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Nowthen City Council Work Session meeting, March 12, 2020

Council Work Session

Thursday, March 12, 2020 · 7:00 PM

This meeting on the city's website ↗

Agenda

Not on file

What was on the agenda.

Packet

Not on file

The supporting materials the board reviewed.

Minutes

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The official record of what happened.

One-line summary

At the March 12, 2020 workshop, Council discussed road borings, road standards, overweight permits, a property-split process, and postponed the Rural Residential Transition District item; one motion carried allowing certain 10-acre-and-larger splits to be handled administratively.

What was on the agenda

6 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

  1. 1aPreliminary boring reports

    Preliminary boring reports and road surface discussion for Ebony & Garnet Street and Dolomite.

    Nelson reported on preliminary boring information, said he did not yet have the Ebony & Garnet Street boring sample reports, and discussed residents’ prior request about leaving Dolomite as gravel. He prepared a paved-road versus gravel-road maintenance cost analysis and recommended paving the section; more information is expected when core samples come in.

    No vote was recorded; staff will provide more information when core samples come in and Nelson will attend the April meeting.

    • Ebony and Garnet Street borings
    • Dolomite road surface
    Discussion only
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)1a. Preliminary boring reports Nelson explained that he does not have the Ebony & Garnet Street boring sample reports yet. He explained the borings that he has received. The higher the N Value, the better. At the last meeting residents inquired about leaving Dolomite as a gravel surface. Nelson prepared a cost analysis…
  2. 2bChanges to City Code to be consistent with Comp Plan Update

    Discussion of code changes so city road requirements match the Comprehensive Plan update.

    Stockman raised the need to make City Code consistent with the Comprehensive Plan update, especially whether new-house access roads must be paved or can be gravel and who maintains them. Nelson noted fire-code access requirements, and Stockman said she would like to pursue an ordinance amendment with a public hearing at the April City Council meeting.

    No vote was recorded; a public hearing is to be added to the April City Council meeting.

    • city code update
    • road standards
    • Comprehensive Plan
    Discussion only
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)2b. Changes to City Code to be consistent with Comp Plan Update Stockman said that our current ordinance requires all new houses to have a paved road. Should it be gravel or paved? Who maintains it? We have been inconsistent. We need to hold everyone to the same standards. We have to make sure that we have road standar…
  3. 1bRoad Weight Restriction Permit Discussion

    Discussion of permits for vehicles exceeding gravel road axle weight restrictions.

    The Council discussed gravel-road weight restrictions, noted that all gravel roads have a 5-ton axle weight limit, and chose not to consider overweight permits at this time.

    Council chose not to consider overweight permits at this time.

    • road weight restrictions
    • overweight permits
    No action
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)1b. Road Weight Restriction Permit Discussion All gravel roads have a 5 ton axle weight limit. Council chose not to consider overweight permits at this time.
  4. UN1Roessler / Joe Green property split administrative handling

    Discussion of whether Planner Stockman could administratively handle a possible split of property at County Road 47 and 22 involving Roessler and Joe Green.

    Stockman discussed property at County Road 47 and 22 owned by Roessler that Joe Green wants to buy and possibly split. Council carried a motion allowing Stockman to handle splits of 10 acres and larger administratively, while smaller splits would return to Council for discussion.

    Motion carried to allow Stockman to handle splits of 10 acres and larger administratively, with smaller splits returning to Council.

    • Roessler property
    • Joe Green property split
    • administrative review
    Approved
    p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)Stockman discussed the property located at the intersection of County Road 47 & 22 is currently owned by Roessler. Joe Green wants to buy it. Can he split a portion to sell, the rest to farm? Stockman asked if they would be comfortable with her doing it administratively. MOTION FOR STOCKMAN TO HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVELY F…
  5. 2aEstablishment of the RRT, Rural Residential Transition District

    Discussion of the proposed Rural Residential Transition District.

    The establishment of the RRT, Rural Residential Transition District, was postponed to another workshop. Nelson and Stockman will meet to discuss net land area so the city can be consistent.

