Council Minutes, June 7, 2021

Posted: June 7, 2021

City of LeRoy MN – Council Meeting Minutes, June 7, 2021

A regular meeting of the LeRoy City Council was called to order by Mayor Ed Koppen on Monday, June 7, 2021, at 6:30 PM at the LeRoy Community Center with the following members present:  Mayor Ed Koppen, Council Members Ashley Huntley, Harold Shipman, Daisie Fox, Gerald Payne, Maintenance Employee John Jones, and City Clerk Patty White.
Also attending: Axel Gumbel and Jim Gronwoldt.  All stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Consent Agenda:

  • Council reviewed the items included in the consent agenda. Motion by Huntley, second by Fox to approve the consent agenda.  Motion carried 5-0.

Police Report:

  • The assigned deputy was not in attendance; there was no police report to review.

Public Input Time:

  • There was no one present to bring anything to public input time.

Standing Committee Reports:

  • Huntley reported it was a slow month for ambulance calls. Training has returned to in-person training.
  • Shipman reported the Prairie Visions Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, June 19. The ride begins here in LeRoy and will utilize both the Shooting Star Trail and Wapsi-Great Western Trail in Iowa.
  • White reported the city-wide cleanup day was well received. Funds received from disposal of items covered the cost of the four dumpsters that were used.  White noted she has not received the bill from the appliance recycling guy.
  • Payne reported that Wildwood Grove financially is mainly even through May. The generator will be hooked up sometime this summer.  The EDA is working on setting prices for the LCL buses.  Koppen questioned who prepares the financial reports for WWG.  Payne reported the financial reports are prepared by Lynn Miller of LWJM Professional Tax Services.

State Highway 56 Project:

  • Council was reminded the public hearing regarding municipal consent is scheduled for Monday, June 21, 2021, at 6:30 PM. The council questioned financing for this project.

Summer Fest 2021:

  • Council reviewed a tentative schedule of events for Summer Fest.
  • Jim Gronwoldt was present and requested the closing of South Broadway between Main Street and the south business alley beginning on Thursday evening, July 15 through Sunday evening, July 18. Motion by Huntley, second by Payne to allow this closure for Summer Fest.  Motion carried 5-0.

Liquor License Request:

  • White reported she had been contacted by the prospective buyers of the BP Food Shop; these buyers requested a 3.2% off-sale license. Motion by Huntley, second by Shipman to approve the 3.2% off-sale license for these buyers.  Motion carried 5-0.

Bob Olson Conversation:

  • Koppen reported he had a conversation with Bob Olson pertaining to his available lots in the Olson Addition. Olson had offered a lot to the City quite a few years ago with the intention that a park would be built on this lot.  The seated council at that time did not accept this offer.
  • Olson would like to offer a lot again to the City. Koppen recommended to council to accept Mr. Olson’s offer of a lot for a nature park.  This park could be planted with prairie grass, trees, and wildflowers.  Koppen noted that Lake Louise used to be home of the Shooting Star wildflower; he felt these could be introduced at this nature park.
  • Koppen would also like to see a bridge reestablished across the Upper Iowa River where the Old Town Bridge was removed. He would like to find enough interested local people to pursue these ideas.  Koppen would like the council to think about these items; these will be discussed at upcoming council meetings.

Land Use Permits:

  • Council reviewed six land use permits.
  1. Lots 1 & 2, & Lot 3 exc Nwtrly 50’ old RR Rtwy, Block 17, Caswell & Lewis, 204 W Lowell, Kathy Payne-install fence
  2. Lot 1, Block 3, Hickock 2nd Addition, 880 E Lowell, Axel Gumbel-pour cement pad for pool
  3. Netrly 190’ Old RR Rtwy Adj to Lots 1, 2, & 3, Block 6, Original Village, 103 West Street, Mark Smith-install chain link fence
  4. Lots 13 & 14, Block 10, Caswell & Lewis, 211 E Benton, Kayla Winkels-install fence
  5. Lot 3, Block 12, Caswell & Lewis, 110 E Lowell, Courtney Vosberg-install chain link fence
  6. Lot 26, Block 9, Original Village, 219 E Frederick, Jude Eggert-install chain link fence
  • Motion by Shipman, second by Payne to approve said permits. Motion carried 5-0.

Communications File:

  • Council read a thank you from Isaac Collier for the Pangborn Scholarship he received.
  • Council reviewed the information pertaining to Tree City USA. Koppen gave a brief history of the City of LeRoy being a Tree City USA in years past.  Koppen would like to see this certification considered along with considering the nature park.  He also noted this would be good recognition for the City when the City celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026.

Streets:

  • Jones reported Heartland Asphalt hopes to be here yet in June for the Lowell Street project.

MRWA/NRWA ServLine Program Information:

  • Council reviewed the information pertaining to this program. Council chose to take no action on this program.

Update on Community Center Floor:

  • Council reviewed the proposal from Braun Intertec for the slab evaluation of the floor in upper banquet area of the Community Center. The cost for this evaluation was $9,549.75.  Payne suggested some alternatives for a different floor covering.  White will do further research of flooring options at the upcoming clerk’s conference.

Water & Sewer:

  • Council reviewed the 2020 Drinking Water report.

Service Award Recognition:

  • Joe Saterdalen nominated Nathan Frazer noting his volunteer work to make improvements around town and now at the LeRoy Rod & Gun Club.
  • Leann Drees nominated the volunteer soccer coaches Mel Lunning, Amanda & Steve O’Byrne, Teresa Frazer, and Love West for their work in coaching the inaugural L-O Community Ed soccer season.
  • Gerald Payne nominated City Maintenance Employee Nick Sweeney for a great job for sweeping the city streets and gutters.

Nuisance Properties:

  • Council directed White to send a letter to the owners of the mobile home park to mow and trim under the solar panels.

North Speed Limit Sign:

  • The sign has been removed; it needs to be boxed up and sent into the company for repair or replacement.

Chromebooks:

  • White continues to work on getting the Chromebooks set up. The Chromebooks will then be distributed to the council members.

With the first Monday in July being the legal holiday for the Fourth of July, council chose to set the July meeting date for Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 6:30 PM.  Being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Huntley, second by Shipman at 7:28 PM.

– Ed Koppen, Mayor

– Patty A. White, City Clerk-Treasurer

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