Town Crier - January 20th City Council Meeting

The Tuesday, January 20th meeting will begin with a public hearing on the proposed 2009 City of Winsted fee schedule. The proposed fee schedule would increase the water rate by .30 cents per 1000/gallons and the sewer rate by .20 cents per 1000/gallons. These proposed increases would bring the combined water and sewer to $7.75 per 1000/gallons. In a water and sewer rate study conducted in the fall of 2008 (nine area cities), the average water and sewer rate was $8.82 per 1000/gallons, which puts Winsted’s proposed rate of $7.75 below the average rate charged.

In addition, the Council will again review an ordinance that would restrict the parking/storage of vehicles and similar devices on a property. The matter was referred to the Planning Commission at the last City Council meeting. The Planning Commission discussed the ordinance on January 14th and recommended the maximum amount of vehicles be increased from four (4) to five (5) on a 4-1 vote (the nay vote didn’t feel the ordinance in its entirety was necessary). The proposed ordinance states:

No more than five (5) vehicles or similar devices (to include campers, boats, trailers, snowmobiles, atv’s and other similar devices) may be parked or stored anywhere outside a residential dwelling. A vehicle or similar device placed upon a trailer shall constitute as one (1) vehicle for the purposes of this ordinance. All vehicles must be owned by the residents of the dwelling, excluding occasional guests and patrons of an approved business.

Vehicles or similar devices parked in the “front yard” area must be on a paved or gravel (not dirt or grass surface). A front yard shall constitute the area from any public street to the dwelling.

Exemptions:

Vehicles and similar devices are exempt from the “front yard” provision from November 1st through March 31st of each year.

Properties zoned commercial (C1 and C2), industrial (I) and high density residential (R2).

In other business, Darrell Lachermeier, 145 1st St. N., will be in attendance to contest a previous decision made by the City Council on the conditions necessary for him to obtain a rental housing license.

The meeting will wrap up with a report from the Police Department.

The Winsted City Council will meet to discuss these items at their meeting on Tuesday, January 20th at 6 p.m. in the Winsted City Hall Council Chambers. If you need more information on an issue, call City Hall and ask for the City Staff Report (not all agenda items have a corresponding report) which will provide you with background and financial information on the topic. Meetings are broadcasted live on Winsted Channel 10 at 6 p.m. and replayed on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., 7 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.

The “Town Crier” is created using the preliminary agenda for the upcoming City Council meeting. For a complete listing of all agenda items please visit www.winsted.mn.us or pick an agenda up at City Hall.