Caledonia Argus

City sets new deadline for salvage yard

Posted: 12/30/02

by Jane Palen
Managing Editor

The city council has again extended a deadline for a salvage yard owner to comply with conditions that will allow the city to issue a salvage yard permit.

The owner of the property on East Main, Russell Besse, told council members Paul Fisch and Mark Schiltz that he is once again interested in operating a salvage yard. Besse had first applied in August for a permit to operate a salvage yard, and at that time the city set some conditions on that permit being granted. Besse was to have in place an 8 ft. fence to screen the salvage, and a plan for mosquito and rodent control to the city clerk by October 1. When those items did not get turned into the city, Besse was contacted and asked to return to a meeting. On December 9, Besse attended a meeting of the city council and informed the council that he was no longer interested in having a salvage yard and would be removing material from the site. He said that he would be making retail sales at that location. Also at that meeting, he said that the city had failed to define what it meant by ìsalvage,î and that he was under the impression that he could not erect a fence without a zoning permit.

The land is zoned industrial and a salvage yard is a permitted use in an industrial area.

However, Schiltz and Besse reported to the council that on a recent visit to the site to check the progress of the clean-up, Besse indicated at that time that he would still like to pursue a salvage yard permit. He told the council members that he would like until May 1 to meet the conditions set in August. He said he would be unable to erect a fence at this time because the ground is frozen.

Councilman John Klug commented, ìAre we getting the run around or is this a legitimate change in plans?î Council member Randi Vick also questioned whether Besse would change his mind again before May 1.

Councilmen Fisch and Schiltz said that they believe that the May 1 deadline will be honored.

Mayor Robert Burns noted that the conditions must all be met by May 1.

The vote on the issue was 4 -1 with Vick opposed.

In other news, the council reviewed labor agreements that have been negotiated with the City of Caledonia Employee Association and Caledonia Police Association. A recommendation will be made the first week in January. The city did approve wages for five employees who are not members of the association.

One of the questions raised during the discussion was whether Police Chief Duane St. Mary should be paid a salary rather than an hourly wage.

Councilman Fisch said that before the council decides to make a change, it should first decide what it expects from a salaried employee and communicate those expectations to the police chief.

Fire department gets grant for equipment

The Caledonia Fire Department has received a $5,000 grant from the Arlin Falck Foundation for protective fire gear. The city has also requested $3,125 to be paid from the Dover Fire Association charitable gambling funds for the purchase of fiberglass air bottles. The fire department was turned down in its attempt to secure a firefighters grant from FEMA. The agency received almost 20,000 applications from fire departments around the country.

City purchases sludge machine

The city council has agreed to trade in its current sludge machine for a 1992 model with 900 hours and a 2,200 gallon tank. The value of the machine, which is seven years newer than the cityís current machine and has 500 fewer hours, is valued at $60,000. The city was offered and accepted a trade for $27,000. The unit comes with a h30 day warranty.

Four council members voted in favor and Councilman John Klug abstained.

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