By Lori Ehde
Luverne's Planning and Zoning Commission was on a house-cleaning mission Tuesday as it dealt with the Kapperman fire mess and inoperable parked cars.
Commission members reported getting numerous calls from city residents complaining about the mess remaining after a shed burned on Jerome KappermanÕs property.
"Something needs to be done," said Planning and Zoning member Bill Ketterling.
"It's going to be a rodent problem, if it isn't already, for the people in the neighborhood," Jim Kirchhofer added.
Nearly two months ago, fire destroyed KappermanÕs construction storage shed on Southeast Park Street behind the Highway 75 Casey's.
City staff has told Kapperman it's his responsibility to clean up the debris and restore the area, roughly the size of two residential lots, to bare ground.
Since the area is zoned R-1, Kapperman is not allowed to construct a similar shed in that spot.
Despite repeated reminders, the mess remains, and Planning and Zoning members discussed appropriate action. "It appears it's going to take a court order to get him to clean it up," said City Administrator Matt Hylen.
If action went through the courts, Kapperman would be given a deadline to clean it up. If that time passes with no action, the city would authorize contractors to clean it for him, and he'd be assessed the cost.
Commission members agreed to direct staff to take whatever measures are necessary to get the mess cleaned up, but they specified that all avenues should be taken to work with Kapperman in the process.
In another tidying business, the Commission addressed the problem of junk cars on residential property.
According to current city code, it's unlawful to accumulate "in the open parked, stored, discarded" cars and machinery.
Some residents with such vehicles have covered them with tarps, so they are no longer "in the open."
The commission directed staff to check the verbiage with the city attorney to see if that interpretation of the code is fair.
"A tarp, to me, isn't a building," Hylen said. "It should be inside and out of site."
Permits for plumbing and mechanical work
Building Official and Zoning Officer Dan Delgehausen has been working with the State Department of Administration on a voluntary assessment of his department's operations.
That review showed, among other things, the City of Luverne has never required permits for residential plumbing and mechanical work.
Such work in new homes is inspected, but Delgehausen said many older homes in Luverne have plumbing and gas hookups that have never worked as they should.
"I was told in no uncertain terms by the state building inspector that from now on we will be requiring permits," Delgehausen said.
He said fees are not required, but he recommended a $15 fee to inspect any work amounting to $500 or less.
While it may seem intrusive for residents, he said he agreed with the premise for requiring the permits and inspections.
"There are a substantial number of water heaters that are put in wrong," Delgehausen said. "It's something that with the water shortage ... anything that happens to the water supply now - that's serious."
Permits will be required for any work that taps into city gas or water lines.
The new requirement will mean all plumbers and electricians will have to renew their licenses by 2004.