Caledonia Argus

City approves lift station

Posted: 3/26/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

There appears to be a resolution in sight for three property owners along McPhail Street in Caledonia who over the past two decades or so have experienced wastewater back-up into their basements following heavy rains.

At its meeting Monday night, the City Council agreed to build a lift station which will be located on property owned by Gladys Myhre. The cost of the lift station is estimated at $44,700 and is expandable. Property owner John Pongratz and the Methodist parsonage will contribute $3,500 each to the project, and Myhre will pay $2,000 since the lift station will be located on her property. She will give the city a permanent easement to the lift station.

The city decided upon the $3,500 fee based on the maximum property ownerís share of repairing sewer lines in the city.

John Pongratz agreed to the charges, but told the council, ìIf this is the only way we can do it, but Iím not real happy with it.î

Pongratz said problems in the area first began in the 1970s and the city has never solved the problem or discovered its cause. The problem did not exist before there was development to the north, he said.

The problem occurs because storm water somehow infiltrates the sanitary sewer during periods of heavy rain, causing the sanitary sewer to back up into the basements.

City passes moratorium on adult entertainment

In other news, the council reviewed and passed a moratorium on sexually-oriented businesses in the city. There are currently no such businesses operating in the city.

The moratorium will become effective the day after it is published in the newspaper.

The moratorium means that no such businesses, which include nude dancing, adult bookstores, adult movies theatres and the like, can be established for at least one year from the date the moratorium is published. During that year, the city will conduct a study with the intent of adopting policies regarding the establishment of adult-oriented businesses, and outline which activities would constitute a public nuisance.

According to city clerk Robert Nelson, the city probably cannot restrict all such activities due to the rights to free expression afforded by the First Amendment, but it can control activities associated with those businesses.

Council members said that there have been rumors about such a business starting in Caledonia.

Gambling approved

Two more businesses in Caledonia will soon have charitable gambling available to its patrons.

The council approved a proposal from the Dover Firemenís Relief Association to place pull-tab machines at Sonny and Bevís and The Ranch in Caledonia. The proposal was made with the support of the Caledonia Fire Department, which hopes to benefit from the money raised.

The Relief Association bears the responsibility for all the maintenance of the machines and pays a fee to rent space. It takes care of all administrative work as well, and receives half of the money generated by the machines. The other half goes to the city.

The voted was 4-1 with Councilman John Klug voting in the negative.

In other news, the council agreed to allow the Caledonia Wrestling Club to operate the concession stand during baseball season. The council noted that there is stll a need for an operator during the summer. The council agreed that it would advertise the position.

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