Several citizens packed into the council chambers for the Wednesday, September 14 Peterson Council meeting. Mayor Tim Hallum noted to those in attendance that no public comment would be allowed during the agenda portion of the meeting. Concerns ranged from city action on delinquent utility and zoning limitations to council pay scale and property problems
Resident Deb Hoff noted concern with what was initially cited as 22 delinquent utility properties. The number of properties was later corrected to just 11 properties of the 118 served within the city. The council approved sending letters to the delinquent properties at the August meeting. If the noted past due amounts were not paid, they will be put on tax roll for the property. Nine letters were sent. According City Clerk Leanne Kasper, the city is unaware of where the other two individuals are.
“I don’t agree with taxing them more,” said Hoff. “If they can’t pay, why charge more? If they don’t have the money, they don’t have the money.”
Hoff also brought forth concern over properties zoned as commercial, which bar residency. “In a city this size, 200 people, why are we telling people they can’t come?”
Councilor Loren Rue, who also serves on the zoning commission, indicated that the zoning is being reviewed. “We’re assuming it happened with prior administration. There is no provision to grandfather them in.” The commission is considering a multi-purpose district.
Also noted during the public comment portion was a concern over a call for discussion to review council pay. Currently, the council receives $75 per month. Councilor Rue suggested the council look at the option of raising the pay scale to $100 per month, plus $25 per additional meeting, except for the zoning commission. “My thinking is that there are seven people running for three positions on the council. Only one retired. Anyone who has a job and takes on the responsibility; that’s extensive time and cost,” said Rue. The council will continue to review the topic before deciding in November.
Developments in an ongoing dispute between property owners Gary and Shirley Quarve and Mike and Heidi Halverson continue to move forward. The parties have been disputing the boundary of their properties for some time and have conflicting surveys for their properties. Halverson’s sent a letter to the city notifying them that a shed is being constructed on the Quarve property and believes that it violates the ten-foot setback and utility easement guidelines and will create water runoff problems. The city has acknowledged Quarves began construction without a building permit.
Quarve contests any potential water runoff issues and states the shed is being constructed on his property per his survey. It is unclear whether or not a retaining wall on the city utility easement was approved ,along with crushed rock. There is no city ordinance on retaining walls and the 2008 city building codes do not address anything other than height. According to Mayor Hallum, they are considered, ‘landscaping.’
The city has an opinion on the matter from legal counsel, but the zoning commission had not yet reviewed the current shed issue. Mayor Hallum, Councilor Rue, and both parties will meet September 19. “We’ll try to hash this thing out,” stated Hallum.
The council has approved several recommendations for work to be done. The first is for water tank cleaning. Done roughly every five years, it is maintenance to remove rust and silt from the inside the tank. Also included in the work is a full interior and exterior inspection. The cost is $1,450.
The second item is the purchase of a backup generator for the lift station. The current generator is 47-years-old, according to Councilor Dick Lee, and failed during the last power outage. “If we don’t have the lift station pumping, with rain, we’ll have sewage backup in basements,” he stated. “It’s vital have a generator to pump.”
It has not yet been determined whether or not it will be fueled by LP or natural gas. The cost for the generator was quoted as $14,000. It is expected that it’ll be purchased within the next 30 days.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, October 12, at 6 p.m., at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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