10-15-07 PHITEM 3_3
PUBLIC HEARING
PROPOSED ASSESSMENT FOR DELINQUENT UTILITY BILLINGS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007
6:30 PM
OTSEGO CITY HALL
1. Mg= Fournier will oxen the Public Hearing.
Mayor Fournier opened the Public Hearing at 6:31 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Larry Fournier; Councilmembers: Vem Heldner, Jessica
Stockamp, Mark Thorsted. Tom Darkenwald arrived at 6:37 PM.
Staff: Gary Groen, Acting Administrator; Judy Hinson, C laWoning
Administrator; Andrew MacArthur, City Anomey and Dan Uc ht, City Planner;
Karee Rowell, Deputy Clerk; Tim Rochel, Building Oficial; Harold Leonard,
Building Inspector; Mary Olson and Sue Frisch Utility Billing Cler-ks.
Randy Brenny from Superior Lawn.
2. & AMU= i!U= !ott es
MacArthurex0ained Ox purpose othe Public• and the • • •c..1 . •
the appeal procedure.
Leders were received from Unda Nelson,, 15040 7(P Sveet NE and
Ryan Ahlberg,, attorney, . lots in Otsego
3. 1e+`ell!=Lo1 of the Assessment Roll.
Gafy Groen presented the Assessment Roll. He gave a Wd background of the
City taking over t • in 2006.
Judy Hudsonattested i proper n•ti r • publishing • posting • •
Public4. ,!lit Zeit
HearingMayor Fournier Opened for public for comments •
M.
There were no public comments.
CM Heidw asked if the City can either assess or turn off the water. Mr.
MacArthur said either can be done.
Gary Groen distributed x , ruition on • .Nelson's•••
��M-s �7- it '4 Ol P. r51 In I MUM
Public Hearing October 15, 2007. Page 2.
6. City Council discussion and action.
CM Heidner motioned adoption of Resolution 2007-72 with an interest
rate of 6%. Seconded by CM Thorsted. All In favor. Motion carried.
CM Heidner motioned to adjourn at 6:45 PM. Seconded by CM
Thorsted. All in favor. Motion carried.
Mayor Larry Foun dw
ATTEST:
Ludy Hudson, City Ckwk/Zoniing Admin.
Written by: Tami Loff, Administrative Assistant
ITEM 3_2
PUBLIC HEARING
ON PROPOSED ASSESSMENT FOR UNPAID ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
ENFORCEMENT FINES
6:30 PM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007
OTSEGO C17Y HALL
I. Mawr Fournier will g= the Public Hea ft.
Mayor Fournier opened the Public Hearing at 8:10 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Lary Fournier; Coundimembers: Vern Heidner, Jessica
Sb)ckamp, Mark Thorsted. Tom Darkenwaid arrived at 6:37 PM.
Staff: Gary Groen, Acting Adminrstrator; Judy Hudson, ClerkJZoning Administrator;
Andrew MacArthur, City AVWrney; Dan Licht, City Planner Karee Rowell, Deputy Clerk;
Tim Rochel, Building Official and Harold Leonard, Building Inspector.
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4. Punic Comrnents.
Mayor Fournier opened the Public Fearing at 8:14 PM.
Hearing no public comments he used the Hearing at 8:15 PM.
M i I , 1: 1':-
AdL----- d at 8:17 PM.
Mayor Larry Fournier
ATTEST:
Judy Hudson, City Ckwk/Zoning Admin.
Written by: Tami Loll, AdminkA ative Aunt
ITEM 3_1
PUBLIC HEARING
ON PROPOSED ASSESSMENT FOR MOWING OF NOXIOUS
AND OTHER WEEDS AND GRASS, UNPAID SERVICE CHARGES AND
UNPAID DEVELOPMENT ESCROW ACCOUNTS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007
6:30 PM
OTSEGO CITY HALL
1 Mater Fournier will cwt the Public Hearing.
Mayor Fournier opened the Public Hearing at 6:45 PM.
Roll I: Mayor Lary Fournier; Councilmembers: Vern Heidner, Jessica
Swckamp, Mark Thorst3ed. Tom Darkenwald arrived at 63ontng7 PZ.
Staff: Gary Groen, Acting Administrator; Judy
Administrator; Andrew MacArthur, City Attorney and Dan UcK City Planner;
Karee Rowell, Deputy Clerk; Tim Rochel, Building Ofl'icial; Harold Leonard,
Building Inspector; Mary Olson and Sue Frisch Utility Billing Clerks.
Randy Brenny from Superior Lawn.
e
Andy MacArthur explained t:he purpose and process of the Public Hearing. He
also explained the process to appeal.
3. P—resentaNM of the AssessnagpA Roll.
Karee Rowell presented the Assess
4 Public Comments.
Mayor Fournier opened the Public Hearing at 6:47 PM.
Randy Stangler, Stangler Construction, asked who mowed the kits. Mayor
Fournier said Randy Brenny. Randy Brenny explained what equipment he used
to mow. Mayo- Fournier asked why he went owr so many times. Randy Brenny
said because of all the weeds and height. Mr. Stang' asked about the dollar
rate. Randy Brenny said base price was $150 per K depending on height. Thin
weeds at 3 fleet tall started there and went up depending of what needed to be
done.
Randy Brenny said that he was given a list of 102 addresses and he mowed 61.
He didnt have to mow 42 addresses because they had been done by someone
else.
Randy Brenny said that he called City Administrator Mike Robertson and asked if
Public Hearing October 15, 2007. Page 2.
he should mow and Mr. Robertson said if you see weeds in violation if the
ordinance to mow them. Mr. Stangler asked who paid Randy Brenny. Andy
MacArthur said Mr. Brenny charges the City to pay and we charge the owner.