    The item was postponed to another workshop date.

    • Rural Residential Transition District
    • net land area
    Continued
    p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)2a. Establishment of the RRT, Rural Residential Transition District This will be postponed for another workshop date. Engineer Nelson and Planner Stockman will meet to discuss the net land area in order for us to be consistent.
  6. SCHED1Next workshop scheduling

    Scheduling the next workshop.

    The next workshop was scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 at 6 pm.

    The minutes state the next workshop will be scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 at 6 pm.

    • meeting scheduling
    Discussion only
    p. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)Next workshop will be scheduled for Tuesday, March 31st at 6 pm

Motions and votes

1 motion on the record.

  • M1MOTION FOR STOCKMAN TO HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVELY FOR 10 ACRES AND LARGER, SMALLER THAN 10 ACRES WOULD BE SENT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION BY PILON, SECONDED BY GREENBERG; ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.

    moved by Pilon, seconded by Greenberg

    Passed
    • YPilon
    • YBreyen
    • YGreenberg
    • YBlake
    • ·Rainville
    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)Members in Attendance: Mayor Pilon, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Greenberg, Council Member Blake Members Absent: Council Member Rainvillep. 2Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)MOTION FOR STOCKMAN TO HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVELY FOR 10 ACRES AND LARGER, SMALLER THAN 10 ACRES WOULD BE SENT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION BY PILON, SECONDED BY GREENBERG; ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED.

Prior history on this business

When someone referred back to earlier business, we found the matching prior discussion and tied it in here.

  • At the last meeting residents inquired about leaving Dolomite as a gravel surface.

    — Nelson

    What this is about
    Residents’ prior request to leave Dolomite as a gravel surface, prompting a paved-road versus gravel-road maintenance cost analysis.

    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)At the last meeting residents inquired about leaving Dolomite as a gravel surface. Nelson prepared a cost analysis to maintain paved roads vs gravel roads. Nelson recommends paving this section.

    Related history

    The records show this came up at the February 13, 2020 public hearing for the 189th Lane, 190th Lane and Dolomite Street road project. Estelle Rolstad asked whether Dolomite, especially where there were properties without homes, could be turned back into a gravel road to save money. Engineer Nelson responded that there would be maintenance issues, especially because it is difficult to maintain a gravel segment between two paved roads and keep gravel off the paved surfaces. At the March 12, 2020 work session, the minutes specifically state that “at the last meeting residents inquired about leaving Dolomite as a gravel surface.” Nelson then presented a cost analysis comparing maintenance of paved roads versus gravel roads and recommended paving that section. Later records show the road project continued: at the July 14, 2020 meeting, the agenda included Resolution 2020-44 accepting a bid and awarding the contract for the 189th Lane, 190th Lane and Dolomite Street Road Improvement Project, with noted cost savings of a little over $11,000 and an estimated new cost of about $6,180 per resident. The excerpt provided does not include the recorded vote outcome.

    • Feb 13, 2020City of Nowthen Public Hearing Meeting February 13, 2020 Estelle Rolstad, 6746 189th Lane NW She asked the Engineer abou
    • Apr 14, 2026WRIGHT HENNEPIN SECURITY <table> <tr> <th>MEMORIAL PARK PAVILION AND 2 BATHROOMS</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature</
    • Mar 12, 2020# Nowthen City Council Regular Meeting MINUTES March 12, 2020 7:00 PM Workshop began at 7:00 pm by Mayor Pilon Members i
    • Apr 30, 2020189th Lane, 190th Lane, Dolomite Street Project Area 15 soil borings and 8 pavement cores were obtained on 189th Lane, 1
    • Jan 14, 2020## 1.0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this feasibility report is to present the City of Nowthen with a preliminary examinat
  • We have been inconsistent.

    — Stockman

    What this is about
    Past inconsistency in applying city road standards for new houses and paved or gravel roads.

    p. 1Meeting City Council Work Session — Minutes (2020-03-12)Stockman said that our current ordinance requires all new houses to have a paved road. Should it be gravel or paved? Who maintains it? We have been inconsistent. We need to hold everyone to the same standards.

