Caledonia Argus

City sets hearing to consider salvage yard permit

Posted: 7/23/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The city council addressed the issue of salvage yards at its regular meeting Monday evening, July 22.

The council heard from Russell Besse, who is attempting to obtain a permit to operate a salvage yard on East Main Street in Caledonia. According to Besse, he has been trying to get a permit for about five years, and has been unable to find out what requirements there would be for a salvage yard.

The latest question before the council was what type of screening would be acceptable at the location, and whether something other than a fence could be used.

Besse told the council that he would like to place five 8 x 12 storage buildings at the front of the site to screen the view, and add a gate and several feet of fence to the area not covered by the buildings. The parcel has 95 feet of frontage.

The city ordinance regarding salvage yards is that they be screened with a fence which is at least 8 feet high in order to ìrender imperceptibleî the activities within the fenced area.

The council discussed whether the buildings would be acceptable as a screen, or whether a fence should be installed.

Besse told the council that it is his intent to put non-salvage items in front of the buildings to attract buyers. The salvage material would be concealed in the back part of the lot. Implement dealers and others have items for sale in plain view, Besse pointed out.

The buildings are made of colored steel with a white roof and are on skids. They will be offered for sale or rent, or used for storage, Besse told the council.

Councilman Paul Fisch expressed a concern over whether the buildings, if sold, would be replaced in a timely manner. Besse said that they would, and there was a suggestion that if the buildings were found to be acceptable in lieu of a fence, that a time limit be added.

The council indicated that the storage sheds may be an acceptable alternative to a fence. However, before a salvage yard license can be given, a public hearing must be held. That hearing was set for August 12 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. In order to qualify for the salvage yard permit, Besse must submit an application, a plan to control pests at the site and a fire inspection.

Besse asked the council about the ordinances regarding demolition cards and junked cars in the city. He said he feels harassed for his actions while others with those kinds of items in plain view are not.

Councilman Paul Fisch asked about cars that are licensed and not operable. He said he has received about 10 complaints over junked cars recently.

There are ordinances, said Mayor Burns, but they have been difficult to enforce.

Warrior Avenue proposed as street name

In other news, the council heard from ISD #299 school board member Chuck Schulte, who asked that the council consider changing the name of Gjere Avenue to Warrior Avenue. The request was made on the basis of a survey of students by students last year, asking what street name the students would prefer.

City Clerk administrator Robert Nelson pointed out that the residents already living on Gjere Avenue would be inconvenienced because they would have to change their addresses on drivers licenses, mail, checks and the like. He suggested that as an alternative, the street name be changed only from the proposed intersection of Kruckow Avenue North to the school. There was some concern over changing the name of a street in the middle, however.

Mayor Burns said a better plan would be to rename Esch Drive since that is the street people would see from the highway. However, theat street does not yet extend to the school, although the city and school district have taken steps to try to obtain land for the street through eminent domain.

Schulte volunteered to canvas the residents of Gjere Avenue and report back to the council on August 12, the next regular meeting.

Representatives of Ma Cal Developers, owners of the land, their attorney, and the school district and its attorney plan to attend the August 12 meeting of the city council to discuss the eminent domain issue. A hearing has been set for August 14 in District Court.

Firemen get raise

In other news, the council approved a raise for firemen from $7 per hour to $10 per hour, a move already approved by the fire district. The city pays for fire calls within the city limits, and the fire district for calls in the townships.

Last year, the city paid about $4,000 to firemen in addition to contributing to the retirement fund.

The city will now pay firemen through its regular payroll and take the necessary deductions. The raise is retroactive to January 1.

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