At the February 12 meeting, the Rushford City Council unanimously approved a recommendation from the Rushford Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals that will make way for a residential Planned Unit Development. Referred to as “Himlie Manor,” the six-duplex development will be constructed in the southeast end of the Himlie Business Park should it meet all final city approval.
Landowner Mike Sexhauer submitted his proposal to the city for review and the plot was altered from an R3 zoning designation to allow for the units. The area was previously established as a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. The change was recommended following a joint meeting of the planning commission and zoning board where issues related to the development were addressed in relation to Chapter 14 of the Zoning Ordinances.
Reasons for needing the zoning alteration included lack of minimum common open space, inability to meet maximum floor area ratio, and other minor engineering considerations previously noted. “It is assumed the developer will make these revisions prior to final plan review,” stated a letter from City Enginner Bolton & Menk. Sexhauer plans to address the lack of open space by creating a private access road and drainage area. “This is intended to promote active management of the private road,” continued the letter.
City Clerk Kathy Zacher provided a summary and indicated Sexhauer intends to construct the six duplex units consecutively. A homeowner’s association will be formed for duplex owners to assure the access road, which does not qualify as a city street, and the open space at the end of the units is maintained. City zoning regulations will apply to the units.
A final plat will still need to be drafted and approved by all parties. “Questions and concerns can be addressed before the final plat,” noted Zacher. This is not the first PUD for the city. Sexhauer constructed a similar development south of Himlie Business Park off of Olson Drive and another development is located near the city water tower.
“There are still a lot of final steps before they get their final plat; a lot of hoops to jump through,” said Zacher.
In other news, the council reviewed the annual water report which is due in conjunction with an annual Department of Natural Resources Water Permit Report. The water report details the number of gallons pumped, sold, accounted and unaccounted for, as noted by Zacher.
In an 11-month period, beginning February of 2017, the city pumped 46,275,000 gallons of water through its system. Of this, 26,749,862 gallons were residential, 12,161,102 gallons were commercial, and 2,090,145 gallons were unmetered for other uses. Due to leaks and other issues, 4,517,261 gallons were unaccounted for. This is a reduction to 9.76% of total water usage, which has been an average of 12.42% from 2003-2016 and an average of 40.51% from 1993-2002. A 15% figure is considered a reasonably expected number.
The city has undertaken a massive number of utility improvements since the 2007 flood, which has aided in eliminating and tracking down unaccounted water usage and attending to problems more efficiently. Mayor Chris Hallum expressed some frustration at certain instances of unaccounted usage. Zacher only recently was able to attribute 550,000 gallons to an AcenTek boring project. Similar projects sometimes are unaccounted for. According to Zacher, contractors are told to track and pay for the unmetered water usage. “Unless you track them down, they sometimes forget to do it.”
“Sometimes asking for permission, or forgiveness, is low,” added Hallum.
The council also considered continuation of the downtown flower basket project for 2018. In 2017, the council reduced the number of baskets to 110 in order to focus on just the major downtown throroughfares from the Rush Creek Bridge to the Root River Bridge, and extending partially up Stevens Avenue and Elm Street. Some issues of accessibility for daily watering vehicles has also reduced the number.
Roger Colbenson, who provides the baskets to the city quoted the same price as in 2017 at $34 per basket. It was suggested the Lions Club, who provides maintenance of the baskets, conduct a simple inventory of locations to determine a more accurate number needed. This will help determine remaining accessibility issues as well as eliminate locations, if needed, where trees were planted last year. A motion to approve “up to” 110 baskets was approved unanimously by the council.
Fourteen ash trees on Magelssen Bluff were recently removed due to the emerald ash borer infestation. Public Works has been working to remove recommended trees within the city and many more remain, included four large trees on Money Creek Street and eight on Green Street. For the most part, Public Works can do the work, but the city will be taking quotes for the trees on Money Creek Street.
The community is encouraged to donate a new tree within the city. A form is available on the city website or at city hall.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m., at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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