PACYC expands National Night Out August 2nd

By Josh Hall, Staff Reporter
The July 12 city council meeting kicked off at 6:00pm followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the agenda. Before approving the consent agenda, they acknowledged a donation for $100 to the Plainview Ambulance from the Olmsted Medical Center, as well as an amendment to the new business section of the agenda.
They started the meeting by opening public hearings. These public hearings were rescheduled from the June meeting. First, Roger Siebenaler of Arable Brothers Co., LLC had a conditional request (Resolution 2016-08) to change the permitted use of a single-family dwelling to a duplex dwelling in an R-1 district, located at 530 4th Ave NE, Plainview. They would like to be permitted to rent the lower level to an unrelated party but continue to live on the main level. The next hearing made was at the request of Julie, Raymond and Nicholas Wingert regarding a variance request (Resolution 2016-09) to change the set-backs for new construction to build an apartment building with a foot print similar to the Plainview Hotel Building. Located at 305 West Broadway, in Plainview, the conditional use request (Resolution 2016-10) is to allow a three level apartment building in a C-1 district. The last hearing was requested by Art White of AW Beadblasting LLP regarding a variance request (Resolution 2016-11) to exclude from the requirement of 1,000 sq. ft of landscaping of front yard. City Code Section 617.7; but the building was built with no front yard. The property is located at 520 N. Wabasha, Plainview. The building was purchased in 2007, as the second owners, and were issued a ticket for violating this ordinance.”There are other businesses that are nearby without green but they have not been ticketed.” They are asking for an exclusion to ordinance 617.7, because the building was permitted by the city of Plainview to be built without the green space requirement and we as second owners should not be punished for and incur the cost to come into compliance through no fault of our own.” All requests were approved by the council and the public hearing portion was closed.
Resuming the regular city council meeting, they continued on with the Presentation of Community Petitions/Guests. Sally Harrington spoke about a meeting they are holding in Wednesday, July 20 at 4:00pm at the Common Sense Development building. They will be having a guest speaker, Jen Walz, who is a member of the Water and Soil Conservation of Wabasha County, and will speak about a pilot program that she was involved with at the University of Minnesota, which was carried out in Ely, MN. Wabasha County would like to have it carried out in our county, which would take community involvement. Jen Wahls will be explaining the program at the presentation on July 20. There wasn’t much information about the program given, but we do know it has to deal with trees. This is out a day late, but hopefully you were able to attend.
Roger Siebenaller spoke regarding a bronze marker for Randall Zabel’s cemetery plot that was broken off by the city of Plainview when they were mowing last fall. He brought the piece that was broken off to share with the council, and made a suggestion that he believes that the city should be responsible for paying to have it either fixed or replaced.
With no more public comments or petitions, the council moved on to new business. First, they voted on Resolutions 2016-08, 2016-09, 2016-10 and 2016-11, which were all approved.
They then motioned to approve Resolution 2016-07, which is to appoint election judges for the Primary Election of August 9, 2016 and the General Election of November 8, 2016. The judges selected were: Janice Marshik, Joe Kaupa, Eleanor Meyer, Bonnie Zell, Dennis Ranta, Marie Goede, Nancy Paupa, Hilary Schneider, Glenn Zell, Mary Deming, Garrel Steneman, Jean Speedling, Paulette Klees, Curt Buck, Alice Henderson, Jean Diel, Chad Gelner, Gene Diel, Matt Davidson, Sue Schneider; Head Election Judge/Trainer: Renee Mierau, City Administrator. The resolution was approved and Adopted by the City Council of the City of Plainview this 12th day of July, 2016.
The council discussed the optional Temporary Health Care Dwelling act that was enacted. This allows citizens to move temporary housing onto their property. The city has the option to either opt out or opt in. Renee stated that a lot of cities are opting out of this until there is more information available. Roger Ziebell brought up the question of “how can you put up a temporary housing in a Minnesota winter?” Dustin Boettcher concurred, with the issue of having sewer hookups and electricity. The council agreed that they should opt out.
Roger Rettmann approached the council with a Community Center update. The center is requesting an additional funding of $2,500-3,000 to help with administration of the meals as well as equipment replacement. They are requesting to have the carpet replaced as it can no longer be kept clean, with food and beverages getting spilled and ground into the carpet. Also, during Olde Fashioned Christmas, they serve many people and spills take place as well as the snow and sand that get ground into the carpet. They are expanding the National Night Out this year, in an attempt to increase the income brought in to the Community Center, combining efforts with the pool, having the biggest bounce house that they can afford and ice cream donated by Kwik Trip for the kids, as well as the community center will be selling brats and chips. Bill Goede thanked him for his request and explanation and when they begin planning the budget for next year, they will take it into great consideration.
Next they talked about the feasibility study to expand City Hall and the Police Station and make more security. The study would cost about $2,900, and would be completed in the next 1-2 weeks. The remodel would be expanding the building out farther toward the sidewalk, and remodeling the police station to make room for more offices and a larger entryway. The council approved the feasibility study.
The next city council meeting will be held on August 16, 2016 at 6:00pm.
Before adjourning the meeting, they discussed any council comments that the members may have, and Roger Ziebell talked about a meeting that he attended on his own, regarding wetlands. He went down to Wabasha and met with Terri Peters who is the District Manager for the Soil and Water Conservation District and found it interesting learning about wetlands and what you can do with them. He was requesting for council approval to invite Terri and Kevin Kraus, Zoning Administrator of Planning & Zoning in September to give a pitch about what she does and where we stand on it. It could possibly prevent future problems regarding what the wetlands are and informing individuals who might be moving into them. The council has approved having them invited, with a presentation at 5:30pm before the regular city council meeting. Roger also brought up the issue of the on-sale liquor store being closed without notice to the public. He feels that if it needs to close, it needs to announced to the public before it closes.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:35pm.