    Related history

    The records I searched do not contain a prior decision matching this recollection about inconsistent application of city road standards for new houses on paved versus gravel roads. There are partial matches on related road-standard topics. At the July 22, 2025 Planning and Zoning meeting, staff discussed a concept plan with road-access issues, future road connections, local-road setback requirements, and county limits on access points, but the minutes do not show a decision about paved/gravel road standards for new homes. In the February 24 and March 10, 2026 packets for Jays Services, staff noted that the ordinance allows more employees for an extended home occupation if the property is fully accessed by paved roads, and that 190th Avenue NW is paved; that was about home-occupation eligibility, not new-house road standards. The other road-related records found concern maintenance and assessments, such as resident comments on proposed road work at the June 17, 2025 meeting and a 2026 overlay assessment resolution in the May 12, 2026 packet. Those records do not document a prior council decision applying different road standards to new houses.

    • Jun 17, 2025Dave Ross (6060 189th Lane) expressed that the road is fine except for expansion joints, which he believes caused the da
    • Apr 14, 2026Bertram Asphalt Company P.O. Box 162 Paynesville, MN 56362 Cell: 320-292-1311 Email: bertramasphalt@gmail.com Proposal <
    • Mar 10, 2026property. It may be permitted within either the principal structure (not exceeding 25% of the gross floor space) or in
    • Feb 24, 2026property. It may be permitted within either the principal structure (not exceeding 25% of the gross floor space) or in a
    • Aug 26, 2025Planner Nash displayed the concept plan and provided several comments on the proposal: 1\. The shape of the commercial a

Where this came up before

  1. Feb 13, 2020
    City Meeting

    City of Nowthen Public Hearing Meeting February 13, 2020 Estelle Rolstad, 6746 189th Lane NW She asked the Engineer about the properties on Dolomite that don't have homes. Could that road b

    DocCity of Nowthen Public Hearing Meeting February 13, 2020 Estelle Rolstad, 6746 189th Lane NW She asked the Engineer about the properties on Dolomite that don't have homes. Could that road b
  2. Apr 14, 2026
    City Meeting

    WRIGHT HENNEPIN SECURITY <table> <tr> <th>MEMORIAL PARK PAVILION AND 2 BATHROOMS</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature</td> <td>Wright Hennepin</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Equipment Upfront Cost</td> <td>$4,6

    DocWRIGHT HENNEPIN SECURITY <table> <tr> <th>MEMORIAL PARK PAVILION AND 2 BATHROOMS</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Feature</td> <td>Wright Hennepin</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Equipment Upfront Cost</td> <td>$4,690.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Security Ala
  3. Mar 12, 2020
    City Meeting

    # Nowthen City Council Regular Meeting MINUTES March 12, 2020 7:00 PM Workshop began at 7:00 pm by Mayor Pilon Members in Attendance: Mayor Pilon, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Greenberg, Coun

    PDF# Nowthen City Council Regular Meeting MINUTES March 12, 2020 7:00 PM Workshop began at 7:00 pm by Mayor Pilon Members in Attendance: Mayor Pilon, Council Member Breyen, Council Member Greenberg, Council Member Blake Members Absent: Counc
  4. Apr 30, 2020
    City Meeting

    189th Lane, 190th Lane, Dolomite Street Project Area 15 soil borings and 8 pavement cores were obtained on 189th Lane, 190th Lane, and

    Doc189th Lane, 190th Lane, Dolomite Street Project Area 15 soil borings and 8 pavement cores were obtained on 189th Lane, 190th Lane, and
  5. Jan 14, 2020
    City Meeting

    ## 1.0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this feasibility report is to present the City of Nowthen with a preliminary examination of road improvements for 189th Lane, 190th Lane and Dolomite Street. The rep

    Doc## 1.0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this feasibility report is to present the City of Nowthen with a preliminary examination of road improvements for 189th Lane, 190th Lane and Dolomite Street. The report discusses the

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

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