By Aaron Vehling

Marvin Lorge and his son, Jim, looked into the construction of a new building with a showroom in the industrial park in Stacy for their new motorcycle accessory business.

What they discovered, however, was a moratorium on the construction of such a building.
So they went to the Stacy City Council meeting Tuesday (Feb. 8) and aired their concerns.
Currently, Lorge said, he and his son operate their business in shared office space with the buyers of the property Lorge once owned.

He said they had an agreement with the new owner that they would share office space for six months and then Lorge would leave.

ìWe need another facility down there,î he said. ìWe want to build a showroom.î

Jim Lorge said that they are outgrowing their space and want to construct a new building on the northwest corner of the same property.

ìItís getting busier,î he said. ìWe have more employees.î

Marvin Lorge said he just wanted to know if there was any way to build in the industrial park.
Councilman John Daher said that the reason the moratorium was put in place was because of holes in the ordinance.

Lorge expressed concern about time. He said he wants to start building by May.

ìWeíre going to have to go somewhere else, I guess,î he said. ìThereís not much time.î

Grundhoefer said the Lorges could apply for a building permit and the ordinance committee could work to clean up the ordinance for that area simultaneously.

The council and Lorge agreed to set up a meeting where theyíd discuss the site plans and layout of the building.

Also at the meeting:
ïCity Engineer Chuck Schwartz re-introduced the idea of hiring a city planner.
He forwarded names of candidates to city clerk Sharon Payne.
Daher recognized the necessity of having a planner on staff.

ìAt some point we need to do it,î he said.
Payne said she could put it in the budget for 2006.
Daher said it depends on the cost.

ìIf itís a couple thousand we could do it this year,î he said. ìIf itís $10,000, we can do it next year.î
Daher recommended that two or three candidates come in for interviews.

ìIt would give us an opportunity to see what they think,î he said.

ïSchwartz reported that the owners of the property south of city hall are not as enthusiastic about the installation of a lift station as they were when they previously met with the council. A lift station is used to help transport liquid wastewater from homes and businesses across the city to the treatment plant for processing and cleaning.

ìIt doesnít make sense for the city or property owner to have the lift station anywhere but behind their house,î Schwartz said, referring to the idea of putting the lift station in the front of the two properties, along Forest Boulevard.

ìThereís no other option, short of tearing this place (city hall) down and putting it on here,î he said. ìNo one wants it on the road.î

He said it affects both the city and the property owner adversely to build the lift station on the road.

ìIt harms their property value to have the lift station up front,î he said. ìWe donít want it there. Itís an eye sore and would take up our parking space.î

Schwartz recommended further talks with the property owner, but Daher was not having that.

ìHow long can we play games, Chuck,î he said, adding that the property owners were pleased with the plans when they last met with the council. ìWe need to put it up for bid and have it done by this year to make it financially feasible for us.î

Daher suggested to Grundhoefer that he draw up paperwork to have available the next time the council meets with the neighbors.

Grundhoefer said another option to take would be looking at eminent domain.

ìObviously, it is better to give them a chance to work it out,î he said.

ïThe Lions submitted a design for a sign that would be installed near the freeway that reads ìWelcome to Stacy.î
Payne said the design presented was not very attractive.

ìIf you are looking to put it up by the freeway,î she said, ìyou need something much more decorative than that.î

Councilman Mel Aslakson said he liked the idea of the sign, but recommended that a logo for the American Legion also be included on the sign (in addition to logos for the Stacy-Lent Fire Department and the Lions).

ïPlanning Commission chairman Harry Dyson submitted a letter of resignation. He said he was doing so to pursue other interests. The council appointed David Cook to fill the seat, though he will not serve as chairman.

ïPayne announced that the city was holding a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on March 8 to discuss an increase in water and sewer rates.

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