There was “standing room only” at the public hearing and regular meeting of the Wykoff City Council on July 9. Council members in attendance included Mary Tjepkes, Mayor Al Williams, City Clerk Becky Schmidt, Mary Sackett and Richard Gleason. Rocky Vreeman was absent.
The public hearing was held first, regarding the Main Street assessment. Daren Sikkink, representing WHKS, gave a presentation about the project, which will include one block of South Main Street, between Centennial and South Streets. He explained that this was the final assessment hearing, so anyone who wished to file an appeal would have to indicate that before the end of the meeting. He also explained the appeal process, and gave an overview of the project, which includes installing curb and gutter, which will widen the street slightly (to 33 feet) and upgrading the sanitary sewer to an eight-inch pipe.
Sikkink explained that Wykoff’s standard process is to assess 20% of the assessable costs to the property owners impacted. He said in this case, the “typical assessment” comes out to $89.04 per foot of frontage on the street. He also outlined the payment options that these property owners would have. Sikkink said the project would likely start very soon (in July or August), and should be completed this fall. One property owner spoke up, asking if the curb cut could be altered at his property; Sikkink indicated this should be possible. No other property owners spoke up, and the council voted to set the assessment as submitted. The council also voted to approve taking out a $250,000 “Micro Loan” and awarded the project to the low bidder, Generation X Construction.
During the regular council meeting, the topic that garnered the most discussion was a proposal by a group called Wykoff By Design. Susan Nash addressed the council, explaining that the group held a community meeting on July 8, and got strong support for the idea of finding new uses for the vacant school building in Wykoff, which she likened to turning “lemons into lemonade.” She said about 45 citizens had attended the community meeting, and the clear consensus was for requesting Kingsland to grant an additional three-month period before deciding what to do with the building. There was also strong support for the idea that “Wykoff deserves to have some say” in what happens to the building. It was clarified that although Wykoff By Design has ideas for ways to repurpose the building, no interested investors have yet been found. Becky Schmidt pointed out that she’s learned that although such vacant buildings may appear to be full of opportunity, they are usually full of financial potholes for whoever owns them, including ongoing heating and maintenance, as well as any required clean-up (such as asbestos or other hazardous materials). After lengthy discussion, the council agreed to draft a letter of support asking for Kingsland to give the additional three months before deciding.
One citizen (Spencer) spoke up to describe a recent incident in which he claims that council member Rocky Vreeman shouted angrily at him, unprovoked, while Spencer was walking with his daughter. Spencer said he feels this “offensive behavior” was a breach of the city’s Code of Conduct, and he would simply request an apology. Mayor Williams will bring the issue up with Vreeman.
The council discussed what to do about the “Cavanaugh building,” with the two main options being to keep it or auction it off. It is currently zoned residential. The council chose to gather more information, and to hold a “workshop” meeting on July 17 at 7 p.m. to discuss the matter further.
Schmidt asked the council to consider approving her to purchase a credit card machine, so that citizens can pay the city via credit cards. She pointed out that each such payment would also incur an additional fee of roughly 2.5% for using the service. The council approved this purchase. The council also voted to reimburse Doreen Bergo for a portion of sidewalk she replaced after it was damaged by one of the city’s trees. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. The council’s next regular meeting will be Monday, August 13 at 7 p.m.
Leave a Reply