By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
The third reading of several ordinances took place during Tuesday's meeting of the Wayne City Council.
These included the approval of the city's future land use map of the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Wayne; the amending of the Zoning Map for an area around Sanctuary Apartments, LLC and the annexing of real estate, more specifically Lot 1, Logan Valley Industrial Park.
The final ordinance receiving third reading approval at the meeting involved the sale of Lot 2 in the Southeast Addition to the city of Wayne to R. Perry Construction Inc.
Prior to the vote on the ordinance, council members passed resolutions authorizing the sale of the lot and approving the purchase agreement.
The purchase price was changed from $1 to $100,000 as was brought forth in a resolution at a previous meeting.
Information was also shared on the steps involved in moving forward with obtaining Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds for the project. It was noted that this could take up to four months.
City Administrator Wes Blecke said that since the last meeting, city staff had visited with representatives of R. Perry Construction on the purchase price. The firm had been committed to putting money into the lagoon project and through discussion had agreed to put that money toward the purchase price for the land.
Blecke told the council that the money received from the sale could be used toward the lagoon project, should the council so desire to do so.
Several council members shared information they had received from their constituents since the last meeting.
Council member Matt Eischied said he had gotten a phone call from an employer in the community who was in favor of the project. That person told Eischied there is a need for housing in the community.
"Does this plan solve all our problems? No, there is no one plan that can solve all the problems. This would open up other, more affordable housing in the community and everyone benefits," Eischied said.
Council member Jill Brodersen said that after considerable thought on the project, she was in favor of it, saying, "I like the idea of an 'apartment complex' with apartments all in one place and not in older, residential areas of town."
Council member Nick Muir said he had talked to constituents who may be interested in moving to the apartment complex to avoid the work involved with owning a home.
Council members approved a request from Sanctuary Apartments to forgive the sewer bill in connection with a water line break.
City staff verified that the water from the break did not go into the city's sewer system and council voted unanimously to forgive the $1,795.85 sewer charge for the time from Dec. 15 through Feb. 15.
Street and Planning Director Joel Hansen gave the annual report for activity in his department.
He said that numbers of hours of use by several pieces of equipment were down due to the lack of snow this winter and the completion of several projects last year, including the demolition of the old swimming pool and work at the lagoon.
He shared a concern he had with the need for additional room to house equipment. He said his department currently shares space with the Park and Recreation Department and the City Transit system.
A bid of $744,327.00 from Robert Woehler & Sons Construction was accepted for the Wayne Chicago Street Project.
Taylor Kube with Olssen spoke to the council and said two bids had been received for the project and his recommendation was to approve this bid. He said work can start any time after April 1.
In connection with this project, approval was given for a resolution regarding a Letter Agreement Amendment #1 on the Wayne Chicago Project. It will involve paving work on a portion of South Lincoln Street to First Street. Because this area involves only three-fourths of a block, it was suggested it be done at the same time as the other work in the area because it would be difficult to get a contractor to come in for such a small project at a different time.
A council retreat will be held at the Wayne Fire Hall on Tuesday, March 29 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The Wayne City Council will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, April 5 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.
