At the October 11 county board meeting, Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins asked the commissioners to consider approval of two conditional use permits (CUP) for agricultural tourism businesses. After public hearings on each of the permit applications at a September 22 planning and zoning meeting, members unanimously forwarded each permit application to the county board.
Randy and Debbie Ristau have plans to build a wedding/event pavilion on their property on Section 5 Preston Township. The intention is to provide a facility for up to 300 guests for the wedding ceremony, reception, and dance. The open air pavilion would be available for events from May through September. Adkins noted that there had been a comment from a neighbor at the hearing concerning noise. The neighbor said they are able to hear the county fair and this facility would be closer. Therefore, there was a requirement made that the band must shut down by midnight.
Commissioner Duane Bakke commented that there is a need for this kind of event venue. This property is near the Preston sign southeast of the city on property that is now a field. Chairman Marc Prestby questioned the fact that this kind of facility can be built in the middle of a field, but a home can’t be? Bakke acknowledged that the issue has come up when other buildings like hog facilities have been approved to be built in a field. The issue is the possibility of a de facto subdivision, which Bakke said we went away from years ago because of the services needed. There would be the potential for eight homes to be built in close proximity, two in each of four sections.
The driveway for the pavilion will be accessed from Highway 52. Gravel dust will not be an issue. Commissioner Randy Dahl commented that if an event center was located on a gravel road and a lot of traffic could be expected, he would like to see dust control required on the gravel road. Bakke noted, if the location was on a gravel road and there was a dust issue, there could be a condition requiring dust control. This can be handled on a case by case basis.
The Ristau CUP was approved with the following conditions: must provide proof of liability insurance, must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations, and must obtain a MnDot approved driveway access.
Charles and Joan O’Connor have requested a CUP for an agricultural tourism business for use of an existing barn, converting it to an event venue for wedding receptions and class reunions. There were no comments at the public hearing. Their barn is located in Section 18 Bristol Township. This facility is also off a hard surfaced road, so dust is not an issue. Also, they are located in an area with no close neighbors.
The CUP was approved with the following conditions: must provide proof of liability insurance and must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.
Other business in brief
• The hire of a temporary employee for Veteran Services was approved. The position will be paid 100% by grant dollars. The hire, a veteran, will come in two to three days per week and scan all paper documents, so the documents are all in one location. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs grant totaling $10,000 is to be used to enhance operations. This temporary employee will use about $5,000. The balance will be used for technology updates, promotional materials, and advertisements.
• Sheriff Tom Kaase requested the addition of at least one more intermittent dispatcher to be added to the roster. He noted there are currently two dispatchers filling in for sick time and PTO. His request was approved.
Kaase asked for additional deputies to be added to the intermittent deputy roster. He said there are three part-time deputies which are doing a great job filling in. He is anticipating one or more of them to be hired elsewhere. There currently are five on the list, including two which have full-time law enforcement jobs elsewhere in the county. Bakke noted he is allowed a maximum of seven on the roster. A motion allowing Kaase to update the list to a maximum of seven was approved.
• Payment of the third quarter invoice of $14,769.77 to Mayo Clinic for medical examiner/autopsy services was approved.