The Spring Valley City Council met in regular session on September 23. Mayor Archer was absent, so Mike Hadland led the meeting. Other members in attendance included Luan Ruesink, Chris Danielson, John Dols, and City Administrator Deb Zimmer.
Bryan Owens was present, and the council discussed the issue of negotiating an easement regarding his property at 412 West High Street. The council had previously discussed decreasing his assessment in exchange for Owens granting the city an easement. It was determined that the city would rather leave the assessment at the original full amount ($9,212) and make a separate settlement of $3,054 to Owens for the easement. It was pointed out that this works out to the same thing cost-wise as previously agreed upon by the council. The council voted unanimously to approve this plan.
The council next discussed another issue regarding Bryan Owens. He said he wasn’t able to attend the council’s previous meeting, and asked to explain his request to cover the sidewalk on his property at 501 South Section Avenue. At the previous meeting, the council denied his request to allow the sidewalk to be left covered with dirt.
Owens explained that the sidewalk is poorly graded, saying, “The sidewalk in front of 501… I measured it, ten inches under water… All I ask is to be able to grade it, to where it would actually run off to the drain.” He added that during the winter months, that sidewalk is “nothing but an ice rink.” He requested that he not be required to put in new sidewalk, because of future plans for the city to replace the sidewalk there anyway. Deb Zimmer said it could be a number of years before that project is undertaken. Mike Hadland stated that, per the city’s ordinance, “If you want to grade it, that’s fine, but you’re going to have to put sidewalk back in after it’s been graded.”
Owens responded, “I don’t know why it’s so difficult to try to spruce up the town… Nobody’s going to walk on that, you can’t. You’re walking on mud or water.” Hadland stated, “My opinion also is to follow the ordinance, point blank. I mean, we have them for a reason.” No member of the council made a motion to alter the council’s previous decision.
The council discussed an issue regarding the city’s “junk ordinance.” Zimmer explained that the property in question is the “former pawn shop,” and she said, “A letter was sent out on the 15th of August… we normally give them two weeks. He wanted further extension… So your options are to give him an extension to clean up before we do a public hearing, or go ahead and do the public hearing… we’ve had several complaints.”
Asked how the property is zoned, Zimmer replied that it’s actually two lots, with one zoned residential, and the other commercial. She said the shop had operated on the residential lot, with a Condition Use Permit, but that the CUP automatically expired when the business closed. When asked if progress is being made on the clean-up, Zimmer replied, “He said he is working on it.” The council voted to give a two-week extension.
In Department Head reports, John Fenske (Parks) stated, “Everything’s going really good… Volleyball’s going, tackle football’s going, everything else is going really well.” Sue Puffer (Ambulance) reported, “We are in excess of 330 calls so far this year, and it’s been a busy month.” She also told of new staff being brought onto the crew.
The next regular meeting of the council will be Monday, October 14 at 6 p.m. As always, the public is welcome.
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