Posted: 6/19/07
City council denies Snodgrass house improvement application
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Stating the proposed improvements to his motherís mobile home would extend the life of a non-conforming structure, the Caledonia City Council voted 4-1 to deny Norman Snodgrassí zoning application during the June 11 council meeting.
Snodgrass had applied for a building permit to construct a 12 by 16-foot addition to Paulette Lawsonís mobile home, located at 825 North Kingston Street. He told the council the project would include a new roof over the entire structure, new windows, siding, and replacement of the skirting with veneered stucco, which would give the mobile home a ranch house look.
City Administrator Bob Nelson pointed out according to city code, a non-conforming structure cannot have its lifetime extended. If the structure is destroyed by fire, a natural disaster, or over time becomes unlivable, it cannnot be replaced.
According to Administrative Coordinator Mike Gerardy, Lawsonís non-conforming mobile home was not the only issue. A dry well and sanitary drainfield, which serve Lawsonís home are not on the same parcel of land the mobile home is located on, but on a piece of property which appears to be owned by the city. The city is in the process of determining who owns the property.
"The question before the council is does the council wish to consider improvements to a trailer which is a non-conforming use, especially when this property issue is still up in the air?" Nelson said.
Mayor Mike Morey made a motion to deny Snodgrassí application. His motion was seconded by Councilman Paul Fisch and passed 4-1 with Councilman Bob Standish voting against and Morey, Fisch, and councilmen Gary Klug and Randi Vick voting for the motion to deny.
"Where does this leave me?" Snodgrass asked the council. "I was hoping to improve the looks of my motherís home, so when people came driving into town, they would see a ranch-style house instead of an old trailer. I donít see why the city doesnít want to have this improved."
Snodgrass asked the council if he would be allowed to install new windows and maintain it. He was encouraged to discuss any maintenance or improvement plans with Gerardy.
New ambulance rates approved
Nelson walked the council through an ambulance rate analysis, which was prepared by City Accountant Stephanie Mann. Nelson explained he and Ambulance Director Mike Tornstrom had discussed various ways other ambulance services determined their rates. After reviewing some of them, they arrived with a new way to calculate rates.
All of the expenditures were totalled and then divided by the number of calls to come up with the rates. Using this procedure, nelson presented the following rates:
Subsidized customers
(city residents and persons living in townships that are part of the ambulance service district)
Emergency and non-emergency
calls - $530
Advanced life support - $250
Mileage (per loaded mile) $9.35
Non-subsidized customers
Emergency and non-emergency
calls - $575
Advanced life support $250
Mileage (per loaded mile) $9.35
Electric shop progress
Gerardy updated the council on the construction of the cityís new electric shop, located near the wastewater treatment plant. The walls were going up and trusses set last week. Because the construction of the 60 by 120-foot building includes steel walls and a steel roof, once the trusses are in place, the exterior work will go fast, Gerardy said.
The current city building does not have a controlled environment, which Gerardy said is a must when working with equipment during the winter months. The existing building, which is 50 by 100 feet, will be used for cold storage.
Sprague Woods Trail completed
The city trail from Esch Drive (near the Dairy Queen) to Sprague Woods has been completed, according to Gerardy. The 850-foot long crushed lime trail will make it much easier for students to get from the high school/middle school complex to the woods located on the north edge of town.
"It will be ideal for kids when they have school projects and need to get to the woods," Gerardy noted. The trail will also come in handy for hikers and bikers, using the blacktopped trail, which runs along Highway 44.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com