Lakeville City Council — Transcript
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Superior Sand and Gravel Interim Use Permit (IUP) - Mining Operations
Deborah Holman Interim Use Permit - Residential Beekeeping
Consent Agenda Items
Votes (3)
Item 7A: Superior Sand and Gravel Interim Use Permit
Dissent: None; unanimous approval
Moved by John Burmel, Council Member [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]
Dan Swift presented revised terms for mining operations on the property, reducing the timeline from 2029 to end of 2026 with potential extension to 2027 if imported material meets or exceeds exported material. The applicant committed to using a water truck for dust control in the pit and agreed to post signage requiring tarped loads leaving the site. Council member John Burmel raised concerns about dust and leaking loads based on law enforcement experience and proposed the signage stipulation. Mr. Dempsey confirmed the applicant would submit annual mining permits with tonnage records for accountability. Council appreciated the applicant's willingness to compromise and work collaboratively.
Item 7B: Deborah Holman Interim Use Permit - Residential Beekeeping
Dissent: None; unanimous approval. However, Council Member Vul expressed preference for certification/coursework requirements in future ordinance updates.
Moved by Joshua Lee, Council Member [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]
Deborah Holman requested approval for two honeybee hives using Italian-Carolan hybrid bees bred by University of Minnesota with focus on hygienic behavior and gentle temperament. She presented an integrated pest management (IPM) plan including powdered sugar dusting, screen bottom boards, and mite testing. Neighbors expressed concerns about allergic reactions to bee stings. Larry Hill, an experienced local beekeeper with 24 years experience and 200+ colonies, testified that honeybees are non-aggressive and that he has hosted 7,000 visitors over 20 years with no stings. Council discussed the need to review the beekeeping ordinance to potentially add certification or coursework requirements. Staff will conduct inspections at hive settlement and one year post-approval. Council approved the permit while acknowledging legitimate neighbor concerns and committing to future ordinance review.
Consent Agenda (Item 6C and 6E)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [Timestamp] · Seconded by Unknown [Timestamp]
Mr. Miller highlighted two consent agenda items: Item 6C - Agreement with Musco Sports Lighting LLC for lighting at Grand Prairie Park (formerly Aben Lee Park), funded through park referendum; Item 6E - Agreement with Rees Pyro for Fourth of July fireworks with partnerships from Lakeville Line, Lickers, and College City Beverage. No council members requested removal for further discussion. Consent agenda passed unanimously.
Notable Quotes (9)
Mining and excavation until 2026 instead of 2029 and 2027 if the material imported into the site meets or exceeds the export material out of the site so that would hold us accountable to continue restoration while we are in their mining
Years of law enforcement experience leaking loads are a real issue for people are just trying to get on the road and I understand that you can't control the behavior of the people that are doing the hauling but I do think that sign would be you know that's just one more tool if we end up doing some enforcement
I've been reticent to be in favor of this proposal because of concerns previous concerns that residents have had um even with additional time to consider this I haven't received the concerns this time around as I could thought I would um in fact there is more support for um keeping the M accountable for bringing in material so that we can grade it eventually
I have no intentions of harming the neighbors or their visitors um and I am not naive about persons allergic to bees I too have a mother and mother-in-law who become anaphylactic
Honey bees are a little different because when they sting you they die and they don't want to die so if if Debbie goes into her Hive or I go to Hive and I'm not careful they'll want to sting me because I'm attacking their hive but basically that I'm the one who's in trouble nobody else 10 yards away
I appreciate your honesty about um having to have ordered the bees and that you already have them um and I appreciate I did watch the Planning Commission meeting and um I appreciate your honesty in answering their questions and one of the things that unless I misheard that this has been something that you've just been looking at in the last year and so your experience is limited
I feel like I've learned quite a bit on this as as part of this process um and I just want to Echo what everybody else has said I do think it's clear I appreciate I think it was Mr ostergard um who in his comments mentioned the discussion from the council back in 2017 um and that the attempt was to review this uh regularly well if there's no um no applicants it's there's really not anything to to um uh review so thank you for being the uh the test run here
I do think it's clear I I I I'm appreciate I think it was Mr ostergard um who in his comments mentioned the discussion from the council back in 2017 um and that the attempt was to review this uh regularly well if there's no um no applicants it's there's really not anything to to um uh review so thank you for being the uh the test run here I guess
Item 6C is in agreement with musco sports lighting LLC this is for lighting at Grand Prairie Park which we used to call Aben Lee Park just wanted to let the community know we're continuing to make progress on that Park which is funded through the park referendum
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Allows beekeeping in residential districts; permits up to two hives on properties of approximately half-acre size
Established regulations for keeping bees in residential areas; Planning Commission recommended review and potential updates including certification or coursework requirements
Approved for mining aggregates from gas berm with revised timeline (mining until end of 2026, potential extension to 2027) and signage requirement for tarped loads
Approved for two honeybee hives at residential property with six stipulations from Planning Commission and staff inspection requirements
Contract for lighting installation at Grand Prairie Park, funded through park referendum
Contract for Fourth of July fireworks with partnerships from Lakeville Line, Lickers, and College City Beverage