Duplex ordinance adopted
Seven community members were in attendance for the public hearing portion of the July 7 Holyoke City Council meeting. Being considered were two ordinances: one regarding trailer parks and another regarding duplexes.
Roger Hogan addressed council members in opposition of Ordinance No. 2-2020. The ordinance, if adopted, will add travel trailers and trailer parks as permitted uses in areas zoned C-2 (commercial district) but only with approval of the planning commission and city council. Keep in mind, this refers to RV parks rather than mobile home parks.
Hogan raised three concerns: safety, the need for the ordinance and the ordinance itself.
As far as safety is concerned, he said that a park proposed by Nick Ferguson has the capacity to add 44 vehicles at a time traveling between its location on the far west end of Furry Street and downtown Holyoke using residential streets.
Hogan said that he’s been reassured that people using the park will probably travel downtown via Highway 6. Living in the area, though, he doesn’t believe that’s a realistic expectation as the commercial and agricultural traffic in that area already uses those very side streets.
The potential for even more traffic in that neighborhood is a concern to parents and grandparents with kids playing and riding bikes in the neighborhood.
Hogan also told council members that he doesn’t think there’s a need for the ordinance. He pointed out that the Phillips County Fairgrounds has an underutilized RV park and that there’s another at the intersection of Jules Street and County Road 37.
As for the ordinance itself, Hogan was concerned that it includes no mention of how long a vehicle may be parked at such a trailer park or how long they must stay out before being allowed to return. The municipal code defines a travel trailer as “a vehicular portable structure built on a chassis, designed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational and vacation use, and equipped for the road.”
Hogan emphasized the word “temporary.” He explained that an RV park in another city where he used to live required trailers to be out 14 days before they could return, thereby discouraging squatting. He recalled a 24-hour departure was mentioned at a prior city council meeting, but he’s not confident that such a short period would prevent people from permanently residing at the park.
Even if restrictions are put in place, Hogan said that he doubts the City will be able to enforce them on any private trailer park. To do so properly would require the City to know who comes and goes and when they do so.
He encouraged the city council not to pass a law that it cannot enforce.
Council members opted to table the matter until the July 21 meeting in order to look into Hogan’s concerns before making a decision. A public hearing will once again be held at 7 p.m.
Also up for adoption after a public hearing July 7 was Ordinance No. 3-2020, which allows the subdivision of duplexes. There was no discussion of this ordinance by members of the public or the city council, and council members approved it.
Expenditures approved
City council members were asked to approve a few out-of-the-ordinary expenditures at last week’s meeting. An internet-based, self-serve fueling terminal for the airport cost $14,245 for the terminal itself from QT Pod. Wiring by Fetzer Electric was approved for up to $2,000. The cost of internet equipment from Printers Paper & More was $457.50.
After a recent power outage, the existing card reader died. If crews cannot get it up and running, the purchase of the QT Pod will have to be expedited. In that case, the City will need to purchase it outright rather than waiting to go through the federal grant to get it approved.
A bill from Dickinson Land Surveyors, Inc. for correcting the corner of Walsh Avenue and Johnson Street was approved at $304.
A payment of $8,300 to Western Area Power Administration was also approved, allowing WAPA to check whether a transformer is still good and do maintenance on it if it is.
Officials report
Superintendent Mark Brown reported July 7 that the electrical department had handled four power outages since the previous meeting. Three were June 30, and the fourth was July 7.
The water and sewer department made the water tap for the new duplex on South Belford Avenue. Crews also worked on sprinkler systems at the parks and the alfalfa field. They’re working on State testing on wells too.
The street department is getting ready for seal coating July 15-16. The rain day is July 17.
At the airport, the master plan kickoff meeting is being scheduled for the end of the month with Armstrong Consultants. Brown also reported that the Colorado Division of Aeronautics was scheduled to do an inspection July 8, and DBT Transportation Services recently completed the quarterly inspection of the automated weather observing system. Everything was good except the battery backup for the AWOS failed. Brown ordered batteries to get it fixed.
Chief Doug Bergstrom reported that Holyoke Police Department, including code enforcement, handled or generated 109 calls for service June 16-July 1. There were nine municipal code violations and one animal complaint. He also reported that the annual animal clinic held June 27 had a small turnout.
To stave off any rumors, Bergstrom acknowledged that his house is for sale but that he isn’t leaving Holyoke. His family is simply moving to a different house.
Clerk/treasurer Kathy Olofson reported that the City received severance tax from the State totaling $1,012.23. At the time of the meeting, mineral lease monies had not been received.
Olofson informed council members that the City must notify the County of its intent to participate in the combined Nov. 3 election by July 24. She also noted that Aug. 4 is the first day for residents to start circulating nomination petitions if they intend to run for mayor or city council this year.
Other business
In other business at the July 7 meeting, council members:
— Changed the trash collection policy to allow home-based businesses to be classified as commercial.
— Allowed and waived local permit fees for special events permits for Phillips County Fair Board on July 3, 17 and 31 as well as Sept. 4 and 18.
— Allowed and waived local permit fees for special events permits for Phillips County Fair Board on July 21-25.
— Renewed a liquor license for First Dragon Chinese Restaurant.
— Tabled the matter of reopening playgrounds.