01-25-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 11, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 11 the information regarding anticipated interim costs. When the Building Official and Building Inspector job posting closes in early February, the same Committee will likely be interviewing the candidates and will provide recommendation to the City Council. Walsh noted one RFP was from out of state, and another was MNSPECT who have 18 cities or more nearby and they have higher standard for technology. He clarified they did not ordinarily work under an hourly wage, but rather a percentage of fee, but because Orono’s values are so much different it did not make sense. The City essentially rejected the proposals and asked them to come back with an hourly proposal, which they have done. Walsh and Johnson spoke about it and Johnson was going to talk to MNSPECT and negotiate a bit on the fees as this is new for the City, as well. Once the City receives that feedback they can march this forward and get it in place. At that point they can start to figure out what they will hire internally, whether it is a Chief Inspector or just an Inspector; or a Chief Inspector and an Inspector, as the City roughly spends approximately $215,000 per year. Walsh said they could easily employ two people and perhaps handle it all themselves, but even if they have that they will need back up if someone is on vacation or they get overloaded. Johnson said in the search there are good, viable candidates for the City and that is good news. He said the fine-tuning should be wrapped up by the end of the week and they just need Council permission to make that commitment on behalf of the Council so they do not have to wait to get it done. Barnhart clarified he is asking for authorization for the interim contract or interim agreement. Seals moved, Crosby seconded, to authorize the Committee to hire a contractor on behalf of the City Council. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. 13. LA20-75 – BRIAN HUISMAN, SALE OF A PORTION OF LAND ADJACENT TO 1121 NORTH ARM DRIVE Barnhart clarified the Council saw this last June and at that time it was a request for a boundary line adjustment because there is some land in the middle of the lake. He said the exhibit is what he provided in June and there is also an attached survey; the survey shows the City actually owns some land, landward of the ordinary high water line and they cannot just give that land away, they must sell it as it is an asset for the City. The property owner came back with a proposal to buy it for $100 which is the value the County has put on the land two lots to the north as it is about the same amount of land, although it is a much bigger parcel because 7/8ths of it is in the lake. That is how the property owner arrived at the fair market value which seems reasonable. Walsh said back in June the Council said it sounded completely reasonable, whatever the fair price was but the property owner also had to pay the costs. He clarified they are just bringing back the value at this point. Johnson said that is the one component he wonders about; personally he does not think they can do a straight vacation of this, so the City Attorney wants there to be a sale. Walsh said it is because there is nothing to vacate, it is actually owned land. Johnson said the Applicant’s methodology of $100 is based on the County’s assessment to a property that is ultimately non-taxable. Johnson thinks there will be more of these in this bay as they want to get things cleaned up, and he would like to see the Council avoid the value component and when it is just a straight