The Houston City Council met at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 12 at Houston City Hall. In attendance were Mayor Olson, Administrator Peterson, Deputy Clerk Hegland and council members Knutson, Krage, and Schutte. Following the pledge, the council opened the meeting to public comment. One citizen stated he had questions about an item on the agenda, and Mayor Olson replied that “we’ll get to it.” The council then looked at the first item of business, an improvement project to the Prairie Meadows subdivision in town.
Brian Malm of Bolton & Menk introduced the project. The proposal included “constructing bituminous pavement and related infrastructure” on Elm Street from Erickson street to the eastern cul-de-sac, along with constructing a water main and related infrastructure on Elm Street from Kilborn Street to Stoddard Street, and also “constructing street improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, drainage, and related infrastructure” on Stoddard Street from Elm Street north “to serve 8 lots.” As part of a deal regarding the construction of the subdivision, the city is required to pave Elm Street through the subdivision. When reached for questions, Administrator Peterson said that the utility infrastructure was also being installed to avoid having to re-open the newly paved street later to put in the water and sewer.
The mayor opened the meeting to a public hearing on the project. A citizen, identified as Joel Twaiten, raised opposition to the project, asking “whose idea was this” and why the town was paving streets and installing utilities to vacant lots, asking “wouldn’t it be more important, probably, to get a restaurant that would have breakfast?” Twaiten also spoke out against the city police SUVs, saying he owned two similar cars and knows how expensive they are, and against the plan for what he called a “new hall.” Mayor Olson informed Twaiten that the city was not the one actually building the hall, remarking “the meeting would have told you that,” referring to previous meeting regarding the construction. Twaiten expressed concern that not enough was being done to encourage small businesses in town, saying he was “for progress” and remarking that businesses and restaurants were the “important things” the city was not focusing on. Twaiten also noted that he himself owned a few vacant lots already and that the city’s taxes are too high to encourage him or others to build new houses in town. When challenged by the mayor about opening his own restaurant, Twaiten mentioned that he regretted not being aware of the price on property currently being used as Carlson Roasting Company, citing his previous experience owning used car lots in Arizona. He repeatedly expressed opposition to spending money on the road project, and wanted to see someone who “really, really, really cared enough about Houston” open a restaurant serving breakfast, stating he would be willing to rent out a building like Carlson owned “if I could buy it for what he paid for it.”
Mayor Olson reiterated that the paving of Elm Street was part of an agreement that the city was bound to complete, and Peterson noted that she has already heard one or two interested parties in purchasing up to three of the lots once the project was completed, mentioning that the current lot price was set by the council at $12,000 but might go up if the market tightens due to purchases. The council voted and approved several resolutions relating to the project, involving ordering and receiving the report, ordering the improvement, approving the plans, declaring costs and a resolution for a hearing on the proposed assessment to take place on July 10. Malm also spoke about the bidding process on Houston’s new Drinking Water Treatment facility, explaining that the state government’s failure last year to pass a bonding bill means the funding for the facility will not be available through the program until later in the fall. Malm said that Houston is near the top of the funding list for the money, according to the funding agency, giving the city the option to start the process now with interim financing and be reimbursed through the funding agency once the funds have been allocated. Peterson agreed with moving ahead “sooner rather than later” unless it worked out better with the city’s preferred contractor to wait. Malm said he would have answers by the July meeting regarding the best way forward.
The city also heard a proposal regarding the new location of the International Owl Center, and approved temporary liquor licenses for the Hoedown Days festival and for a Valley View Foundation event on August 12. The Houston City Council will meet again at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 10 at Houston City Hall.
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