By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy
Citizens who live close to Pat Doering’s property in Wykoff expressed their concerns Monday, March 8, at City Hall, noting that they feel powerless to affect the zoning decisions made by the county because the city does not have a zoning committee.The property in question is up for rezoning consideration since Ostrander Co-op would like to purchase it for commercial use. Councilman Tim Grabau answered some questions about whether corn would be dumped on the ground there, stating, “I think they’re updating their corn storage, so I don’t think there’ll be corn on the ground.”Resident and former councilmember Tim Zwart said, “I would like it in the mayor’s next newsletter that Wykoff has no control over its zoning – citizens have to know that they no longer can go to the city for zoning.” Mayor Mike Holzer related, “My big concern is finding four to five people to serve on a zoning board for us. If we can’t handle that, we can’t have our own zoning. We’ve never had our own zoning. It used to be that a lot of towns were zoned through the county, but now there are only two left – us and Canton.” Holzer agreed to notify residents of the council’s intent to form a zoning committee and contact the county for further direction on how to proceed.In other business, Sally Affeldt of the Wykoff Historical Society presented a $5,000 grant application for which she noted “we might’ve jumped the gun,” because the application included the city as a paying party in tuck-pointing the brick at the Jailhouse Inn.The historical society has received only a letter from the Fischer Foundation stating that the society will receive half its requested amount if the city will match half the cost of tuck-pointing the Jailhouse.Affeldt shared that the job is estimated to cost $5,320, and that the maintenance is “recommended by the historical society and a contractor.” Holzer estimated that the city’s portion would be anywhere from $2,500 to $2,800, an amount that wasn’t included in the annual budget.Councilmember Betty Niemeyer said, “That’s a lot of money right now.” Holzer said, “We’re willing to split the balance after the grant comes, but we’re not blessed with a lot of money here. We’ll do our best to help, but it would be nice to know that the city is included when the historical society applies for a grant.”Changing when utility meters are read came up next, as the council had discussed making the spring meter reads April instead of March so that city maintenance foreman Al Williams could have easier access to the meters instead of crawling in snow and mud.Grabau stated, “I hate to change this because it will mess up the schedule. I know some years March is bad with snow, and some years it’s not.” The city currently collects meter readings every three months and bills accordingly. Holzer agreed that this winter “has been a difficult winter” with large snow banks and now growing lake-sized puddles. Grabau observed, “It’s time to look at the options of front-mounted meters.” City clerk Cheryl Davis said that she’d inquired on quotes for a new electronic meter reader and meters and received estimates of $9,995 for the reader and approximately $190 each for meters. Holzer commented, “You’re looking at a pretty good expense – $10,000 just to get a reader. That’s a tough one at this time.” The council voted to remove a 50-cent fuel surcharge from residents’ utility bills because Waste Management, the city’s waste handler, removed the charge from its bills. Next, the council examined what to do about replacing maple trees that were taken out of the sidewalk in downtown Wykoff. Suggestions from citizens included re-planting some trees and placing flower planters where some of the trees had been.Councilwoman Michele Hitchcock has offered to donate six 15-foot flagpoles to be placed where the trees stood, and the city is “welcome to put in whatever flags you want – I’ll be willing to donate the flags.” The mayor related that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) listed oak trees as slow-growing shade providers for downtown sidewalk planting. Councilman Jeremy Comstock expressed his opinion that “we ought to put seven trees back in downtown … it looks pretty bare, and if we get hold of the Arbor Day Foundation, they’d probably help.” Lastly, Comstock volunteered to install patio block around the garden at the Wykoff Community Hall, as he felt that the existing wood retaining rails are wearing out and have become shabby.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.