Posted: 9/20/05
School intersection to get flashing lights
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Students who walk and bike to Caledonia Middle School/High School may be a little safer in the near future.
The Minnesota Department of transportation has approved the cityís application for installation of warning lights on Highway 44/76, with one light for each direction.
An engineer with MnDOT visited Caledonia Wednesday and gave the go-ahead for the lights. The council had already made a motion at its meeting of September 12 to purchase the lights, if approved, and they were ordered the same day. They are due to arrive in 3-4 weeks. The cost of the lights will be split between the city and the school district and the city will handle the installation. The cost for the lights is $3,000. There will be additional expenses for the poles, concrete and misellaneous items.
The city has been working on securing lights for the intersection for several months. It rejected a proposal for an engineering study from Davy Engineering that would have cost $9,000, and instead used city personnel to prepare the application. Houston County assisted the city with determining site distances, and Mike Gerardy prepared traffic and pedestrian counts for the report. At the request of councilman Robert Standish, the city contacted officials in Pipestone, Minnesota and requested a copy of the successful application that city prepared for a similar situation.
The new flashing lights will be installed on poles and be operated with a timer. It may be possible for the timer to be set for one-time events that will bring increased traffic to the intersection.
The lights are expected to arrive in about a month.
Contested land issue resolved
In another matter, the council learned that a dispute regarding a parcel of land has been resolved.
Betty Schwirtz of 123 W. Caledonia Street had learned that a land survey showed that a 30 ft. x 60 ft. strip of land which she purchased eight years ago actually belongs to another party. The party, B&D Sealcoating, is being sold and the new owner, Peter Molling, is seeking a variance to build an addition.
Schwirtz contacted a land surveyor who reviewed the survey and agreed with its findings and will not pursue the matter any further. She did request that a fence be constructed along the property line.
Tom Molling, who was speaking on behalf of his son, owner Peter Molling, said he would like until August 1, 2006, to construct the fence. He said Peter plans to keep the area behind the Schwirtz and Halverson houses cleaned up.
ìIíd like to have until August 1, and at that time if she doesnít like what weíve done, they can require a fence,î he said.
The council approved a variance of 27-ft. from the west property line and a 25-ft. variance from the north property line to build a 50-ft. by 72-ft. building. The land is zoned industrial.
In addition, the council designated the street closest to the parcel as ìGrant Lane.î The street is not actually owned by the city and is the former railroad right-of-way, but the designation was a made so that emergency vehicles will be able to determine the location.
Preliminary plat reviewed
In another matter, the council viewed a preliminary plat for RG&G, LLC, a partnership of Pete and Nick Gengler and Joe Rud.
The parcel includes land which lay to the south of the current Sno-Pac processing facility in the Industrial Park. It is currently zoned agricultural. Peter Gengler told the council that he would like to put a shop up there this fall.
The council explained that eventually a public hearing will be required in order to finalize the plat.
The council set a special meeting for Monday, September 19, to discuss the plans for development.
Alternate side parking gets final approval
The council has made alternate side parking for the winter official.
The council adopted an ordinance for alternate side parking which will be in effect from November 1 to March 31. The starting date is two weeks later than the council had originally discussed.
Under t he new ordinance, cars must be parked on the side of the street with even-numbered houses on even-numbered days, and on the side of the street with odd numbers on odd days between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. The ordinance applies to trash containers, trailers, and other items that hinder snow plowing.
The fine for violating the ordinance is $15 if paid within 14 days, after which time it doubles. The owner of the vehicle must pay for towing and storage.
The alternate side requirement does not apply to streets on which parking is allowed on one side only.
In other news, the city council agreed to hire a temporary replacement for police department secretary Amy Hoscheit, who is on a maternity leave.
The council also learned that two homes on East Washington Street are not connected to the cityís sanitary sewer system. City clerk administrator Robert Nelson said he is researching the cityís options.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com