Jefferson code enforcement officer Chad Stevens reported at the Oct. 24 city council meeting that a change in the city ordinance that would have made it challenging for some owners of campers and boats to park them at their homes has been tabled until the spring.
The ordinance would prohibit parking campers, boats, and busses in the 30-foot front yard setback in residential areas. About two dozen residents attended the Sept. 26 council meeting asking questions and sharing their concerns about the ordinance when it was first proposed.
Council housing committee members Darren Jackson and Harry Ahrenholtz said Tuesday they had driven around the town and found fewer than 10 instances of non-compliance. “As far as urgency, it doesn’t seem like something that has a level of urgency… it can wait. In the meantime, we can visit with the 10 that we observed and see if there are alternatives before we put an ordinance on it,” he said.
Jackson said he didn’t want residents who winter in the South to worry all winter about where they’d park their campers when they return.
“Safety would be the biggest thing, and we didn’t see anything glaring there, even with those on side lots or corner lots. That’s why we decided to postpone,” Ahrenholtz said.
The change was suggested by the planning and zoning board. Members on that board are appointed, not elected.
Also at the Oct. 24 meeting, the council approved a 5 percent increase in water rates. The flat rate for the first 134 cubic feet of water will increase to $13.07. The rate for water usage more than 134 cu.ft. will be $8.20 per 100 cu.ft.
City administrator Scott Peterson provided information of what the increases will mean for residents. A 1-person household using an average 270 cu.ft. of water will see an increase of about 93 cents per month. A household of four with an average use of 1080 cu.ft would see an increase of $4.24.
Water rate increases have been 3 percent in recent years. Like recent increases in sewer rates, the larger rate increase will allow the city to continue building a reserve fund for future capital projects, including improvements at the water treatment plant.
The council approved the second reading of an ordinance that will require water customers pay the entire cost of installing a service line larger than 1-inch. Council member Jackson had questioned the ordinance at its first reading, suggesting it would be more fair if the customer were required to pay only the difference between the needed size and the 5/8-inch size (for which the city covers then entire cost).
The question was sent back to the water/sewer committee for reconsideration, but the result was the same, due to a difficulty in calculating what the charge would be if it weren’t the entire cost. The larger service lines are installed primarily for commercial users. The change will not affect most residential users.
The council also approved the second reading of an ordinance regarding the setback for new homes built on in-fill lots. The setback will be the same as the shortest setback of existing homes in the block.
The council approved the second reading of an ordinance pertaining to zero lot lines. The ordinance applies only to duplexes.
The council approved the first reading of an ordinance regulating fences and the materials to be used for fences. Corrugated metal is no longer listed as prohibited.
The council approved a contract for $1,000 with Region XII Council of Governments for technical assistance on an application for a Community Development Block Grant for work on second story residential housing at 114-116 N. Wilson Ave.
The grant application is for $550,000. Jolene Peters, owner of the building, also intends to apply for historic tax credits.
The project will be similar to the project on the second story of the Public House, formerly Ace Hardware. It will provide 4-6 apartments, with at least 51 percent of them being priced for low to moderate income renters for at least three years. At that time rents could be increased to market rate. (Low to moderate income is figured at 80 percent of the area median income, approximately the mid-$40,000s.)
A public hearing on the grant application was set for the Nov. 14 council meeting.
The council approved a $70,000, 10-year forgivable loan agreement with Rich Osborne, doing business as Greene Ventures LLC, for improvements to the building at 200-202 N. Wilson.
The council voted to return $7,065.21 from city coffers to Disc Golf Club, the group that raised funds for the disc golf course at Daubendiek Park. The council also approved a 28E agreement with the club for maintenance of the course.
The council also approved a 28E agreement with Greene County for sharing expenses at the Greene County Animal Shelter, which is owned and operated by the city. The county will pay the city $15,000 per year, pro-rated this year. That will allow animals brought in from the unincorporated parts of the county to be housed at the shelter.
Two persons addressed the council during the open forum.
Greene County Development Corporation director Ken Paxton asked for permission to pass out a information about the proposed Kading Construction project.
Denny Lautner spoke, reminding council members that “you guys can’t spend yourselves into prosperity.” He said that a declining population means the cost of investments is spread over fewer people, leading to higher taxes.
He two city council members “should vote the way their constituents want them to, not at their own personal preference.”
He threatened that if the Kading project is built he’ll call ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in Grimes. “We’ll have a new Postville here,” he said, referring to a raid at Agriprocessors Inc in 2008. “We’ll find out who’s legal and illegal, and who the employers are who are hiring these people.”
He concluded with a misquote from Margaret Thatcher. “Socialism is great until you run out of other people’s money,” Lautner quoted her as saying. The actual quote is, “the problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples’ money.”
A few people in attendance applauded his statements.
