New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff Writer
The New Richland City Council approved an amendment to the city zoning ordinance and rezoning of a parcel at its second meeting of the month on Monday, May 23. A public hearing was held on May 18 at City Hall by the Planning Commission regarding the amendments, which were proposed after a request by Casey’s Retail Company to allow construction of a convenience store.
The parcel to be rezoned from a residential (R-1) to highway commercial (C-3) district is located at 411 2nd St. SE and is currently occupied by One Stop gas station.
The amendment applies to Chapter 10 of the City Code of Ordinances, modifying the front, side and rear setback standards of a C-3 district to: front yard, 20 ft.; side and rear yards, 10 ft.; 20 ft. side and rear yards bordering residential zone. Prior to the council’s approval, the setback standards for C-3 were 50 ft. front, 20 ft. sides and rear, and 30 ft. sides and rear bordering residential.
The hearing determined that the amendments are compatible with the city’s compressive development plan, will result in reasonable buffers for the type of commercial business allowed in a C-3 district, and the changes will not significantly alter the character of the neighborhood. Resolution 16-07 was passed by the council enacting the amendment and rezoning Parcel 15.106.0100.
The PeopleService report was presented, stating that wastewater treatment for April was good, lab test results came back well within permit limits, and that the Wastewater Treatment plant’s generator worked adequately during the citywide power outage that occurred in the early morning hours of April 19. It was mentioned that the city’s portable emergency pump needs a new fuel pump and carb kit. The report was approved.
Ryan Nissen presented the Maintenance Dept. report; 22 delinquent bills/disconnect notices were delivered in April, resulting in three shut-offs, all of which have been turned back on. An annual well inspection took place recently, and no wells are scheduled to be pulled this year. Purchases of a used box blade for $580 and sand for the St. Olaf Lake beach, $270 for 18 tons at $15/ton, were approved.
Three quotes were considered for chip seal work to be done, with approval going to Pearson Bros., Inc. The city has worked with Pearson for about 10 years. The total cost for the city amounts to $29,639.61. Work will cover roughly 20,000 square yards of city property at $1.47/sq. yd., plus the care center parking lot (total $7,740 to be paid for by the center), 4,500 square yards at $1.72/sq. yd. The report was approved.
Don Alexander presented the care center report, stating that the census is currently down slightly due to six deaths that occurred recently. The new Bariatric Bed has been received and has helped to admit residents that other facilities are not able to due to weight restrictions. Four more smart TVs have also been ordered, and a new cable contract is being looked into as the current one has expired. Financials and accounts payable were approved; the report was approved.
The last item of business was whether to sign a lease for a solar garden to be built; the city will provide the property, and in return receive a certain amount of credit from Xcel. The council approved the lease draft and eventual signing of the lease. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.