Caledonia Argus

City denies variance, abatement granted

Posted: 5/18/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

The Caledonia City Council denied an application for a variance for Matt Morey at its May 10 meeting.

Morey had requested a 16.25-foot setback variance for a deck on the north side of his home at 316 East Jefferson Street as well as 3-foot setbacks on the east and south side for a garage.

City clerk Bob Nelson informed the council that Morey had built a deck on the east side of his house on May 9. The deck is seven feet from his property line, which requires a variance because the minimum distance is 10 feet. Nelson said that neighbors did not object to the project.

Mayor Bob Burns said he was annoyed that Morey had ignored the need for city council approval before building the deck. ìThis happens periodically,î he said. ìMore often than we care to say.î

The council then passed a motion declining approval of his application. Morey needs to submit a new application and appear at the hearing. The motion also stated that if the application is declined, the new deck will have to be removed.

The council approved other variance requests for Orville Danielson, Randy Klinski, Eric Klug, Walter and Rosie Macomber, Nick and Arien OíHeron, and Roger and Donna Pearson.

ï JOBZ discussion: The council also approved a property tax abatement for Winona Controls, which wants to build a new office/shop/warehouse in lot four of the city industrial park. The abatement would not exceed $6,000 over 10 years.

The motion was contingent on Winona Controls using the JOBZ program instead of the cityís abatement if its JOBZ application is approved.

Discussion on JOBZ, which stands for Job Opportunity Building Zone, took up about 30 minutes of the four-hour-long meeting. Councilors heard from JOBZ coordinator Joyce Iverson, who is the Community /Business Development Coordinator for Southeast Minnesota Development Corporation. Iverson is also Caledoniaís Community Development Director.

(See county board story on this page for an explanation of the JOBZ program.)

Iverson explained that the building relocation project by Winona Controls into the cityís industrial park might qualify for JOBZ, which would provide tax exemptions versus abatements. Winona Controls could save an estimated $60,000 on the new property tax portion, based on a projected increase of about $6,000 per year for ten years. Corporate and sales tax exemptions are possible as well. The state of Minnesota will make the final decision on whether the application will be approved as a relocation. His proposed site is outside the JOBZ zone, and a land swap will be necessary, she said.

Mayor Burns questioned whether JOBZ was giving away more than it was getting. Iverson said that the new jobs that businesses are required to generate with JOBZ will have a positive ìspillover effect.î

Burns responded that it was not fair to established businesses. Iverson said that helping a business that is here to expand was a positive thing.

ï Utility extension: The council voted to spend $21,300 to extend the water main and sanitary sewer force main from a cul-de-sac in the Doering Estates to the existing manhole and the existing water main which now terminates at the northwest corner of the Alco parcel. The Alco parcel is located within the 23-acre Ma-Cal industrial park that also includes businesses such as Dairy Queen and the AmericInn. Doering Estates is located northeast of the high school and west of the Sprague woods.

ï Sewer project: The sanitary sewer project has a substantial completion date of June 4, Burns said, which means the streets should have their final overlay of blacktop in time for the cityís sesquicentennial celebration June 10-13. This excludes 3/4 of block on West Washington which still needs sewer work and wonít be started until after the sesquicentennial.

ï Storm shelter: Councilors discussed a letter from the Minnesota Department of Health about the need to have a storm shelter for the three mobile home parks in the city that do not have one. They discussed some possibilities, like having a police officer open a door to city hall when severe weather comes. They will discuss the issue with owners or representatives of the trailer courts.

ï Whispering Pines: The council reviewed a letter from county assessor Thomas Dybing regarding a court petition by the owners of Caledonia Elderly Housing (formerly Golden Age Elderly Housing). The owners are objecting to an increase in taxes from $9,972 in 2003 to $12,666 in 2004.

ï Liquor License: The council approved a liquor license for American Legion Post 191. The group has fixed up the former VFW bar at 129 South Marshall Street` and plans to open it soon.

ï Population falling: Councilors noted a report from Minnesota State Demographer R. Thomas Gillaspy that the City of Caledonia had an April 1, 2003 population estimate of 2,961, which is less than the 2000 census figure of 2,965. That prompted councilor John Klug to pass on ñ with a smile ñ a slogan going around the high school: ìConceive or consolidate.î

ï Close call at school: Councilor Mark Schiltz said at the end of the meeting that there was a close call with a driver who almost hit a student on Highway 44 by Esch Road. Schiltz suggested putting flashing lights there. City Clerk Nelson said he would look into that.

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