Demolition permit appeal before city council

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- St. Mary's Catholic Church is appealing to the City Council tonight the Historic Preservation Commission's decision to deny it a permit to demolish its now-vacant school building.

The council also will hold four public hearings, dealing with increased temporary liquor license fees, final plat of Summit Bluff's First Addition, petitions for paving and other street improvements, storm sewer, boulevard restoration and street lighting on German Street from 19th to 20th South streets and on 19th South from Minnesota to German streets.

The HPC voted unanimously 12 days ago to deny the permit on the basis that the historical designation, which the parish applied for in April 1998, was granted properly and that the school building and adjacent convent have maintained their historical interest.

For the past two years, the parish argues, it has made numerous contacts and spent a large sum of money in an effort to find an alternative use for the buildings to no avail.

Trustee Mary Ellen Domeier told the commission at a public hearing on the matter Nov. 21 that, without another use for the school building, it would be an economic hardship for the parish to continue to maintain it. She said the parish, however, is committed to maintaining the convent and has no plans of demolishing it.

The commission was limited to considering whether the designation was made properly and the buildings continue to have historical value, Commission Chairman Jim Bodine told the parish. However, the council can consider need in reviewing the appeal.

In other action, the HPC will ask councilors to retain Hoisington Preservation Consultants of Roseville to conduct two local designations projects in the city.

Waste Management has requested a 2.1 percent increase in its residential pick-up fees, effective Jan. 1, 2003. The firm is basing its increase on the Consumer Price Index -- all urban consumers, Midwest region, for all items in October.

The council also will receive staff reports from the finance director/city clerk-treasurer regarding appointments to be made by the council in January and from the assistant city manager providing an analysis of the city's 2003 tax capacity and preliminary property tax calculations.