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RC breaks through planning logjam |
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By Patrick Tepoorten
Provided the pieces fall into place, and there are no major problems with the project, Rush City resident Ben Rustad could be flushing by Thursday evening.
An issue the city council was made aware of at its April 14 meeting, a potentially serious sanitary sewer issue at the property owned by Rustad, came to a quick and fortuitous conclusion Monday night, April 28.
Rustad had inquired about the city constructing a sewer main down an alley west of Alger Ave., in order to accommodate his home, which has a non-functioning sewer.
It was believed at the time that Rustad’s sewer line ran across the parking lot of North End Liquor and could not be repaired as a result.
But further inspection by crews revealed last Monday afternoon that Rustad’s sewer runs to First Street rather than across the parking lot.
The problem is that Rustad’s sewer appears to have been sheared off during previous road work, and as it did not appear on any city maps, was not reinstalled. Put another way, Rustad’s was a sewer line to nowhere.
This was all good news for Rustad. Rather than petition for a main to be installed down the alley, it appears now that all he is lacking is a hook-up, an error from a previous project. The council approved replacing that portion of the line from the curb to the main, and construct a hook-up at that point.
Since Rustad’s sewer line essentially empties into the ground, the project was considered an emergency by the council, which approved the company already hired to complete the project without going through a solicitation of quotes process, contingent on the city receiving a reasonable estimate.
The Rush City Council was able to realize closure on a host of planning issues at Monday’s meeting, including plans for the Grant House, and Olson Funeral Chapel.
Todd Johnston’s requests for an ordinance text amendment and conditional use permit (CUP) were granted by the council, after the city attorney and lawyers for Johnston were able to agree on stipulation language. Johnston plans to lease the upper two floors of the Grant House to Selah House, an out-patient transitional facility for women with addictions.
Johnston informed the council that, with the city approval process complete, he expects to have everything in place in 60 to 90 days. Still needed is a boarding and lodging license from the state.
Mike Carroll of Olson Funeral Chapel was granted his request for a vacation of Avenue C, for purposes of a business expansion.
Another April 14 request, by CJP Corp. to allow the leasing of one of its buildings to a auto/truck repair facility that would serve the public, is likely to be handled through a CUP process. The usage, it was determined by the council, does not fit the legal non-conforming use and was not covered when the property was grandfathered in when new zoning ordinances were passed in 2003.
The council was advised by attorney Peter Grundhoefer that a CUP was likely the best route. A text amendment to the zoning ordinance will also be required, and the planning commission is scheduled to take up the matter on May 6.
In other news:
• The Rush City Aquatic Center received approval for its proposed 2008 budget. As in previous years, the center is projected to end the year with a loss. The 2008 loss is expected to be $22,800. Bob Schlagel informed the council that the same problem as in previous years, slow August traffic, continues to account for the center’s financial challenges.
Councilor Mick Louzek expressed regret that the center does not break even, but reminded the council that the pool is a service, and he had no problem maintaining it.
• In airport news, the council received a sketch of a proposed airport business park. The city will look into it further to see if it a feasible project at this time. Were the city to move forward, it would likely have to buy the property back from the Federal Aviation Administration, unless it could show that only airport related businesses would utilize the park.
Also, the city approved moving forward with phase II of the airport environmental assessment.
• A lease between the city and the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office was approved contingent on any issues found by Grundhoefer.
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