Monday, March 25, 2024
What happened
The Oak Grove City Council approved the agenda, March 11 minutes, a drainage/utility easement vacation (Resolution 24-044), and the consent agenda; it tabled a minor subdivision resolution (24-038) and decided to table further discussion of the MnDOT detour agreement (24-040), and discussed Lake George Parkway access options and other updates.
6 motions on the record.
M1MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR AGENDA WITH THE ADDITION.
moved by West, seconded by Wylie
MOTION CARRIED. (5-0)
M2MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES.
moved by Tradewell, seconded by West
MOTION CARRIED. (5-0)
M3MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL TO APPROVE THE VACATION RESOLUTION 24-044.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL TO APPROVE THE VACATION RESOLUTION 24-044.
moved by Wylie, seconded by Tradewell
MOTION CARRIED. (5-0)
M4MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WEST, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
moved by West, seconded by Bray Johnson
MOTION CARRIED. (5-0)
M5MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY TRADEWELL TO TABLE RESOLUTION 24-038.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WYLIE, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY TRADEWELL TO TABLE RESOLUTION 24-038.
moved by Wylie, seconded by Bray
MOTION CARRIED. (5-0)
M6MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL TO ADJOURN.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BRAY JOHNSON, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER TRADEWELL TO ADJOURN.
moved by Bray Johnson, seconded by Tradewell
15 items as recorded in the agenda and minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
1PUBLIC FORUM
No public comments.
2ANNOUNCEMENTS
Open house for proposed new City Hall/Fire Station; Mayor updates on meetings with Sheriff Wise and ISD-15 representative.
3SETTING OF REGULAR AGENDA
Agenda approved with addition of URRWMO update under Mayor/Council.
Approved with addition.
4APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MINUTES FOR REGULAR MEETING MARCH 11, 2024
Approved March 11, 2024 regular meeting minutes.
5aPUBLIC HEARING: Vacation in part of drainage and utility easement - Walker (Resolution 24-044)
Public hearing opened and closed with no comments; vacation resolution approved.
The council held a public hearing on a request to vacate part of a drainage and utility easement (Walker). No one spoke during the hearing, and after brief discussion—including a question about downsides and staff stating there would be no impact to the city or other residents—the council approved the vacation resolution (24-044) by a 5-0 vote.
6aCONSENT AGENDA: Claims and Accounts
Approved as part of one consent agenda motion.
Approved within one motion to approve the consent agenda.
6bCONSENT AGENDA: Resolution 24-045 Approval of Tobacco License - Capl Retail, LLC (Speedway)
Approved as part of one consent agenda motion.
Approved within one motion to approve the consent agenda.
6cCONSENT AGENDA: Resolution 24-046 Waiver of Statutory Tort Liability Limits
Approved as part of one consent agenda motion.
Approved within one motion to approve the consent agenda.
6dCONSENT AGENDA: Resolution 24-047 Purchase of Diamond Drum Mulcher for Public Works
Approved as part of one consent agenda motion.
Approved within one motion to approve the consent agenda.
7AOLD BUSINESS: Resolution 24-038 Oak Grove Conservation, LLC - Minor Subdivision
Applicant requested continued tabling; council tabled Resolution 24-038.
The council revisited Resolution 24-038 for a minor subdivision; staff noted it had been on the March 11 agenda and was tabled, with no additional information and the applicant requesting it remain tabled until further notice. The council then tabled the resolution again by a 5-0 vote.
7BOLD BUSINESS: Resolution 24-040 MNDOT Detour Agreement
Update given; recommended accepting cash payment and working with the County on detour; item tabled for further discussion.
Staff updated the council on the MnDOT detour agreement and said Chuck Schwartz recommended accepting a cash payment and working with the County on the detour. The mayor asked staff to give MnDOT feedback on the proposal, and the council decided to table the item to discuss further.
Minutes state, 'It was decided to table this item to discuss further.'
8ACITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATES & DISCUSSION ITEMS: Lake George Parkway Access Issues
Administrator described four options; council requested park boundary signs; issue sent to Parks Commission for feedback.
In response to an ongoing resident complaint about Lake George Parkway access, the administrator described four possible paths: vacating the property, enacting a local surface water ordinance, designating it as a park, or continuing the current practice of locking the gate in summer and opening it in winter for snowmobile traffic. The council asked for park boundary signs to clarify property lines and sent the issue to the Parks Commission for feedback.
No motion recorded; direction to staff and referral to Parks Commission noted.
8BCITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATES & DISCUSSION ITEMS: Administrator Updates
Discussed Parks Commission vacancy and interview process; update on April 27 spring recycle day; reminder of March 26 open house for Fire Hall/City Hall project.
The administrator said the Parks Commission vacancy would stay open longer to complete a newly implemented interview process and hoped to bring a recommendation by the second meeting in April; he also said four applications had been received. Council members discussed making posting timelines clearer and agreed the interview panel should include the council liaison, a current commission member, and the administrator.
9MAYOR/COUNCIL REQUESTS/UPDATES
URRWMO JPA updates; legislative updates on missing middle housing bill; jail discussion; fire department and other updates.
Council Member West reported that the Upper Rum River Watershed District is updating its Joint Powers Agreement and that the six cities within the URRWMO are looking to make administrative changes.
Council Member Bray Johnson updated the council on a house and senate file described as the missing middle housing bill, saying it would take away some authority of the council if passed; Council Member West added it would force cities into city water/sewer and higher lot density.
Fire Chief Engler told the council the department would participate in an active shooter drill at St. Francis Middle School the next day, announced the HeartSafe program (5–7 pm) and an egg hunt on March 30 at Station 2, and reported 47 calls for February.
10ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Adjournment motion carried (4-1 West).
Options the council weighed, and what happened to them. The record of the road not taken.
Lake George Parkway access issues
under studyVacate that property
Why: Presented as one of four options; council sent the issue to the Parks Commission for their feedback.
Raised by Administrator Wickham
Lake George Parkway access issues
under studyEnact a local surface water ordinance
Why: Presented as one of four options; council sent the issue to the Parks Commission for their feedback.
Raised by Administrator Wickham
Lake George Parkway access issues
under studyDesignate it as a park
Why: Presented as one of four options; council sent the issue to the Parks Commission for their feedback.
Raised by Administrator Wickham
Lake George Parkway access issues
under studyContinue current practice (lock the gate in the summer; open it in the winter for snowmobile traffic)
Why: Presented as one of four options; council sent the issue to the Parks Commission for their feedback.
Raised by Administrator Wickham
MnDOT detour agreement (Resolution 24-040)
deferredAccepting the cash payment and working with the County on the detour
Why: Council decided to table the item to discuss further.
Raised by Chuck Schwartz (as reported by Administrator Wickham)
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
Packet
Not in this archive
The supporting materials the board reviewed.
The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?