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Chicken ordinance revisited
Published 6:49am Friday, December 18, 2009Chicken ordinance revisited
The Fergus Falls City Council is scheduled to revisit licensing under the chicken ordinance Monday, about six months sooner than originally planned.
December is renewal time for many city licenses, including tobacco, liquor and metal recycling, said Lynne Olson, assistant to the city administrator. When council members passed the chicken ordinance in July, they planned to revisit the licensing requirements in one year. The timeline has been bumped up to group chickens with other licenses.
City staff are proposing lowering the licensing fee for chickens from $50 to $20. A license would be good for two years instead of one, and at the time of renewal, the applicant would not need signatures from abutting property owners unless one of them was a new neighbor or had filed a complaint regarding the chickens.
Signatures would still be required for first-time applicants.
John Demuth, the resident who requested the ordinance, is the only person to apply for and obtain a chicken permit. His neighbors have given their approval and no one has complained, Olson said.
Pamida lot up for discussion
The Fergus Falls City Council is scheduled to discuss the possible sale of the Pamida parking lot at its meeting Monday.
A recent appraisal of the city-owned lot found the 17,170-square-foot property is valued at $343,400, according to Gordon Hydukovich, community development director. The sale of the lot would result in the loss of 56 parking spots, which could cost around $392,000 to replace, he said.
If council members were concerned about lost parking, they could put the lot up for open sale and require the buyer to replace the spots, Hydukovich said. Another option is to reserve the air rights at the property, allowing for a future parking ramp.
Several business owners along Lincoln Avenue have publicly lamented the potential loss of the lot, which offers free, eight-hour parking. Hydukovich has said the property could be a future access to trails and other development along the Otter Tail River.
“My recommendation, personally, would be not to sell it,” he said Thursday.
The parking lot is of interest to officials with U.S. Bank, who must move from their current location at Cavour and Union avenues by December 2010, Hydukovich said. Other businesses have shown an interest in the property in the past.
Hillcrest gym considered as polling place
The new gymnasium at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy may be the new polling place for residents in Fergus Falls’ 4th Ward.
Hillcrest officials have approved the gymnasium a polling place for the 2010 elections, said Lynne Olson, assistant to the city administrator. About 1,500 4th Ward voters packed City Hall Council Chambers in 2008, prompting Olson and other city staff to consider alternate locations.
A proper polling place should offer adequate parking, including spots for voters with disabilities, as well as open space that affords privacy and warmth for residents waiting to vote, Olson said.
The city council is scheduled to vote on the recommendation Monday. From there the location must be approved at the state level, Olson said.
Grant to fund City Hall work
The Minnesota Historical Society has awarded a $72,350 grant to the City of Fergus Falls for work to City Hall.
The grant is specifically for the window and door replacement portion of the City Hall improvement project, Public Works Director Anne Martens said Thursday. Other work will include improvements to roofing, air handling units and decking on the parking area outside Council Chambers.
The entire project is estimated at $1.3 million. Officials say the improvements are designed to increase building efficiency and cut down on operational costs.
Architects are currently finalizing the project’s design, with documents to come before the city council in January. Bidding is scheduled for February and work is set to run from May through July.
Martens has asked the city council to approve two grant agreements with the state. They will come before the full council Monday night.
