Caledonia Argus

City approves permit for salvage yard on Main Street

Posted: 8/13/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The city council agreed Monday evening to grant a permit for a salvage yard on East Main Street to Russell Besse, provided that certain conditions are met.

The action came following a public hearing at which several people spoke against having the salvage yard at that location.

Besse has ben operating at that location for several years, but there has never been a permit issued.

Harlan Moen, who owns property that adjoins the salvage yard on the north, asked the council, ìIs that an ideal place on Main Street in Caledonia?î He also voiced concerns that the presence of a salvage yard would depress property values.

Chuck Ellingson, who owns property to the east, told the council that the city has enough blighted areas and it should work to clean them up. He said he is against any salvage yard within the city limits of Caledonia.

ìItís one of quite a few areas in the city of Caledonia that should be cleaned up. This is a chance to start doing something.î

Mayor Robert Burns said that the lot in question is located in an area that is zoned industrial, and that salvage yards are permitted in industrial areas. He said the city council would have a hard time turning down the permit when it is permitted use under the city zoning ordinance.

ìWe would have to have a reason not to grant it,î said Burns.

At the close of the public hearing, Burns made the motion to approve the special use permit requested by Besse, to deny a two-foot variance for a fence around the perimeter and require that the fence be eight feet tall, and to deny a request that steel buildings that will be for sale would be used instead of a fence on the south (Main Street) property line. He noted that trees on the west side of the property line provide an adequate screen, but if the trees were to be removed a fence would have to be erected in their place.

The salvage yard license will be good for one year only. As part of the motion, Burns also asked that a comprehensive plan regarding rodent control be in place by September 1.

The motion passed 4-1 with council member Randi Vick voting nay.

Walkway plan to be bid

In other business Monday evening, the council agreed to accept bids on a walkway which would begin at Main Street, go along the highway on the east to Foltz Drive past Dairy Queen then west to the new school. The walkway would go along Esch Drive. The city and school are currently attempting to obtain right of way along Esch Drive through eminent domain. The estimated cost of the walkway is $114,632.

Councilman John Klug said he has reservations about starting the project before it can be determined where the foot traffic will be.

ìWe donít know which way the kids are going to goî said Klug. He suggested waiting a year before starting the walkway.

Mayor Burns moved to authorize Davy Engineering to prepare bids for the project up to an aggregate surface, with an alternate bid that is to include asphalt surfacing and lights. The motion passed unanimously. Bids will be advertised for two weeks, and the bid opening will be September 9. The city is not obligated to accept bids, however.

Also discussed by the council was financing for approximately $842,000 in needed sanitary sewer improvements in the city. The improvements affect about half of the city. Dick Asleson of Juran and Moody, presented the council with several options for financing over a 20-year period. Councilman Klug asked him to return with figures for a 15-year payback in order to save money on interest. Those figures will be presented at a later date.

The board agreed to allow Davy Engineering to prepare plans for bidding.

According to engineer Mike Davy, it is unlikely that any major portions of the project could start this year.

Diversity forum is August 22

A forum on diversity of scheduled form 9 a.m. to noon on AUgust 22 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, La Crescent. The purpose of the forum is to respond to changing demographics within Houston County.

ìWe hope to set the stage for an increasingly inclusive community, one that is knowledgeable and accepting of all new residents in the area,î said Kathy Lawson of Houston County Womenís Resources.

The forum is sponsored by the Houston County Collaborative. All are welcome. Please call La Crescent-Hokah Community Ed at 507-895-5150 by August 21 to register.

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