Mr. Stangler asked about insurance. Randy Brenny has insurance.
Mr. Stangler asked who decided what lots are being mowed. He said that he
mowed two days before he got the letter and said he cut his lots in August.
Harold Leonard, Building Inspector, identified what lots had tall weeds on them
prior to the first letter and prior to second letter. Mr. Stangler said that he was
cutting his lots when he saw the Otsego truck go by and cut all four of his lots
and now he is getting an assessment on two lots. There was no reason to cut
the two lots I had cut previously. He said that one is $200 and the other is $150.
CM Heidner asked how many times he cut. Mr. Stangler said once in August. CM
Heidner asked if he had 3 foot weeds. He said yes and that he has an issue with
charging him when he mowed after he received the letters.
Rick Shermer, Shermer homes, owns two lots in Riverwood National. He said he
mowed after both letters and would like to know how much time he had to mow
after the letter was sent. He said that the letter was dated 7-12-07 postmarked
7-18-07 and he mowed immediately. He said that if you are mowing its you
dont use a zero lawn mower you use a brush mower. Mr. Shermer said that
there are 4 lots that aren't mowed and there are weeds on them 4 feet high and
they are not on the sheet.
Mayor Fournier asked Karee Rowell when you send out the letter how much time
to they have. Karee said 10 days. CM Heidner asked Mr. Shermer why you
waited until August to mow. He replied he got the letter and none of the other
lofts were mowed.
Gary Knisley, Knisley Construction, has 3 lots in Riverwood, he got the letter and
he mowed them he paid $42 for other lots we have and he mowed his three lots.
Mowed after he received the letter. Randy Brenny said that he started mowing
August 2 and finished August S. Karee Rowell said that his 3 lots were mowed on
August 2. CM Thorsted said that he wants a better way of tracking.
Randy Brenny shows how he kept track of the mowing and if he had questions
he called Mike Robertson for direction.
Public Hearing October 15, 2007. Page 3.
Chris Bulow, Riverwood National, said he doesn't know how these lots were
picked. Harold Leonard identified the ones with over 12 inches of weeds. CM
Stockamp said that she has been out there and they are beautiful homes she
would be upset also if she lived there and the grass was not mowed.
Mr. Bulow said that he only received one letter and made sure all his lots were
mowed. Mayor Fournier asked did you contact City Hall. He said no.
Dan Licht said that City Code defines that any grass, weeds etc. over 12 inches is
a violation.
Mr. Shermer showed council his letters with the dates.
Sarah, Howard Homes, said that they have five lots and received a letter on two
of our lots which we will bill and then we mowed all five lots and received
assessment letter on 3 lots. Mowed on July 13 and we received letter on July
12.
CM Heidner said that they need to check their lots every month to see if they
need to be mowed. Dan Licht explained how the City we publish before June
every year directing property owners to eradicate nuisance weeds.
Mr. Bulow said that there are a number of different developments on this list and
no one is here from any other development saying they mowed. The people in
Riverwood National mow their weeds. Mayor Fournier said that once a month is
probably not enough. CM Stoc kamp said that she knows two families out there
that are saying there are people that need to mow.
Mr. Shermer said that if you look around the room out of all the lots ate,
obviously the ones not here didn't take care of their lots, but the ones here did
mow and we did do our job. CM Stodkamp asked if you didn't get the letter
would you have mowed. Mr. Shermer said no. CM Heidner said that we started
where we received the most complaints and you have some of the most
expensive homes.
Becky Knisley, Knisley Construction, said she understands what your saying but
what is unfortunate when 3 received the letter and we knew that we had to
mow, we can hire to mow at $47 per lot. She doesn't agree with tate cost and
doesn't see it as a reasonable amount to be ate. We will know for next
year that we need to mow.
Mr. Stangler asked Council to cross off the builders that are here tonight.
5. Close the Public Hearin.
Hearing no more public comments, Mayor Fournier dosed the Public Hearing at
7:55 PM.
Public Hearing October 15, 2007. Page 4.
6. City Council discussion and action.
Andy MacArthur said that this is why you have a Public Hearing so people can
say if they mowed etc and now it is up to the City Council to take action. CM
Thorsted said that he has a problem with people saying that they mowed and we
are assessing them. CM Heidner said that he is trying to go thru the list it
appears that the ones contested tonight Randy Brenny had marked easy so they
probably had mowed. He is willing to take a reduction in amount but that will
take time to do. Mr. MacArthur said that they can reduce their bill based on what
they said. CM Darkenwald asked Randy Brenny did you have an invoice for
mowing. Gary Groen provided the invoice. CM Darkenwald said that he would
like to see more documentation to back this mowing up. Seems like $150 is alot
of money to mow lawn. But it does get people to mow their lawns. CM
Darkenwald doesn't want to assess the people who attended. Mr. MacArthur said
that you can say we closed the Public Hearing but if you have additional
documentation to submit by Thursday for next City Council meeting. Mayor
Fournier said on his part we like to help but if we lower amount we will be back
here next year.
Howard Homes was notified of two but charged for 3 lots, Knisiley 3 lots,
Strangler 2 lots and Shermer 1 lot.
Mayor Fournier motioned to continue decision to next Monday night for
only people who atbended. Seconded by CM Hetdner. All in favor.
Motion carried.
Mayor Larry Fournier
ATTEST:
3udy Hudson, City gait/Zoning Admin.
Written by: Tami Loff, Administrative Assistant