The March 4 Rushford Village Council meeting included discussion on two ordinance changes and the potential hire of a Public Works position. Councilor Travis Link, Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit, and Public Works Supervisor Trenten Chiglo were absent from the meeting.
Ordinance #7 and #2 were reviewed by City Attorney Joe O’Koren. The first relates to mowing, grass and weeds. The council tabled it at the last meeting for further legal review. Ultimately, they added no fines or misdemeanor charges. The two changes are the maximum length of the grass allowed, reduced from eight inches in the current 1999 ordinance to six inches in height, and the time allowed to bring the issue into compliance. Properties out of compliance will receive a letter regarding the issue and steps to remediation within 10 days.
Ordinance #2 specifies the collection of unpaid services and other charges. If the non-compliance issue remains unresolved, city staff will mow it, at the rate of $175 per hour, for man and machine time. If unpaid, the amount would be certified to the property tax rolls. Mowing was specifically added to the ordinance as a service that could see collection. The ordinance was reworded to serve as a catch-all for anything the village might do, according to O’Koren.
Also removed from the ordinance were references to 436.15 and 436.25. Those statute numbers are no longer the same, but removing them has no impact on the proposed ordinance changes. The council set a public hearing for both ordinances on April 1, with the hearing for Ordinance #7 from 6:40-6:50 p.m. and Ordinance #2 from 6:50-7 p.m.
The council also briefly discussed an Alcohol Ordinance. According to O’Koren, the topic came up through the Southeast League of Minnesota Cities and their information.
“We never had a referendum, so we are not a dry city,” stated City Clerk Mary Miner.
“I’ve been going back and forth. The zoning concern was policing,” said O’Koren. Using other municipalities as a reference, he cautioned the village on enacting an ordinance for one class. “We can take no action, but when that issue comes up, we may be asking ourselves why we don’t have something. It’s an issue the village needs to deal with.”
O’Koren further noted a referendum can cause confusion and concern for businesses moving into the village. The state grants licensing to a capped number of businesses in a municipality based on the population.
“There is a section on regulating and how you can control some of this,” continued O’Koren. “As long as there’s a rational basis for denying. The statute is permissive. It says ‘may grant.’ There are some restrictions in zoning,” he stated. “A lot of it wouldn’t apply, but there are some reasonable restrictions.”
Options included sending the ordinance back to Planning and Zoning for further review or the council itself taking it on. The council opted to send the matter back for further review.
“There’s not a burning hole right now to get it done,” added O’Koren.
With spring just around the corner, Miner questioned the council regarding the direction for seasonal, temporary, and/or part-time help for Public Works. She noted there are guidelines regarding the language of the hire. Certain positions are required to include specific benefits. According to Miner, seasonal and temporary positions are not subject to Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) benefits, while part-time is. However, all are subject to Minnesota’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST).
The council tabled the matter so the Personnel Committee could meet with Public Works Supervisor Chiglo to discuss needs. A recommendation will be put forth at the next council meeting.
In other news, 2025 rock bids are due to the village for bid opening on April 15. The last two years have been very different from the typical crushed rock needs for the village, according to Miner and Councilor Rick Ruberg. A milder winter, with frozen road surfaces, means little gravel was lost. However, last year’s mild winter and unfrozen surfaces were hard on the gravel. The village split the bid last year, with bidder approval, awarding both Bruening Rock Products and Milestone Materials a portion of the contract. Bid details will be advertised.
Regarding Public Works, the council approved the purchase of a new pump for the lift station. Recent issues at the station saw both pumps replaced – one already in inventory and one ordered. The new purchase approval is for backup and will be stored in inventory.
With this purchase, Councilor Mike Ebner reminded the council that the auditor previously suggested the village review the sewer fund and rates. With 106 connections, the village will discuss the fund during this year’s audit.
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