City council mulls need for debate on growth

Zeroes in on flood plain issues; changes venue for public meeting at the last minute

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--After discussing flood plain strategies and making a last-minute change in the venue for a public informational meeting earlier in the day, the New Ulm City Council at its regular meeting Tuesday mulled having a work session on land use needs and continued growth.

Following considerable discussion, the council decided not to schedule the work session until its next meeting on Aug. 7 -- to allow for ideas from councilors and staff on who should be invited and what topics should be covered.

"I think this (a work session) is a good idea," Council President Dan Beranek told the council.

"We do have a comprehensive (development) plan but that was established a number of years ago -- before some of you were on the council. It would be well to revisit this issue."

Councilor Ruth Ann Webster said, "I would appreciate direction from staff about what we, as councilors, should bring to the conference."

"Pulling these items together would help me, too, in understanding what New Ulm's plan is all about," said recently-hired City Manager Brian Gramentz.

"I applaud Councilor Tuttle for bringing this to a head at this time," Councilor Joel Albrecht said. "I think it's particularly timely to discuss the annexation issue."

In other business, the council approved temporary closures of several alleys and streets for various events, including "National Night Out" activities Tuesday, Aug. 7.

The council also voted to hire Daniel Hoisington of Hoisington Preservation Consultants to secure "national significance" designation for the Hermann Monument at a cost not to exceed $2,000.

DNR meeting

Regional Hydrologist David Luethe and Area Hydrologist Rob Collett represented the regional Minnesota Department of Natural Resources office in New Ulm at the 5 p.m. meeting with the council.

Luethe stated the DNR's position concerning developments in the various flood plains remains unchanged. The department favors acquisition of flood plain land and relocation of buildings.

However, he noted the department is willing to work with the Corps of Engineers and communities in solving flood control problems. He also said the department is not hard-core about buyouts at this time.

"In 1997, we had a lot of money to work with, but few people wanted to get out," Luethe explained. "Now, we've got the people who want to get out, but the money isn't there."

He also noted that buyouts are voluntary, and several agencies may be involved in supplying money for the buyouts.

This brought a question from Beranek.

"If you have 15 houses and only five of the owners want to get out, how do you handle that?," he asked.

Collett said it wasn't an impossible situation, but the solution would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

When asked by a homeowner how the DNR determines the flood plain boundary, Luethe said, "It's not hard. It's a water level elevation so it won't travel a straight line. The city staff knows how to determine the flood plain 'line' and can stake it out for you on your property."

Luethe noted that in at least part of the flood area of New Ulm, the flood plain has been "squeezed" to a point where no permanent flood control apparatus could be built.

"However, some of it is in the 'flood fringe' where structure could still be built," he said.

Luethe and Collett agreed that the flood control survey that the city recently authorized would provide valuable information. However, they said the city may not have the results as soon as was expected.

Informational meeting moved

Following the meeting with the DNR which ended after 6 p.m., the council was scheduled to meet with the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities representatives in the library meeting room.

Without a formal announcement, the council and staff left the room.

The Journal later learned the council had decided to move the meeting to the Kaiserhoff Restaurant where the council, staff and CGMC representatives reportedly discussed issues involving tax increment financing and annexation.

In responding to a protest from The Journal when the council returned to the meeting room, Beranek said, "We had to get something to eat."

He then polled several councilors as to whether they had heard him say they should adjourn to the Kaiserhoff.

When told that telling the councilors didn't constitute a public announcement of a change of venue, Beranek responded, "I have to contend with a rinky-dink newspaper, a rinky-dink publisher, a rinky-dink editor, and now, a rinky-dink reporter."