Caledonia Argus

Council may consider ban of roadside sales

Posted: 9/30/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Sellers of fruits, vegetables, baskets and other goods may not be able to set up shop along the cityís right of way in the future.

At the city council meeting of September 22, City Clerk /Administrator Robert Nelson said that his office received a complaint about a party that was selling baskets near the Kwik Trip parking lot. The area is on the cityís street right of way. That spot has been used for sale of corn, strawberries, and other produce.

ìItís a legitimate concern,î said Mayor Robert Burns. ìMaybe we should prohibit those sales on public property.î

Councilman John Klug agreed, but said that he would like to give sellers advance notice of the cityís intent to prohibit those sales. The city would need to draft an ordinance regulating roadside sales.

The council agreed to take up the issue for next year after the city ordinances and codes have been compiled and brought up to date.

The city also took a step towards regulating noise in the city. The issue has been discussed at prior council meetings. At the meeting of the 23rd, the council agreed to share the cost of a sound meter with the police auxiliary. The total cost of the unit is $660.

Clerk Nelson commented that ìSound meters take the guesswork out of it,î referring to the ability to measure the decibel level of sounds to determine whether they exceed the acceptable levels set by the council. It was also noted that the city can limit operation of noisy equipment, such as construction equipment or leaf blowers, to certain hours.

The city is reviewing ordinances from other cities before deciding whether to draft a sound ordinance of its own.

The council voted 4-1 to purchase the sound meter with the police auxiliary. Randi Vick voted in the negative.

Free standing car portsdiscussed by council

The question of whether the city should allow free-standing car ports was posed to the council. There are a variety of such structures available,including those that are high enough to cover a motorhome.

Councilman Mark Schiltz said he believed such structures should not be approved for use within the city limits. Mayor Burns noted that they are ìnot pleasing to look at,î and have little structural integrity. He also raised the question of how the city should handle those that may already be in place.

The council did not make a final determination on the matter.

City may charge forhauling unsold goods

The city may no longer haul away goods that are not sold following the annual Lutheran Home rummage sale, or it may charge for providing the service, the council determined at its last meeting.

This year, the cityís paid about $100 in overtime to city employees for hauling the unsold items away from the auditorium, where the rummage sale is held.

ìNotify them of the expense,î said Mayor Burns. ìIt is a fine event, but we canít afford to continue to provide that service.î

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