Council approves

planning sessions

Availability of

land for development to be discussed first

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- During a 45-minute session Tuesday, the New Ulm City Council approved the draft schedule, dates and times for its "Work Days" comprehensive growth planning sessions in October, as well as a three-year contract with Brown County for assessment services.

After discussing and dismissing the possibility of including groups like the Chamber of Commerce in its growth planning deliberations, the council set the dates, times and location as 1-5 p.m. on Oct. 23 and 30 in the first floor conference room at City Hall.

The council will first look at available land for development in and outside the city limits, including space for industry, as presented by Community Development Director Dave Schnobrich and Economic Development Corporation's Brian Tohal.

Then, it will consider utilities infrastructure status and service territory issues, as presented by Utilities Director Bob Stevenson, Public Utilities staff and City Attorney Hugh Nierengarten.

Nierengarten also will discuss annexation legal issues, and City Clerk/Treasurer Gary Gleisner and staff will provide an assessment policy review, with budget and bonding implications.

After a discussion of commercial/industrial vs. residential growth, the council will consider a suitable action plan.

In the past, the council has "purchased" assessment services from the county on an annual basis.

However, Brown County Assessor Judith Friesen said, in a letter, that most jurisdictions for whom the county handles assessing matters are "in favor of the convenience of a three-year contract."

In New Ulm's case, the county would charge the city $58,618 in 2002, $60,962 in 2003 and $63,400 in 2004. Friesen said the yearly charge was for staff time only and no office space, equipment cost or computer time was included. The yearly increase was based on a 4 percent cost-of-living increase, along with current and future health insurance increases.

In answer to Councilor Joel Albrecht's question as to whether it would be cheaper to have a city assessor, both City Manager Brian Gramentz and Gleisner said that it would not.

The council reviewed a report from Building Inspector Al Gag concerning the city's attempt to have the "Poor Farm" building razed and removed from the land it occupies.

District Court Judge John Rodenberg ruled that although the remaining shell of the building constituted an "eyesore," the building in its current condition did not constitute a hazard, other than to those who were trespassing on the premises for parties and other reasons.

The judge reasoned that the city should have given the owner, Jon Hartley of Lafayette, the opportunity to "secure" the building by boarding up the openings and improving the surrounding fencing. The judge said the fence had been "breached" in several places, allowing persons to trespass upon the property.

Hartley had volunteered to do just that by Sept. 28. The city could have required the work be done before that date. The other option would be to have the city do the work and assess the cost to the property.

The council voted to accept Gag's report without any further action.

The council approved a conditional use permit for Joseph Morales of 315 N. Payne Street to give guitar lessons and repair stringed instruments as a home occupation.