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Citizen concerns dominate City Council meeting
Two lengthy discussions on citizen's concerns dominated Monday's nearly three hour city council meeting.
Dana Kinley along with Bud and Stan Norris were in attendance with five concerns with issues of another builder on Clover Lane.
Later, Marsha and Hugh Shown, representing the neighborhood in the area of Fourth and Madison, presented two concerns.
Kinley, who is in partnership with Stan Norris in Kinley-Norris Properties and own five of the 10 duplexes on Clover, was
concerned with weeds exceeding the city's maximum growth height; two structures that have not been completed after a lengthy
time frame; an open foundation and crawl space that is felt to be dangerous; using city streets to store construction materials and
seeking oil and chipping of Clover which has "become a thriving residential area."
Kinley pointed out that they had been patient with the Landers Family, owners of the properties in question. On a question about
building permits and their duration, mayor Joe Powell explained that the outside of a given structure has to be completed, including
the yard within six months. If not, the permit is revoked and a new application, good for 30 days, can be obtained for a $250 fee.
Kinley asked if this had occurred, the answer being no it hasn't. Letters concerning the unfinished buildings and storing materials
in the street will be written to Landers.
City attorney Pete LaBarre said that if the unfinished structures were boarded up it would satisfy city laws, the mayor adding that we
are limited to what we can legislate.
In answer to a question from Stan Norris about the right to say no to allowing a building permit, the answer was not as the law is
written.
Kinley said that they were losing money, but they want to continue. Stan Norris adding that we bought 10 of the 15 lots, thought it
was a good spot, thought we had the backing of the city council.
Norris told the Citizen after the meeting that all we want is to have the outside of the structures completed, meaning entrance
doors and garage doors, windows in all and grass seeded and kept moved. "We really don't care about the inside."
Presently, Landers has four building sites, one with just an excavation, the other three started, one completed.
The fifth request by the Kinley-Norris group will be satisfied. It was informed that Clover was on the list of streets to be rocked and
oiled this summer, probably late this month.
The Showns, with Marsha as spokesman, stated their concerns with a property at the corner of Fourth and Jackson owned by
Georgia Moore, citing a city ordinance about abandoned and inoperable cars.
Tuesday, Police Chief Bruce Centko said that he sent an officer to take care of what city ordinances have power over. This was to
have everything off city right-of-way. This included one car and a gooseneck trailer. If the infractions occur again, citations will be
issued.
Centko said that city ordinance reads that any vehicle parked on city right-of-way must be licensed and operable and vehicles 100
percent on private property must be operable.
The Showns took most of their 45 minutes in discussing the refrigeration truck noises, backed by neighbor Pat Ramsey, Marsha
Shown reciting from three letters pertaining to the subject.
The Showns were also concerned about the possibility of a lot adjacent to their residence at Fourth and Madison feeling it might
be used for a building that would also have refrigeration noises, 25 feet from their bedroom window.
Tuesday, the Citizen talked with Tony Magro, president of the Magro Processing who said that the possibility of completing the
proposed expansion of the business to the east has run into some snags, such as easements with both the railroad and
AmerenCIPS. One of the silos is slightly on railroad property.
In a Citizen story in April on the expansion, Magro said he hoped to have the expansion completed by the fall and the start of deer
season. That is out of the question now.
Mayor Powell told the Citizen Tuesday that he talked with Magro earlier that day and it is possible an effort would be made to move
the refrigeration trucks. However, the move might hamper the expansion somewhat.
Although the Showns have had to put up with the noises for several years, Hugh said that "we really don't want to shut him down."
To this, Marc Landers answered, I've been on the council about a year and at one of my first meetings it appeared you had kissed
and made up. "Today you're not happy. I'm not picking sides, but you seem to be of a different mind set now."
Mayor Powell told the council that four different contractors had been advised to bid on the repair of the Community Building
damaged with a teenage motorist smashed into the front in mid-May.
The council voted 5-1 (Landers no), C. Berola and Svetlik absent) to award the bid to Custom Exteriors Plastering Co. of Auburn
(Tom Sandness) contingent upon approval by the insurance company who will pay the bill.
Sandness told the council that he meets all the rules and regulations, prevailing wage, etc. If and when approved he felt that he
would need about three weeks to complete the job.
In other action, the council:
— held first readings for the appropriations ordinance which must be passed at the July 21 meeting, the prevailing wage
ordinance and a change in the city code pertaining to what must be completed before building permits can be issued;
— approved (6-0) the appointments recommended by mayor Powell for the library board, all incumbents, Tanya Helms, Ken
Reedy and Tony Rothering;
— accepted the resignation (6-0) of David LeConte as a member of the Zoning Board and replaced him with Kurt Powell (6-0);
— was informed by Supt. Bill Karhliker that Folkstone Development, owners of Willemore Estates, had asked for the uncompleted
punch list after LaBarre reported asking Folkstone to appear at the next meeting to explain its plans;
— was told by office manager Connie Powell that 174 residents had signed up for the emergency phone service which will be
tried for one year;
— was told by Karhliker that painting of the water tower should start next week;
— approved 6-0 a request by Chief Centko to put up an old police car for bids;
— was told by Public Health officer Landers that eight high weed and grass letters had been sent.
