| Local
News |
||
| Wednesday,
February 27, 2008 Todd County Board of Commissioners Concerns expressed about a condition use permit by Karin L. Nauber If someone has a conditional use permit for a commercial business, do they have the right to use other parts of the same property for their personal use? That was the concern and question raised by Steve Beck during the 15 minutes prior to the start of the regular meeting of the board on February 19. Beck said he had concerns about the number of cars located on the Josh Brichacek property located off Highway 71 just outside of Browerville where Brichacek does business as Josh's Autobody. Beck said that he sees that situations like this is when the county gets into a dilemma because they approve a CUP when all the compliance issues have not already been met. Beck also said the way the zoning was handled was not well put. He said it was another case of approving things when people don't know things ahead of time. This was in reference to the zoning changes made a couple of years ago when the property on both sides of 71 outside of Browerville was zoned commercial. According to the CUP review of Josh's, the planning commission has asked that Brichacek apply for a salvage yard CUP. "This is causing neighbor problems. I don't think Mr. Brichacek understands the rules and regulations of a salvage yard," said Beck. Later in the meeting, Environment and Land Resource Management Director Andrew Dahlgren presented the information from the planning commission meeting. He said this was a one year review that had been postponed due to fencing. Commissioner David Kircher asked if there were issues about the zoning changes and a stipulation about only 12 cars being allowed. Dahlgren said that there were more than 12 cars on the property. There are actually approximately 60 vehicles on the property, but that only 12 are related to the business. "The question with the cars is that 12 are allowed for towing and repair. The cars in the back are his own personal cars and are not for the business," said Dahlgren. The question then becomes, can Brichacek enjoy a hobby on his commercial property? Kircher said that neighbors and adjoining landowners are upset and this snowballs from what the original CUP said. Dahlgren said that a lot of people are not aware of what the zoning change did to their land. Dahlgren said that his office is trying to educate the public on the zoning changes. In regard to Brichacek's property, Dahlgren said that the property is completely fenced and meets all the performance standards that were required in the original CUP. He has no violations and there has been no change in the CUP. The property is ten acres in size. The area is completely screened from Highway 71 with trees and fencing. The ordinance has no car limit, but does say it needs to be screened from the road. Beck said that they had been told there would be 12 cars. "We were told nothing about the change or any new ordinance," he said. He said they had no say in the changes, it was just automatically changed. "You should have called me. I had no idea it would be changed. I have nothing against Josh. I just didn't know it was zoned commercial," said Beck. Beck said, "Why show up at another meeting. It's already decided." Dahlgren said, "Mr. Beck is confused. The ordinance has not changed in a year and a half. The zoning map was changed in 2006. It was very publicly done. It was the township's request to make this area zoned commercial." Beck said, "We assumed we were discussing the 12 car limit." Dahlgren said the county could not regulate personal use. He said that Brichacek will have to follow the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's rules on having a salvage yard, if the permit is granted. Dahlgren further stated that the planning commission had two options with this question. They could either request that he get a salvage yard permit or they could restrict the number of vehicles on the property. The commission chose the salvage yard option. Kircher commented that from the street side it looks very nice. "But that doesn't always help the adjoining landowner in what they see from the other side," he added. The board approved the CUP review with the condition that Brichacek apply for the salvage yard permit. Citizen Forum Jerry Beck said that he would like to see the county hang onto the property they own by Prairie Packing. He said the county has a bad record for selling land and then having to buy land back at high prices. Kircher asked if Beck had spoken to others. Beck said he had talked to many people and they all felt as he did. Kircher said the county has made no determination about the land at this time. Auditor/Treasurer Approved an abatement for Richard VanNorman changing a property from a partial homestead in 2006 and 2007 to a full homestead. Also approved an abatement for a tower in Long Prairie township. The property description had listed a building/structure on the site and there is only the tower. Approved a one year on-sale and Sunday liquor license for the Long Prairie County Club, Inc. and for the Historic Rock Tavern, LLC. Also approved a seasonal on and off 3.2 liquor license and set up for Rainbow Resort. Approved a gambling permit for the Big Swan Lake Improvement Association at the Hub Supper Club. Acknowledged the receipt of a petition to remove a beaver dam from Ditch 19 in Section 12 of Ward Township. Natural Resource Block Grant Approved the agreement for the block grant which provides funding for the Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan, Wetland Conservation Act, Shoreland Management Program, the county feedlot program and Individual Sewage Treatment Systems (ISTS). The grant is for $141,873 with county matching funds of $17,610. Kitty Tepley also reported that they had received a clean water assessment grant which will be used on Long and Swan lakes. The grant is for $28,000. County Administrator Kircher said he felt the board should move on filling the position so that leadership can be given to the department heads. Commissioner Gary Kneisl felt they should discuss it at the next work session. He said he would like to see the issues with former county administrator Mike Petersen taken care of first, but said he did realize the need to start moving ahead. Neumann advised that they be careful on how they proceed. Kircher said he did not think they should hire a firm to help with their search for an administrator. He said he would like to see the county labor attorney at the next meeting, as well, to help answer some of their questions. Commissioner Mark Blessing said that the date for Petersen's veterans hearing has been changed and will not take place on March 6. WesMin Resource Conservation and Development Payment Concerns about paying $3900 to WesMin for helping to pay off two people who had been mislead by the organization, was discussed. Neumann, who serves on the board, said that it had been asked what some of the benefits of this organization were. He said that they helped get the dry hydrant at Battle Point Park along with some other grants. The dispute with the insurance company is because they felt that since the former director Sheila Barsness already knew in 2005 that she was misleading people when she signed the insurance papers in 2006, the organization should not be covered. Neumann said if they don't pay the $3900, they will still be members of the organization. But he felt they should pay it to show the county's support of WesMin. The board approved making the payment. Kircher voted against it. Full Department Audit Neumann said he would like to see one county department receive a full audit. He suggested the board select one department for a full audit when the auditing firm will be on site this week. Auditor/Treasurer Karen Busch said she has never known of this being done before. Neumann said he was not picking on any department, but thought this would be a good way to make sure the departments have their "ducks in a row." Kircher wondered if this was a good investment to do this since nothing improper or out of line has been revealed in the overall county audits in the past. Neumann said that just because it has never been done in the past did that make requesting that it be done wrong? He said that other counties request a full audit on select departments periodically. Busch said that her office has a full blown audit annually. Neumann said that he would like to see why so many departments are over budget at the end of each year. Kircher said he would like to see the commissioners take more firm control over what is happening in the county. "I see in the claims this week things that are going on that we don't know about. We need to know. We need to be firmer on the budgets. When there are substantial purchases, we should, all five of us, know what it is for," said Kircher. |