2023-02-06 City Council MinutesALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES February 6, 2023 – 7 pm
Council Chambers
Albertville City Hall
City Clerk Luedke administered the Oath of Office to Councilmember Hayden.
1.Call to Order
Mayor Hendrickson called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
2.Pledge of Allegiance – Roll Call
Present: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilmembers Cocking, Hayden, Olson and Zagorski.
Staff Present: City Administrator Nafstad, City Attorney Couri, City Planner Brixius, Fire Chief
Bullen, Finance Director Lannes and City Clerk Luedke.
3. Recognitions – Presentations – Introductions
A.2022 Albertville Fire Department Annual Awards
Fire Chief Bullen recognized the following Albertville Firefighters for their years of service:
Firefighter Verville (5 years), Firefighter Kreutner (10 years), Lieutenant Anderson and Firefighter
Eull (15 years) and Firefighters Gonsior and Tieran (20 years).
Chief Bullen said the department averaged 22 volunteer hours per member with Firefighter Follett
completing the most at 99 hours. Firefighter Gonsior received the Top Caller Award at 397 calls
and Lieutenant Gerads received the 2022 Paul Heinen Above and Beyond Award.
The City Council thanked the Albertville Fire Department for their service to the Community.
B.Albertville Fire Department Presentation – 2022 Year in Review
Fire Chief Bullen presented the 2022 call data and said the fire department had received a total of
549 and reported the department had already received 65 calls in 2023. He also provided details on
the incident statistics and the property values versus the loss and save from 2022 along with the
department’s accomplishments. Chief Bullen reviewed the 2022 grants received and thanked the
Albertville Lions Club for their generous donation. He answered questions from Council.
The Council thanked the Albertville Fire Department for their service to the City.
C.Wright County Public Health Radon Awareness Month
Gavin Woodland, Wright County Health Promotion Coordinator, presented information on radon
awareness and said radon is a colorless and odorless gas found in soil common throughout
Minnesota. He reported radon gas decays into fine particles which are radioactive and over long
periods of time can lead to lung cancer. He said the recommendation for residents was to test their
homes every 2 to 5 years. He explained the mitigate process if high levels of radon were found and
said Wright County was selling radon test kits for $5.
4.Public Forum
There was no one present for the public forum.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
Regular Meeting of February 6, 2023
5.Amendments to the Agenda
Mayor Hendrickson asked if Council would like to move item 9E entitled Albertville Fire
Department Presentation after the 2022 Albertville Fire Department Annual Awards.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to move 9E.
Albertville Fire Department Presentation after the Fire Department Annual Awards. Ayes: Cocking,
Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Olson to approve the
February 6, 2023, agenda as amended. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski.
Nays: None. The motion carried.
6.Consent Agenda
All items under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City staff and will be
enacted by one motion. In the event an item is pulled, it will be discussed in the order it is listed on
the Consent Agenda following the approval of the remaining Consent items. Items pulled will be
approved by a separate motion.
A.Approve the January 17, 2023, regular City Council Meeting minutes as presented.
B.Approve January 31, 2023, Joint Governance and Albertville Special Meeting minutes as
presented.
C.Authorize the Monday, February 6, 2023, payment of claims as presented, except bills
specifically pulled which are passed by separate motion. The claims listing has been
provided to City Council as a separate document and is available for public view at City
Hall upon request.
D.Approve the 2023 Albertville Fire Relief Association Bylaws.
E.Approve One-Day Temporary Liquor License for the STMA All Night Grad Party on
February 25, 2023, located at St. Albert Parish Center, 11458 57th Street NE, Albertville.
F.Accept Accounts Receivable Report.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to approve the
February 6, 2023, consent agenda as submitted. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and
Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
7.Public Hearing
A.Public Hearing Request to Vacate a Portion of 2nd Street and Lamont Avenue
within the Townsite of Hamburg
City Attorney Couri presented the staff report which included information on Particle Control’s
preliminary plat. He said the plat was approved pending the approval of the proposed access to
County Highway 37. He provided information on the easement vacation request and said the
surrounding properties would not be impacted by the request. He said upon approval, the final plat
would be approved.
Mayor Hendrickson opened the public hearing. No one requested to speak.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to close the
public hearing. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The
motion carried.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Regular Meeting of February 6, 2023
MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Olson to adopt
Resolution No. 2023-06 vacating a portion of 2nd Street and Lamont Avenue (F.K.A. Pacific
Avenue) within the Townsite of Hamburg in the City of Albertville. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden,
Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
B.Particle Control Developer’s Agreement
City Attorney Couri presented the staff report and reported the only public improvements involved
would be the construction of two culverts to convey the water to the County Highway 37 ditch. He
said because the property had been previously been platted it would not be subject to park
dedication or sanitary sewer charges.
City Administrator Nafstad said the letter of credit required to be posted by the developer for the
public improvements was $65,200.
MOTION made by Councilmember Hayden, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to approve
Particle Control Developer’s Agreement. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and
Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
8.Wright County Sheriff’s Office – Updates, reports, etc.
There were no updates from the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.
9.Department Business
A. City Council
1.Committee Updates (STMA Ice Arena, Planning, JPWB, Parks, Fire Board,
FYCC, etc.)
There were no City Council updates.
2.Appointment of New Parks Committee Member
City Administrator Nafstad reported the City received one letter of interest for the open Parks
Committee seat. He said the Parks Committee interviewed the candidate and recommends the
appointment of Patrick Adamski to the Parks Committee.
MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to adopt
Resolution No. 2023-07 appointing a new Parks Committee Member. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden,
Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
3.Amendment to 2023 Council Appointments to Boards and Committees
City Administrator Nafstad welcomed newly appointed Councilmember Hayden and said the
Council had previously discussed assigning him to the open 2023 Boards and Committees
appointments.