Two lengthy discussions on citizen's concerns dominated Monday's nearly three hour city council meeting.
Dana Kinley along with Bud and Stan Norris were in attendance with five concerns with issues of another builder on Clover Lane.
Later, Marsha and Hugh Shown, representing the neighborhood in the area of Fourth and Madison, presented two concerns.
Kinley, who is in partnership with Stan Norris in Kinley-Norris Properties and own five of the 10 duplexes on Clover, was
concerned with weeds exceeding the city's maximum growth height; two structures that have not been completed after a lengthy
time frame; an open foundation and crawl space that is felt to be dangerous; using city streets to store construction materials and
seeking oil and chipping of Clover which has "become a thriving residential area."
Kinley pointed out that they had been patient with the Landers Family, owners of the properties in question. On a question about
building permits and their duration, mayor Joe Powell explained that the outside of a given structure has to be completed, including
the yard within six months. If not, the permit is revoked and a new application, good for 30 days, can be obtained for a $250 fee.
Kinley asked if this had occurred, the answer being no it hasn't. Letters concerning the unfinished buildings and storing materials
in the street will be written to Landers.
City attorney Pete LaBarre said that if the unfinished structures were boarded up it would satisfy city laws, the mayor adding that we
are limited to what we can legislate.
In answer to a question from Stan Norris about the right to say no to allowing a building permit, the answer was not as the law is
written.
Kinley said that they were losing money, but they want to continue. Stan Norris adding that we bought 10 of the 15 lots, thought it
was a good spot, thought we had the backing of the city council.
Norris told the Citizen after the meeting that all we want is to have the outside of the structures completed, meaning entrance
doors and garage doors, windows in all and grass seeded and kept moved. "We really don't care about the inside."
Presently, Landers has four building sites, one with just an excavation, the other three started, one completed.
The fifth request by the Kinley-Norris group will be satisfied. It was informed that Clover was on the list of streets to be rocked and
oiled this summer, probably late this month.
The Showns, with Marsha as spokesman, stated their concerns with a property at the corner of Fourth and Jackson owned by
Georgia Moore, citing a city ordinance about abandoned and inoperable cars.
Tuesday, Police Chief Bruce Centko said that he sent an officer to take care of what city ordinances have power over. This was to
have everything off city right-of-way. This included one car and a gooseneck trailer. If the infractions occur again, citations will be
issued.
Centko said that city ordinance reads that any vehicle parked on city right-of-way must be licensed and operable and vehicles 100
percent on private property must be operable.
The Showns took most of their 45 minutes in discussing the refrigeration truck noises, backed by neighbor Pat Ramsey, Marsha
Shown reciting from three letters pertaining to the subject.
The Showns were also concerned about the possibility of a lot adjacent to their residence at Fourth and Madison feeling it might
be used for a building that would also have refrigeration noises, 25 feet from their bedroom window.
Tuesday, the Citizen talked with Tony Magro, president of the Magro Processing who said that the possibility of completing the
proposed expansion of the business to the east has run into some snags, such as easements with both the railroad and
AmerenCIPS. One of the silos is slightly on railroad property.
In a Citizen story in April on the expansion, Magro said he hoped to have the expansion completed by the fall and the start of deer
season. That is out of the question now.
Mayor Powell told the Citizen Tuesday that he talked with Magro earlier that day and it is possible an effort would be made to move
the refrigeration trucks. However, the move might hamper the expansion somewhat.
Although the Showns have had to put up with the noises for several years, Hugh said that "we really don't want to shut him down."
To this, Marc Landers answered, I've been on the council about a year and at one of my first meetings it appeared you had kissed
and made up. "Today you're not happy. I'm not picking sides, but you seem to be of a different mind set now."
Mayor Powell told the council that four different contractors had been advised to bid on the repair of the Community Building
damaged with a teenage motorist smashed into the front in mid-May.
The council voted 5-1 (Landers no), C. Berola and Svetlik absent) to award the bid to Custom Exteriors Plastering Co. of Auburn
(Tom Sandness) contingent upon approval by the insurance company who will pay the bill.
Sandness told the council that he meets all the rules and regulations, prevailing wage, etc. If and when approved he felt that he
would need about three weeks to complete the job.
In other action, the council:
— held first readings for the appropriations ordinance which must be passed at the July 21 meeting, the prevailing wage
ordinance and a change in the city code pertaining to what must be completed before building permits can be issued;
— approved (6-0) the appointments recommended by mayor Powell for the library board, all incumbents, Tanya Helms, Ken
Reedy and Tony Rothering;
— accepted the resignation (6-0) of David LeConte as a member of the Zoning Board and replaced him with Kurt Powell (6-0);
— was informed by Supt. Bill Karhliker that Folkstone Development, owners of Willemore Estates, had asked for the uncompleted
punch list after LaBarre reported asking Folkstone to appear at the next meeting to explain its plans;
— was told by office manager Connie Powell that 174 residents had signed up for the emergency phone service which will be
tried for one year;
— was told by Karhliker that painting of the water tower should start next week;
— approved 6-0 a request by Chief Centko to put up an old police car for bids;
— was told by Public Health officer Landers that eight high weed and grass letters had been sent.
Issue Date: July 10, 2008
