After many months of working on a short-term rental ordinance which has included hours of discussion by the zoning committee, creating several drafts, sending out surveys to homeowners and holding a public hearing before the October council meeting, the Whalan City Council has once again sent it back to the zoning committee for adjustments. Present at the October 9 council meeting were Mayor David Hallum, council members Owen Lewis, Thore E. Johnson, Kim Berekvam and Sheila Higbe. City Clerk/Treasurer Teresa Grossell was also in attendance.
The council approved the Minutes of the September 11 regularly scheduled council meeting which were read aloud by Hallum, as well as the Treasurer’s Report which was read aloud by Grossell as council members reviewed their personal copies.
New Business
Termination of the Sharing Agreement with the city of Lanesboro in regards to the former city clerk/treasurer position was approved.
The council has decided to discontinue the phone line to the Lanesboro City Hall. They then approved a city phone line installation in the Whalan City Hall with basic long distance service.
Councilors reviewed year-to-date figures of the budget as requested by a council member.
Continued Business
After hearing from several residents and homeowners during the public hearing on a short-term rental ordinance that was held before the regularly scheduled council meeting, the council sent the ordinance back to the zoning committee.
The sticking point seems to be the number of short-term rentals that will be allowed in the city. The number had been temporarily set at 15 in the draft of the ordinance. With approximately 50 homes in Whalan, some voiced concerns that having that many short-term rentals would take away the sense of community with fewer families buying homes, attending schools, churches, etc.
The zoning committee will take another look at the ordinance and make adjustments based on comments from the community and bring it forward to the council at the next council meeting.
The city of Whalan will be getting its own Zoom account, as it was going through the city of Lanesboro’s account under the former city clerk.
Miscellaneous
Right of Way excavation in the alley of 2nd Avenue has been completed.
The Whalan Town Hall is rented for Friday, October 20.
The December regularly scheduled city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12 at 5 p.m. at the Whalan Town Hall.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, November 13, also at the town hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
For more information visit the City of Whalan website at cityofwhalan.weebly.com.
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