10-24-1994 Emergency Meeting MinutesCC-NOV94.WPS
CITY OF OTSEGO EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING REGARDING THE
ANNEXATION OF OTSEGO LAND TO THE CITY OF ALBERTVILLE ON
OCTOBER 24, 1994 AT 6:30PM, CITY OF OTSEGO, WRIGHT COUNTY, MN.
EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING
10/24/94 - 6:30PM
Mayor Norman F Freske called the meeting to order at 6:30PM. The following were
present:
Norman F Freske, Mayor, Doug Lindenfelser, Floyd Roden, Larry Fournier and
Ron Black, Council was absent.
Also present were David Licht, Planner, and Elaine Beatty, Deputy Clerk/Zoning.
Administrator.
Larry Fournier stated that he had called Mr Licht regarding the Annexation issue.
David Licht said he understood an agreement has been drafted. He didn't know the City's
position. He suggested if there is a way to settle this by agreement, it would be advisable
to settle. He said it would be to Otsegos advantage to get a settlement at this time. Also
that there will not be further annexation for several years. He said there have been two
decisions by the Municipal Board recently. Number One Branch/North Branch. It was
not even looked at by the Municipal Board. The City and the Township will be
consolidated. With the North Branch decision it went against the smaller Township.
Number two - The Empire Township case. Members of the Municipal Board voted two in
favor of Farmington and one in favor of Empire Township. There will be two members of
the Municipal Board, if they think it looks like a Township, they will vote against the
Township. Alexandria and St Cloud are annexing Townships now also. He explained
further. Farmington has spent $400,000.00 on Annexations.
Larry Fournier asked about the City Township situation.
David Licht said that Branch/North Branch were both Cities. He recommends the two
communities work together to resolve .this issue.
Larry Fournier asked if there is anything we can do to protect the area?
David Licht said he heard Thursday from Albertville's City Administrator. It is an issue of,
do you have the urban service. The land should not be developed if there is no urban
service there. In the long run, Albertville's Joint Waterboard would be better served if
there was attention to more regional systems.
NAC is not against development there. You are faced with a similar question tonight in
terms of urban service. At some point you are putting off the inevitable.
CITY OF OTSEGO EMERGENCY MEETING ON ANNEXATION OF 10/24/94
PAGE 2
Mayor Freske said regional service was brought up at the meetings.
Mr Licht said it was in the best interest of both communities to settle. There are
advantages to that. If there is no settlement, you should proceed quickly to action and
obtain an Attorney.
Larry Fournier asked about the land undeveloped in Albertville.
Mr Licht said three or four years ago it would have been an issue, but not now. The
Municipal Board wants to condense the number of Government Units.
Mayor Freske said they had to do something. The other way to approach it is to set up an
orderly annexation agreement.
Elaine Beatty stated that the Roden property was not accepted as a request for annexation
because the deadline date was not met and it did not have Albertville's approval.
Floyd Roden brought up storm sewer and sewer and water issues and the fact that there
has to be conditions to the agreement. He felt it was a crucial issue.
David Licht said there should be cooperation up front.
Mr Roden said he has a conflict because of friends and relatives.
Larry Fournier said we should have a consensus to proceed with something or sign the
agreement.
Dave Licht said there are advantages to both cities to settle. He explained to Doug
Lindenfelser, who had arrived late. Doug said he felt we have valuable property over
there. Albertville has been a problem to deal with.
David Licht said the issue comes down to services. The PCA will not grant all kinds of
discharge permits.
Norm Freske explained that Mr Rossler, Kenco Homes, didn't feel that Albertville would
give them sewer and water. More discussion of sewer and water and annexation.
David Licht said this has forced the question.
Larry Fournier said that the agreement would be a binding agreement. The acreage is
approximately 280 acres.
CITY OF OTSEGO EMERGENCY MEETING ON ANNEXATION OF 10/24/94
PAGE 3
LARRY FOURNIER MOTIONED TO ADD THIS ANNEXATION CONTRACT
WITH ALBERTVILLE TO THE PLANNING PORTION OF TONIGHT'S
COUNCIL MEETING AND DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT AN
AGREEMENT THAT BOTH THE COUNCILS OF OTSEGO AND
ALBERTVILLE CAN SIGN. USING THE CONTRACT THAT ALBERTVILLE
HAS AGREED TO AS A GUIDE. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE ADDED.
FLOYD RODEN SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
David Licht said we need a Contract. You may want to get a separate Attorney, if
Radzwill Law Office didn't wish to be involved. Discussion of the landowners and the fact
that some of them did not want to be annexed into Albertville. Potentially, it could be
phased in.
Mayor Freske said the Municipal Board will continue this issue again if necessary, if we
have something in the works.
FLOYD RODEN MOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE EMERGENCY MEETING.
LARRY FOURNIER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
r
DOUG L`INDENFELS , COUNCIL
RO BLACK, COUNCIL
ATTEST: ELAINE B ATTY, DEP Y
CLERK/ZONING ADM'