Mayor suggests vote on rentals

Published by admin on Thu, 11/04/2021 - 10:53am
By: 
Leslie Silverman
Mayor Kathy Skorzewski made it clear that she wants a public vote on the nightly vacation rental issue. Despite all the work Planning and Zoning Commission has done on the matter, Skorzewski wants the common council  to “strongly consider” placing the matter on the June 2022 ballot.
“I feel strongly  that as we move forward to this it should be something that comes up to a public vote,” she said.
The people that are impacted by this should be those people that weigh  in on it.
About half a dozen residents turned out to air their opposition to a variance request for a five-foot front setback at 247 Ponderosa Ave. The lot is “topographically challenged” according to a Planning and Zoning Commission report and the owners have hit solid rock while trying to build a home. The report claims the “only possible alternative is to do blasting.” 
Steve Jarvis, at 158 Ponderosa, was concerned that this was the second variance on the property due to rock. He offered that there are “other ways to remove rock other than blasting.”
One such way, offered by a different neighbor, involved a demolishing grout, that would crack the rock and not potentially damage neighboring properties. The grout is readily available and inexpensive, although time consuming. 
Additional concerns by neighbors included the fire hydrant in front of the property, which is now being blocked by rocks and the property owners’ trailer. 
After the council heard  objections from each neighbor, aldermen were in agreement to vote in opposition to the variance.
“I feel the council needs to listen to the neighbors,”  said president Dale Householder.”
Town officials made note of the fact that the curb in front of the fire hydrant was not painted yellow, indicating a no parking area.
The council discussed a change order for window substitution at the community center, which is currently being constructed. The project was bid with spec windows that do not open. Concerns about not having functioning windows for the seniors to serve at their annual bike rally breakfast prompted the change order request. 
The order would have added an additional $7,163 to $12,441 to the project depending on the number of operational windows needed.
Alderman Jason Gillaspie voiced his opposition to the request, questioning why the breakfast would not be held indoors like it has been pre-Covid. 
“If we’re gonna keep people out of the community center then why the hell are we building it?” Gillaspie asked. 
Alderman Carl Doaty asked if the seniors would be willing to “pick up the bill” for functional windows, since it would be to accommodate their event. Householder, who recused himself from voting as he is the senior center board president, answered  Doaty in the negative. Householder then provided the Council with local pricing for windows.
“I think we’re getting shafted,” said Householder, based on the pricing he looked into. The council did not approve the change order. 
The ongoing snowblower attachment request was tabled yet again. Travis Kettner, from the Department of Public Works, fielded questions about the attachment and how it would help the city remove snow more efficiently and at a lower cost. The council asked Kettner to see if other companies, such as Caterpillar, would have an attachment that fits the Bobcat the city owns. 
The council approved a chip seal and crack seal proposal from Simon, the only company in the area still doing this type of work. The $49,951.85 proposal for chip seal and the $24,605 for crack seal is valid through July 15, 2022, according to the proposal.
The board approved the second reading of the business registration ordinance. The first reading of the resolution establishing penalties for failure to register a business also passed. However, because it is so late in the year, businesses will not have to register until July 1 and penalties will not go into effect until 2023.
Householder reported that 577 donated gifts valued at over $7,000 will be taken to the VA in Hot Springs for Christmas. $1,100 in cash was also collected for veterans in Hot Springs.
The next Hill City Common Council meeting is Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
 

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