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03-08-1990 Special Meeting MinutesSTATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF WRIGHT TOWN OF OTSEGO and State of Minnesota MINUTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING 7PM-10PM A Special Town Meeting was held by the Town of Otsego, County of Wright on this 8th day of March, 1990 in the Elk River High School. The Special Town Meeting was called to order by Clerk Jerome Perrault who intorduced Town Board Chairman Norman Freske as Chairman of the Meeting. Mr. Freske in turn introduced Town Board Members Douglas Lindenfelser and Floyd Roden, Treasurer James Barthel, Deputy Clerk Elaine Beatty, Attorney Bill Radzwill, Planner David Licht, Engineer Pete Raatikka, and Accountant Frank Frederick. Mr. Radzwill then addressed the meeting. He explained that this was an informational meeting to help you people decide whether to become a City or remain a Township. Otsego is the second largest Township in the State. If the Township becomes a City, we would have a Council instead of a Town Board and would not have an Annual Town Meeting in March. The Township does not have a good Commercial Base, we have a lot of homes and agricultural land. We can become a City by an act of the Legistlature or by a ruling of the State Municipal Commission. A petition of 100 property owners in the Township made to the State Municipal Commission requesting that the Township be made a City could result in a ruling to that effect by the State Municipal Commission. Dave Licht, Planner for the Township, then addressed the meeting. He advised the people that he is a Planner and decision to become a City or not is not his. He said Otsego is the 2nd largest community in Wright County. He said there are problems that need to be addressed whether you stay a Township or a City. As a Township some decisions are made at the County level instead of locally. As a City the residents would have more access to the decision makers on the local level. He said some of the existing problems facing the Township now are as follows: One of the main problems is storm drainage. Development has changed the drainage from what it was as ag land. There are ponding areas which do not have an outlet. Another problem is the potential of groundwater pollution. Much of the residential area exists on sandy soils. The Town Board feels the need to address this problem before the PCA steps in and orders it corrected. Also to be needed is a Municipal Water System. About 60% of the streets and roads in the Township are maintained by the Township. As a Township, they do not receive much outside aid for street construction and maintenance. Another item is preservation of ag land. During the next 10 years a limited amount of land will be needed for development and this should be confined to the areas that are already mostly Residential. Another item is to increase the tax base by commercial STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF WRIGHT TOWN OF OTSEGO - PAGE 2 - A SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING OF THE TOWN OF OTSEGO MARCH 8, 1990 AT THE ELK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL - 7PM TO 10PM development. At present all park dedication money goes to the County. We need to keep this money at a local level to develop our oun parks. On the subject of services, the contract with the Wright County Sheriff would remain the same whether you become a City or remain a Town. Fire Department Contracts would also remain the same. Building Permit fees would remain in the City rather than going to the County. Last year the County received over $17,000.00 in Building Permit Fees from Otsego. On the subject of money for roads, as a City, Otsego would receive $250,000.00 in MSA Funding for maintenance and construction. On the subject of taxes, the current tax rate is 16.754. Mr. Licht showed a slide to compare Otsego's tax rate with surrounding communities. The levies of the three school districts vary some. The City of Buffalo has a tax rate of 18.484, The City of Osseo has a Tax rate of 17.323 and the City of Elk River has a tax rate of 22.62 for Residential and 19.389 for agricultural land. He compared the City of Elk River as having two tax rates, one for Residential and a lower rate for Ag Land because it does not require the service of Residential areas. He said the fact that as a City qualifying for MSA Road Funds it could reduce the levy required for Road and Bridge Funds. BRIAN O'DONNELL asked how he would be able to afford the sewer and water if they were put in? BILL RADZWILL explained that the cost of sewer on one acre lots is very high. He advised the residents to take care of their systems as the cost to the residents and the Township would be very high if a sewer system has to be put in. A water system would be more economical to put in. ROGER BRATROWSKI said he did not move out to this area to live in a City. He compared Otsego to Bloomington in it's early stages of development. He said he is not in favor of Commercial Development or multi -residential development. BRAD WIEDENHOEFT said he was new to the community and asked that if we become a City would we be required to have our own Fire Department? Mr. Radzwill said there would be no change, existing contracts with the Cities of Albertville and Elk River would stay the same. On the subject of MSA Road Funds, they are not available to Townships. He also asked about funding for the Storm Drain. Mr. Radzwill explained that no funding was available except for the $15,000.00 Grant from the DNR. The Township had to issue Bonds to put in the Storm Drain. Mr. Radzwill said that compared to Otsego, White Bear STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF WRIGHT TOWNSHIP OF OTSEGO - PAGE 3 - SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING OF THE TOWN OF OTSEGO AT ELK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL ON MARCH 8, 1990 7PM-10PM Township has a large tax base and a lot of industry. They also have their own sewer and water system and operate much the same as a City. DAVE LICHT said that most of you probably moved here because of the area and not because of the type of government. He pointed out that local control of development is very important. ROGER BRATKOWSKI said he did not feel that local officials are present at enough County meetings to request addressing local problems. Chairman Norman Freske said he and the other Board Members attend as many County Meetings as they possibly can but that they also have full time jobs that need to be attended to. JERRY MICHELS asked why they are still giving out building permits in the area where the Storm Drain was put in? Bill Radzwill answered that this was controlled by the County. He also asked what the MSA Road Funding would be used for? Engineer Pete Raatikka said it was for Township roads and not for County or State roads within the Township It would be used to build and upgrade streets designated as Collector Streets. DALE KORKOWSKI said he does not feel the Township should become a City. He does not feel we need a sewer system and a water system would bring flouride which would be harmful to our health. SCOTT RODBY said he feels we do need local control. He said he applied for a Permit to build an addition to his home and the Otsego Planning Commission and Town Board approved his Permit but the Wright County Planning Commission turned down his request. BRUCE DANKS said he wondered where local people worked as their is very little local businesses or industry. RONALD WRIGHT said that in general more government means more service and he does not want more services. GERALD ZACHMAN asked why the Township couldn't just stay a Township and do their own Planning and Zoning like Frankfort Township does? BILL RADZWILL said that at the time Frankfort Township adopted it's own Planning and Zoning Ordinances, State Law permitted it, but today it does not. NEIL GOURDER said that it seems to him that every Development request the Township has made, the County has granted whether it was stupid or not. If we become a City this won't change. JULIE FRIESE asked if we become a City would we have more control over property maintenance? She was told that the County is very slow in reacting to complaints of poorly maintained lots. DONALD THOLKES of 9313 Ochoa Avenue, asked if we are to STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF WRIGHT TOWN OF OTSEGO - PAGE 4 - SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING OF THE TOWN OF OTSEGO AT THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ON MARCH 8, 1990 7PM-10PM get more money from the State if we become a City, where is the money coming from? He said it still comes from the tax payers and he would like to see it remain a Township. BILL CHRISTIAN, A Realtor, said he has gotten local approval for Permits, but the County has turned him down. DALE KORKOWSKI said that we do not want a sewer system. If the PCA comes in and tells us we need a sewer system, we will just chase them off our property. LARRY ZACHMAN asked what the boundaries would be if we became a city. He was told they would be the same as the Township. He also said the people could not afford the taxes if we bacame a City. Mr Radzwill explained that the City of Buffalo has a Tax rate comparable to the Town of Otsego. Advisory Ballots were then distributed to the residents. Results of the vote were as follows: YES - 121 Votes NO - 87 Votes On motion the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: JEROME PERRAULT, CLERK JP/eb , Norman F. Freske, Chair. - Sup. , Douglas Lindenfelsler, Sup. , Floyd Roden, Sup.