Glenwood City citizen’s requests gets council’s attention
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
GLENWOOD CITY — The common council heard from several citizens about different items of city business. Their concerns ranged from the use of the city’s walking trail, the proposed sand mine and a dispute between a local bar owner and the city police.
Aaron and Lisa Moede appeared before the council about the local police stopping and informing them about outdoor consumption on their property. They are the owners of the Boondocks on the City’s west side just west of the city hall.
Apparently at question is the property they own outside of their licensed area, which includes the fenced in area to the east of their building which is licensed to sell and consume alcohol beverages. The Moedes contend that this is private property and that the apartment in the back part of the building is open to be rented and they would like the council to make a decision if this is to be controlled by the city ordinances banding consumption on licensed premises after regular bar hours.
Apparently the rear of the property has been used as a public parking area and it was indicated at the council meeting that this public area is like the licensed area and therefore consumption is banned. The Moedes are concerned about how this will affect the renter who is scheduled to move into the apartment later this month and Aaron prayed that the council could come up with a decision.
Moede gave the council some background information about the bar and apartment at the rear indicating that apartment has been there for over 60-years. He read from his license, which indicated what his licensed premises included. “We built a fence and it clearly identifies our boundaries,” Aaron stated to the council.
He indicated that he believes that the area outside of the fenced area is private property and not subject to the city ordinance. He told the council that he had contacted several state agencies including the ATF. “They believe my position is correct,” Aaron stated. He also had a state rule that he presented to the council about the issue and after reading the material Mayor John Larson indicated that the city needed to get some guidance on this issue.
In some of the information that Aaron presented, the state would send a person to Glenwood City to review the dispute and make a determination.
It was also learned at the meeting that Aaron had paid a fine for consuming after hours when a hot tub was within the fenced area, when he was using it, but that the hot tub has since been moved out of the fenced area and is for the renters use.
Lisa Moede questioned the council saying, “we have done nothing wrong and why are we being picked on.” Mayor Larson answered by saying, “we are not trying to put you out of business and not putting a hardship on you folks and we don’t want to impact your renters.” Lisa responded that they were not disappointed with the council but “It’s the police department!”
Council member Steve Lee spoke up and said “it was never an issue until the smoking ban, and we licensed the outside area.” The mayor promised that the council would take action on the matter.
Sand Mine
Chris Schone appeared before the council stating, “I have many concerns regarding the proposed Vista Sand mine that would border our city.” He praised the council for the resolution they adopted last month asking the County Board of Adjustments for a 90-day delay in making a decision about permitting the sand mind in St. Croix County.
Schone, who lives on Syme Avenue, near the sand mine property, questioned the council about what plans they have moving forward and what action the council is taking during these 90 days. “These people are after all strangers to our city, do they have our best interests at heart, or their pocket books?” Schone asked.
“I am opposed to the Vista Mine for many reasons,” Schone said. “I feel that with the close proximity to our city, the proposal of this large scale industrial mine, warrants this council’s due diligence to educate themselves, research and understand the impact that it would have on our community.”
Schone also had information from area communities on how they addressed the mine issue, which he asked the council members to study.
Later in the meeting Mayor Larson told the members of the council that he had a different opinion about the sand mines than Schone. “I respect his position,” the mayor said. But some times what are presented as facts are just opinions, the mayor thought. He also read from a newspaper about the sand mining in Barron County, which casted a favorable light on sand mining, but noting that the information there may not be all facts either, but he did note that he indicated that the mines were the biggest thing to impact Barron County in this generation. The mayor suggested that the mines would provide needed employment for area people. But, he too, asked members of the council to study the information to be well informed.
But in the end of his conservation, the mayor questioned, “how much impact would the city have on this, we will be forced either to act on, or not act.”
The proposed area of the mining is outside of the city in the Town of Glenwood.
ATV Trail
The council heard from Stacey Jordheim about allowing the Glenwood Forest Barn Stormers ATV Club to use the old railroad bed from the fairgrounds to the east to the city property line as a ATV trail.
The trail is currently a walking trail and is used as a snowmobile trail in the winter. The ATV club’s proposal would limit their use from April through November. The club indicated that the trail would still be used as a multi use recreation trail and still open to people wishing to use it as a walking trail.
Because this item was not an agenda item the mayor said he would put it on the agenda for next month for the council to make a decision.
Public Works
The City Public Works Director, Doug Doornink, questioned the council about the purchasing of three scales to have a precise measurement of the chemicals that the city injects into the city’s water supply. Under new rulings the city must make a daily report about what is put into the water supply, like fluoride, and the exact amount. At present the city measurers the amount with marks on a container. The scale would provide a more accurate way of measuring the chemicals. The cost is placed at nearly $6,000 for the three required scales. The council will take action on this next month.
Other Action
The council members talked about getting prices from several firms regarding the old city hall. They would like a cost figure on the demolition of the old building on Pine Street.
The council approved granting operator’s licenses to Nicole A. Johnson, Michael J. Buhr, Sarah L. McCarthy, Kevin Bonte and Roni M. Leslie.
Approved a temporary Class B picnic license for the Glenwood City FFA Alumni for September 7 and 8.
They also approved a temporary operators license for Rustic Lore Committee and approved a $2,000 donation for the Rustic Lore celebration..