By Sara Quam
Luverne City Council members got plenty of feedback on the recent parking ordinance draft and it wasn't favorable. Because council members felt they needed more research on the issue, they tabled the decision at their Tuesday meeting.
The parking ordinance proposal had parking banned on city streets November through April from 1 to 6 a.m. A special provision would have no overnight parking in the central business district year round.
The intent was to make it easier for city crews to remove snow and clean streets while making it clear enough for law enforcement to ticket offenders.
The communication the council got back, however, was that the city should still be able to clean streets without imposing on residents who donÕt have three-car garages.
Mayor Glen Gust said, "I think we need to tell the people exactly what needs to be done or why it needs to be done."
Council member David Hauge said he received calls from people in apartments or in homes with single or no garages. They told him that they didn't mind parking on their lawn when it snows to stay off the streets - but that to park there every night for half the year isn't fair.
Councilman Jim Kirchhofer said he roughly estimated the streets are plowed fewer than 30 nights a year, so it might be more fair to restrict parking on those days rather than outlaw it all season.
"It's an inconvenience, and it's just not being citizen-friendly," Kirchhofer said.
People were also concerned about winter holidays and the extra cars they have that need to park.
The council acknowledged that banning certain parking would make it easier on patrollers and city crews. But making patrollers and city workers happy isn't necessarily the goal of the council.
Councilman Keith Erickson said, "I lean toward being a little more user-friendly." He suggested that for the downtown area, designated days be scheduled for sweeping so parking is possible most nights of the week.
"I think we should soften parts of this," Erickson said.
All of the council members said they got calls on the issue that was first brought up about a month ago.
The city will look into amending the draft and bring it back to the council for a vote.
Fire relief
The council passed a pension increase for the Fire Relief Association. It is now a $1,900 annual pension contribution that can be cashed in at retirement.
It is retroactive and covers all current Luverne Fire Department members even if they started at a lower pension.
The townships contribute 25 percent of that, and although they don't like the effect it will have on their budgets, they didn't object to the $200 increase.
Louis Loger, Clinton Township Board member, said, "I don't think we have a problem with raising the relief, but it's an economic hardship for townships."
In other business Tuesday the council:
Decided to put one of its houses up for bid. It owns the Britz house on the southeast corner of Main Street and Highway 75. It will be advertised with a minimum bid amount set and people can make an offer. One stipulation is that the purchaser must agree to move the house to another location.
The decision comes after previous discussion that the city intended to sell it for a minimal price to someone who would move it to the former Fledgling Field.
Mayor Gust said that the new owner of Fledgling Field shouldn't get a break just because the city has houses - that citizens should be able to bid.
Hauge said he thought selling the home and other city surplus homes to low bidders who would move them onto the vacant lot would be in the best interest of the city, even if some citizens want to buy the homes for different locations.
"I'm thinking of the future of the city and not the best interest of individuals," Hauge said. He said putting homes on Fledgling Field would finish off the neighborhood and calm the controversy over the plot of land.
Hauge said he preferred to look at the "broader picture" and put "development over just one sale" as the city has outlined residential development in its long-term plans.
Another home the city may sell is the large Christensen home at the end of Blue Mound Avenue. The council members agreed it would fit in well on Fledgling Field, but no decision was made on that house because the Economic Development Authority owns that.
Met two new business owners. Mark Zimmer and Daniel Wedin attended the meeting as the council approved liquor license transfers from Meagher Inc. to the Howling Dog Saloon, the former Scotty's Bar and Grill.
Zimmer and Wedin own eight similar establishments in Minnesota. They plan to do some basic remodeling and sign changing and will then see what direction to take the business from there. They plan to visit Luverne about once a week.