01-29-1981 CCMMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - HUTCHINSON CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1981
The special meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Westlund
at 8:15 A.M., with the following present: Aldermen Gruenhagen, Beatty, and
Lueneburg. Absent: Alderman Peterson. Also present: City Administrator Gary
Plotz, City Engineer Marlow Priebe, City Accountant Ken Merrill, Director of
Maintenance Ralph Neumann, and City Attorney Schantzen.
Mayor Westlund stated that he and Administrator Plotz had met recently with the
City Administrator and Mayor of Litchfield in discussion of a joint airport.
All present were in favor of continuing negotiotions and felt a board should be
established to work out final details. Administrator Plotz noted that Litchfield
shows a willingness to find a suitable location and as of now the most favorable
location would be near Highways 7 and 22.
The approximate cost of the joint airport would be $42 million. Each community
would pay 5 per cent of this cost with the remainder, or 90 per cent of the cost
being funded by federal and state aviation tax funds. Mayor Westlund noted that
much of the present equipment at the airport could be moved to the new airport.
Mayor Westlund and Administrator Plotz also received a favorable response from
representatives of 3M as to interest in the joint airport.
After more discussion, it was moved by Alderman Beatty, seconded by Alderman
Lueneburg and unanimously carried, to enter into an agreement with Litchfield to
participate in consultant studies for location of a joint airport. The cost for
this would be $5,000 for each community.
Mayor Westlund stated that he felt the city must keep a site open for an indus-
trial park area. There was discussion of using the present airport site for this
but because of the high cost of furnishing water to that area and its proximity
to a railroad, Alderman Gruenhagen felt the property east of the present industrial
park would be better suited for this purpose. Mayor Westlund felt it was impor-
tant to bring more industry to Hutchinson and suggested discussion with the Chamber
of Commerce on this matter.
Because of several negative comments at the last council meeting regarding the
cost of Off -Street Parking, the council discussed this matter and decided the city
needs to break down into more detail the way in which the figures were arrived at.
Mayor Westlund instructed City Engineer Priebe to conduct a walking survey of
present parking spots, (metered, non -metered, and private) then to apply the present
formula to determine how many parking spots we are short. Mayor Westlund stated
that the City should be more explicit as to what the various businesses were given
credit for as to present space.
Mayor Westlund noted that he'd like to have two additional representatives of the
business community added to the parking committee with Alderman Beatty as council
representative.
Alderman Gruenhagen said he'd like to have a letter sent to the Downtown Advisory
Board asking for assistance with the parking problem.
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MINUTES - SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1981
PAGE 2
It was unanimously decided to continue the hearing on Off -Street Parking until
the last Council meeting in March.
The subject of the Carlson property was discussed next and City Attorney Schantzen
stated he was waiting for the abstract. City Administrator Plotz said the price
for the property was $44,500 which was in between the high and low appraisal. The
conditions of the contract call for $13,000 down, contract for deed, 10 per cent
interest, 5 year contract.
It was moved by Alderman Lueneburg, seconded by Alderman Gruenhagen and unanimously
carried, to proceed on the purchase of the Carlson property.
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 A.M.