Pine Island — Transcript
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Land Use and Development
Financial Management and Debt
Community Events and Public Safety
Library Programs and Community Engagement
Votes (7)
Resolution 25-10 Authorizing Write-off of Uncollectible Debts
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [01:21] · Seconded by Unknown [01:22]
This item involved the annual authorization to write off debts owed to the city that are deemed uncollectible. The City Administrator explained these typically stem from unpaid water bills or former residents who have sold their homes, clarifying it's a routine annual process for the city's financial records.
Request from the Chamber of Commerce for Creary Building Rental Waiver
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [02:00] · Seconded by Unknown [02:01]
The Chamber of Commerce requested to rent the Creary Building during the offseason, along with a waiver of the associated rental fees (approximately $1700 including taxes). The Council noted prior collaborations with the Chamber and discussed the typical policy of not renting the building before a certain date, but considered the request due to the Chamber's community events.
Resolution 25-11 Approving Orderly Annexation Agreement with Pine Island Township
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [06:30] · Seconded by Unknown [06:31]
This resolution sought approval for an orderly annexation agreement covering roughly 400 acres on the northeast side of town, situated between 195th and Highway 52. The City Attorney detailed the strategic advantages of such agreements, including bypassing statutory limitations on annexation size, streamlining the process by avoiding full administrative hearings, and outlining a reimbursement structure of $495 per acre (increasing 4% annually) to the township for lost property taxes over several years.
Joint Powers Agreement with Pine Island Township for Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR)
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [08:30] · Seconded by Unknown [08:31]
Following the annexation agreement, the Council considered a Joint Powers Agreement with Pine Island Township. This agreement enables the City to act as the Responsible Governmental Unit (RGU) for an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR), an environmental assessment, related to a proposed development by Ryan Companies in the newly annexed area. The City Attorney emphasized that the City's internal engineering expertise makes it a more suitable RGU for this complex review than the Township.
Request from Pop Op for the Arts for Creary Building Rental Waiver
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [09:10] · Seconded by Unknown [09:11]
Pop Op for the Arts requested a fee waiver for renting the Creary Building to host its Summer Concert Series. The group provides musical entertainment at various local venues, including Bulls at GAC and AW Park, contributing to community cultural life. The Council expressed appreciation for their work and considered the fee waiver to support the arts.
Resolution 25-12 Approving Contract for Land Prepayment
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [10:29] · Seconded by Unknown [10:30]
The Council considered a resolution to prepay a contract for 22 acres of land on the north side of town, acquired from Pat Wal (Walters). Having already made two annual payments, the city sought to pay the remaining $240,600 in full, utilizing funds received from the sale of excess right-of-way land to Prairie Island. This prepayment would not incur any penalties and was presented as a financially prudent action for the city.
Discussion Regarding Road Closure for Cheese Fest
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown [12:20] · Seconded by Unknown [12:21]
A discussion took place concerning a temporary road closure during the Cheese Festival, specifically for Second Street and Third Avenue by Land Lakes. This measure was proposed by a Council Member as a public safety initiative, aimed at preventing traffic from shortcutting the designated detour route. Public Works had consulted with local business owners, who expressed support. A specific request was made to ensure communication with Land O'Lakes and Egg Partners regarding semi-truck access during the closure.
Notable Quotes (12)
essentially these are accounts or bills that are owed to the city the city every time unfortunately we're unable to do so usually it's from pass water someone who sold their house
there's two things before Council one is we typically don't rent the Creary building prior to First so we're asking permission to do so and then second we're asking for fee waiver the total fee with taxes are about $17
orderly annexation agreements are used uh to to not have to worry about those statutory limitations that allow anex more in another land than than the statute would allow
this just makes the process easier if the land owner did petition the city to be Annex we could do it by a simple resolution instead of an annexation by
this is reimbursement to the township if we go ahead and Annex land for the lost property taxes the property taxes they won't get on that land and you might wonder about the amount $495 an acre
because these lands are within the township the township would serve as the um government entity that would oversee that process because we have an Orly annexation and if this development were to occur uh and those lands would be annexing to the city the city would like to oversee that a process
a big reason why a city would be a better rgu than maybe a Township is if You've got a non in effect an on staff city engineer this is going to be pretty engineering heavy
we have made two payments on that one for 2024 one for 2025 uh we are asking that we uh pay off the contractor needed so we do have a clause that there's no P for prepayment and so that would be paid in full
just to clarify these are funds that received for the excess right of way land that the city sold to Prairie Island and so we would not be using to make this move
over the years we've noticed that the the traffic is not following the designated detour route the Public Works has been setting up they've been trying to shortcut in front on the south side of land legs
this would just close the uh Street down by the east side of Land Lakes on Second Street and Third Avenue there so that would be completely barricaded off so the only exit route is back through Main Street and following the detour run and I would just be during Cheese Festival when set up the detail
the only part I would have I would have a request is public works or cheese fest communicating with Landes and egg Partners on semi TR just to address whatever needs they would have because they use Third Street quite a bit for on Friday
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Authorizing the write-off of uncollectible debts owed to the city
Approving the orderly annexation agreement with Pine Island Township
Legal agreement with Pine Island Township for future land annexation
Agreement with Pine Island Township for the city to oversee environmental review
Environmental review process for potential large-scale development
Approving the prepayment of a land contract
Agreement with Pat Wal (Walters) for 22 acres of land