There was Council discussion regarding the open Boards and Commission appointments.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to adopt
Resolution No. 2023-08, with amendments, appointing City Council members to various Boards
and Committees for 2023. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None.
The motion carried.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
Regular Meeting of February 6, 2023
4. Discussion of Planning Commission Vacancy
City Administrator Nafstad said due to the Councilmember Hayden’s appointment there was now a
vacancy on the Planning Commission. He said historically, the vacancy would be posted in the
City’s newsletter and on the website. He said the City has already received two letters of interest.
There was Council discussion regarding the vacancy. The Council’s consensus was to have the
Personnel Committee and a Planning Commission Member evaluate applications received and
present the top three or four applicants to the Council for review.
B.Building
1. Approve New City Building Official
City Administrator Nafstad presented the staff report which included information on the City’s
building inspection services contract with the City of St. Michael. He said Paul Heins, the current
Building Official, would be retiring in March and per state stature a new building official must be
named. Administrator Nafstad said St Michael has promoted current Building Inspector Rob
Lindberg to the Building Official position upon Paul Heins retirement.
There was Council discussion regarding the City’s future plans for building inspection services and
they approved the new Building Official appointment.
MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to adopt
Resolution No. 2023-09 approving new City Building Official Designation effective March 15,
2023. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
C.City Clerk
1. Local Board of Appeals and Equalization Meeting Date
City Clerk Luedke reported Wright County tentatively set the Albertville Local Board of Appeals
and Equalization meeting for Monday, April 17 at 6:15 pm and said City staff recommends setting
the meeting for this time.
MOTION made by Councilmember Hayden, seconded by Councilmember Olson to set the meeting
date for the Albertville Local Board of Appeals and Equalization for April 17, 2023, at 6:15 pm.
Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
D.Finance – None
E.Fire
1. Authorize a Fire Department Board of Officers Training Captain Promotion
Fire Chief Bullen presented the staff report recommending the promotion of Lieutenant Gerald
Gerads to the position of Training Captain.
The Council congratulated Training Captain Gerads the promotion and thanked him for his service.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to authorize
the promotion of Lieutenant Gerald Gerads to the position of Training Captain. Ayes: Cocking,
Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5
Regular Meeting of February 6, 2023
2. Authorize a Fire Department Board of Officers Lieutenant Promotion
Fire Chief Bullen presented the staff report recommending the promotion of Firefighter Chris
Thurber to Lieutenant.
The Council congratulated Lieutenant Thurber the promotion and thanked him for his service.
MOTION made by Councilmember Zagorski, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to authorize
the promotion of Firefighter Chris Thurber to the position of Lieutenant. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden,
Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
3.2023 Standard Operating Policies and Procedures Updates
Chief Bullen presented the details on the proposed Standard Operating Policies and Procedures
amendments. He said the Fire Department was requesting to change the 15-minutes response time
to 10-minutes which it was prior to 2015. He answered questions from Council.
City Attorney Couri answered questions from Council regarding the change in requirements.
MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Cocking to approve
revisions and updates to the 2023 Fire Department Standard Operating Policies and Procedures.
Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
F.Planning and Zoning
1. Sign Ordinance Amendment to Section 10-7-8 Permit Fees
City Planner Brixius presented the staff report and said the Albertville fee schedules includes a $75
annual renewal fee for each billboard within the City. He said the Albertville City Code previously
included language which was inadvertently removed with past amendments. Planner Brixius
reported the City has continued to collect the annual fee and said the amendment would
reestablished the language in the City Code. He answered questions from Council on the fee.
Finance Director Lannes and City Attorney Couri answered questions from Council regarding how
the fee amount was established.
MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Zagorski to adopt
Ordinance No. 2023-01 amending Section 10-7-8.C Permit Fees reestablishing the billboard renewal
fee. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion carried.
G.Public Works/Engineering – None
H.Legal
1. Update on Maeyaert Property
City Attorney Couri asked the Council to reconvene to a closed meeting for the update due to the
on-going litigation.
I.Administration
1.Commercial Stormwater Recap
City Administrator Nafstad presented the back ground information on the stormwater utility fees.
He reported on how the fees were calculated and said City staff reviewed all of the City’s
commercial account. He reviewed the stormwater utility review summary and answered questions
from Council.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6
Regular Meeting of February 6, 2023
2. City Administrator’s Update
City Administrator Nafstad reviewed the City Administrator’s update.
City Administrator Nafstad answered questions from Council regarding the Albertville Mall’s
signage and provided an update on the east side of the mall. City Planner Brixius presented
information on what usages would be allowed in the Mall’s east side because of their current PUD.
The Council moved to a Closed Meeting to discuss the City of Albertville vs. Chuck Maeyaert
Litigation.
MOTION made by Councilmember Cocking, seconded by Councilmember Olson to closed the
meeting. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The motion
carried.
City Attorney Couri provided an update to the Council regarding the on-going litigation.
MOTION made by Councilmember Olson, seconded by Councilmember Hayden to re-open the
Council meeting. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The
motion carried.
Announcements and/or Upcoming Meetings
January 23 Joint Powers Water Board, 6 pm
Parks Committee, 7 pm
January 30 Joint Governance Meeting, 6 pm
February 6 City Council, 7 pm
February 13 STMA Arena Board, 6 pm
February 14 Planning Commission, 7 pm
February 20 City Hall closed in observance of President’s Day
February 21 City Council, 7 pm (Tuesday)
10.Adjournment
MOTION made by Councilmember Hayden, second by Councilmember Olson to adjourn the
meeting at 8:45 pm. Ayes: Cocking, Hayden, Hendrickson, Olson and Zagorski. Nays: None. The
motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________
Kristine A. Luedke, City Clerk