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City renews permits for temporary housing sites

Permits have been renewed for two locations within the Kenmare city limits that have allowed temporary housing units.

1/11/12 (Wed)

By Terry Froseth

Permits have been renewed for two locations within the Kenmare city limits that have allowed temporary housing units.

The conditional use permits for the sites were first approved on a trial basis nine months ago after some public opposition.

Kenmare City Council’s meeting Monday was preceded by a public hearing on renewal of the permits for Jim Wink’s property near the junction of U.S. Highway 52 and Division Street, and Shane Harris’s property near the Modern Woodworks shop east of U.S. Highway 52.

No opposition to either permit was expressed at the hearing.

The council followed the recommendation of the Planning Commission for a one year renewal. Each of the property owners had requested a renewal term of three years.

Mayor Roger Ness commented that he hasn’t heard any complaints regarding the temporary housing sites in the past nine months.

At the hearing, the council also approved rezoning of five city blocks north of the old city landfill from R-1 to R-3. One block is owned by KDAK, LLC, while four blocks are owned by the city. Most of the property is undeveloped. The zoning change allows multi-family dwellings to be constructed, rather than just single family housing.

Building permits approved
The council took action for the first time on approving building permits issued by the Planning Commission. The Kenmare Housing Authority was approved for a one-story 4-plex; Great Northern Trucking for an office and truck service building; Joey Matejovsky for a single family dwelling; Ronald Wirtz for a garage.

In other action:
• The council approved on second reading an amendment which includes wine with a city beer license.

• A beer license transfer was approved for M&K Pizza Hub to the Memorial Hall for January 19-20 for the fire department’s Coyote Hunt event.

• The Kenmare Fire Department was granted a $500 donation from the Minot Hockey Boosters gaming fund to be given to the Kenmare FFA for making trophies for the Coyote Hunt, along with helping with set-up and clean-up of the event.

• Progress payment of $66,500 was approved to McGuire Iron for work completed on the new water tower.

• City engineer Ryan Ackerman presented new ordinance books which have been “tweaked” by Ackerman-Estvold Engineering and Consulting, and are now ready for fine tuning by the various city committees and departments. Ackerman said there are 17 chapters that should be reviewed. He recommended retaining ordinances amended in recent years regarding “hot button items” such as banned dog breeds, dirt bikes and ATVs, and city beautification. “Then we don’t have to go through the same heartburn.”

• A new city patrolman, Seth Engelstad, will start work on January 16th, Police Chief Gary Kraft reported to the council.

• Alderman Ken Barnhart reported the garbage committee had not yet taken action on the recycling center and cardboard collection from the largest users.

• Alderman Chuck Leet reported the new warning sirens have a lot of problems. “They’re just not dependable at all.” He said they are wiring two old sirens that are still in place on 6th Street and at the Memorial Hall to be used if the new sirens fail to work.

• Alderman Owen Medlang reported all the city street lights in the downtown area are now finally working. Mayor Ness asked about the recurring problems of keeping them lit. Medlang said sometimes it’s the ballasts, but added, “They’re old.”

• Public works director Mike Thompson said all the water meters should be remotely read by radio signal next month.

• The council discussed putting up signs to direct trucks passing through town to pick up loads of bulk water. Trucks are many times seen on city side streets where they are causing damage to the pavement.

• The State Bank and Trust of Kenmare was named the city’s official depository.