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Corcoran to review dust control process before assessing properties

The Corcoran City Council received the proposed dust control assessment calendar but wants more information before assessments.

The council also discussed amending the policy about serving beer and wine at the civic center, and heard an update about financing the utility extension project.

These and other actions took place at the Thursday, May 26, meeting.

DUST CONTROL

Staff gave a proposed dust control assessment calendar to Mayor Ken Guenthner and councilors Roz Milbrandt, George Gmach, Tom Cossette and Rich Asleson.

The public hearing would be Aug. 25.

“Prior to that date, staff will put on the council agenda discussion items to give the council the background on dust control and to speak about possible options for the future,” city administrator Dan Donahue wrote in his report. “Staff believes the calendar meets all timelines required in say law and gives the property owners sufficient time to respond.”

The council will decide how much to assess the interested properties. The amount would not be more than was stated in a letter home owners received as notification of the first public hearing, but could be less.

The council will wait to make an assessment decision on the actual cost rather than the budgeted cost. The city made a commitment to $20,000 to reduce the cost, then based on the type of load will determine the assessment.

The idea behind the calendar was to give property owners time to make the payment before the city is required to send it to the county for taxes payable 2012.

The calendar includes: dust control application, to be determined; data for engineering evaluation, July 18; property owner mailing, Aug. 8; public hearing published, Aug. 12 and 19; public hearing/assessment approval Aug. 25; property owner invoice mailed Sept. 1; last day of assessment Oct. 31; and certify unpaid assessment to the county auditor, Nov. 15.

CIVIC CENTER

ALCOHOL

In other news, city administrator Donahue stated he asked the parks and trails commission to review the existing policy on serving alcoholic beverages in the community center.

Alcohol is currently granted by use of a licensed caterer who serves the beverages. The change would be to grant people who rent the center to have beer and wine available without a licensed caterer and bartender.

Responding to the issue, the city’s insurance agent, Shaun Irwin, noted that most cities seem to ask for liability insurance if alcohol is being served.

Donahue wrote in his report, “The request … is to alter the policy so that it is not so onerous if just beer and wine is to be served at the function being held in the community center. The requirement of a licensed caterer is the particular point in the policy that is being questioned.”

The commission passed a motion asking the council to think about an amendment to the policy. The council recommended staff update the current lease documents and resubmit at a future council meeting.

UTILITY PROJECT

In further matters, consultant Rusty Fifield updated the council about the next steps of financial planning for the sewer/water utility extension project.

The utilities will be directed through the Metropolitan Council and extended from the east at the Maple Grove border first to the downtown area. Utilities will eventually be phased in over a number of years to other areas of the city.

Fifield’s focus at the council meeting was utility charges to start discussion and provide a framework for future decision-making.

He stated the appropriate structure for Corcoran will strike a balance between revenue produced to pay for future system expansion, financial impacts on development, and timing of revenue growth given future platting and construction.

He then reviewed the charges, such as trunk/area charge, connection charge, Met Council Environmental Services (MCES) charge and Maple Grove charge.

For example, a trunk/area charge is paid at the time property is platted for development, typically a dollar area per acre platted. Connection charges are an amount paid at the time of construction. The current MCES charge is $2,230 for each new sewer connection.

Corcoran is negotiating with Maple Grove to purchase into its water system, for example, an upfront amount of $300,000, or 150 connections at $2,000 each.

Fifield then did an overhead display of projections that show both annual revenue and balances created over time. He stated as the planning process continues, his firm will work with Corcoran to identify and evaluate other scenarios, recognizing there are a massive number of possible combinations of growth and charges.

The council took no further action at this time.

In other action, the council:

HEARD from the police department that all four businesses – Mama G’s, Stanchion Bar, 10-50 Club and Corcoran Bottle Shop – that hold a Corcoran liquor license refused to sell to a minor during May compliance checks. Compliance training was finished in March.

HEARD from Rev. Brian Lother of Hope Community Church – County Rds. 116 and 30 – that the church would think about a land sale for the proposed public works facility.

CONVENED a closed session to discuss public works facility property options.

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Submited at Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 at 2:00 am on Uncategorized by jessica
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