Sanitation. Rohland strongly stressed, “People are upset about the totes, but the change from bags to totes was going to happen next year because they cannot hire enough people to pick up the bags.” Information about the totes will be going out next week in the monthly utility bill. Residents can start using the totes October 1.
Torgerson made a motion which was seconded by Solberg to update the solid waste ordinance. The ordinance was written for bags, and the language in the ordinance was updated to reflect totes. The motion was approved.
Luke Fischer, Deputy Director, League of Minnesota Cities, presented the city with the City of Excellence award for the outdoor classrooms project. Fisher remarked, “We see the best.” In addition to the trophy that will have a home in city hall, the city will receive a $1,000 check for innovation and creativity.
Little Gnome asked to take advantage of the commercial rebate offered by the city. The city will reimburse city businesses 50% of material costs. Little Gnome will replace the incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs for a total cost of $2,565.00. After the project is complete, the childcare will be reimbursed $1,282.50. Motion approved to accept their request.
Part-time Spring Grove resident and snowbird Randy Mason spoke up and stated that he does not understand why Richard’s Sanitation gets paid for not doing any work. Mason would like the city to consider a vacation rate. Amundson informed the council that she checked with the surrounding towns, and no one offered vacation rates. No action was taken.
Amundson informed the council that Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Erin Konkely did not make any changes to the budget. Amundson said that the general fund expenses are $1,832,518, the debt service fund is $143,270, local government aid is $462,491 and $966,397 for the general fund expenses from sources other than local government aid and tax levy. Motion by Rohland and seconded by Torgerson to approve the $650,000 proposed levy, Resolution 21-31. The motion was unanimously approved.
Congratulations to the Spring Grove Aquatic Center! Mayor Solberg announced that the Aquatic Center received 2021 Best of the Best Swimming Pool from Fillmore County Journal readers.
The Spring Grove City Council’s next regular meeting is October 19, at 6 p.m. at Spring Grove Communications room 100.