PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MINUTES for June 18, 2007

Attendance: Debbie Brown, Dan Nance, Pat Rice, Dave Roby, Bill Savage, Ward Sherman, City Attorney Tom Beeman, and Planning Director Tom Doan.

Absent: Mark Worsley replacing Dean Worsley

Approval of past minutes: Mr. Roby motions to accept minutes from May 21, 2007 as written, Ms. Brown seconds, and all agree.

Old Business: Don Starr 1324 Main Street- Mr. Doan states that Mr. Starr has complied with all of the safety issues that he was told he needed to do. The front walls have not been fixed yet. Mr. Starr approaches the board and states that he has talked with local contractors about fixing the front corners of the building and cannot find anyone to do so. He states that he is a certified engineer and will have to use his own guys to get that fixed. He feels that it can be fixed within 30-40 days. He plans to pour a 24 X 24 column with re-rod connecting it together. He states that once that is finished he will probably stucco the front of the building to make it look nice. Mr. Roby asks if we are discussing the South West or the North West corner. Mr. Starr replies that he is talking about the South West corner. He feels that the board is making a mistake about the North West side. Mr. Starr states that he will have to fix the North West side because kids knocked the downspout off and now water is getting into the foundation on that corner as well. Mr. Nance asks how high up he will put the column. Mr. Starr responds that it will be taken from the ground to the roof. He feels that it will be strong enough. Mr. Savage asks if this will be done on the inside as well. Mr. Starr states that it will be done on the inside as well as the outside. Mr. Starr states that he just finished replacing the windows and now some are already busted. He called the police department and they did nothing. Mr. Rice states that there are only so many officers on duty at a time and if they sat by your building all the time then we would just have problems somewhere else. Mr. Roby suggests putting in rabbit wire instead of glass. Mr. Starr states that he doesn’t want to, but that the police department suggested putting security cameras outside. Mr. Starr is requesting 45 more days to comply with the front of the building. Mr. Doan asks how far he will put the re-bar in. Mr. Starr states that he will go until they hit a partition. Mr. Rice states that with the board’s approval we can extend it until the August meeting. Mr. Savage asks if he will replace the concrete that was damaged when he was digging on state right of way. Mr. Starr states that he will when he has the corners done. Mr. Sherman makes motion to revisit this at the August meeting, Mr. Nance seconds, and all agree.

New Business: Tim Finan- Vacate alley between 1818 north E Street & 1832 North E Street. They want to vacate the alley in order to sell the property. Mr. Rice asks what the reason is that the alley should be vacated. Tim states that this property belonged to hi father-in-law. His father-in-law passed away and now they have the property up for sale. He maintained it for 28 years. The alley is not used as an alley and has not been since his father-in-law bought the property. Mr. Roby asks who put the fence up. Leslie Finan responds that her brother Steve Courtney who lives next door did. Mr. Roby asks if she thinks it is in the alley. Mr. Doan states that he did see the stakes on Steve’s property and from where the stakes are at the fence is on Steve’s property. Mr. Beeman asks whose names are on the titles of both properties. Leslie states that Lot 165 is in Leslie A. Finan and Lot 164 is in Steven A. Courtney. Mr. Rice asks if the gas line is right on the property. Mr. Doan states that if you look across the street it does angle. Mr. Rice questions on North E Street there is an orange dot on the pavement and an orange flag at the rear of the property that is in line with on end of the fence. They discuss their thoughts on the gas line. Mr. Roby asks if they have nay intentions of doing a survey. Leslie replies that she does not intend to, but will if she has to. They discuss. Mr. Beeman states that it will not be necessary to do one for us because 8ft. will go to Lot 164 and 8ft. to Lot 165. Steve has had a survey in the past. Mr. Rice states that if they decide to do a survey it would save some money to only have a four corner locate done. Mr. Savage asks if Steve wants the alley vacated. They respond that he does. Mr. Nance says that Steve has talked to him about this and would like it to be done. Mr. Sherman makes motion to send recommendation to the city council for approval to vacate the alley, Ms. Brown seconds, and all agree.

Historic Classifications- downtown buildings- Mr. Doan states that they are currently going through them. The sub-committee did non-contributing and contributing instead of using the new ordinance with four different classifications. Mr. Sherman says that they will have those ready for the next meeting.

Other: Mr. Roby questions the Hargrave property on North 9th Street. Mr. Doan states that nobody has purchased it yet. He is still receiving phone calls from interested buyers wanting information on the property. Mr. Rice states that if there is contamination in the back then there it would be in the front by the house too. Mr. Roby questions the high grass and weeds. Mr. Doan states that he sent a letter out and has talked on the phone with Sheila Cooper. He offered to help her get people to help clean it up. He knows people that would take the scrap metal and cut the trees down for free. Ms. Brown asks if it is time to site her in court. Mr. Roby states that at one time we had books of the property with photos and information. They had this done through a grant. Mr. Doan states that he has not seen any books on that property in the office. They discuss solutions. Mr. Savage states that they had a grant on the property approved and just needed them to sign it and they never did. Mr. Rice states that we should send a notice to clean up the property as well as request her to the next planning meeting.
Mr. Sherman feels that the board needs to address what requires a permit. There is a home falling down and the new owner put siding all the way to the dirt so that you cannot see how bad the foundation is. The home is around 28th and North F Street. Mr. Sherman feels that we need to update the ordinances so we know that homes are up to code and are structurally safe. Mr. Doan states that he has most of the surrounding counties requirements for permits. Mr. Rice questions what requires a permit now. Mr. Doan states that any new structure that exceeds 120 sq. ft. requires a permit. Mr. Rice feels that Mr. Doan should go over these and make some recommendations to the board. Mr. Doan states that this will also help generate some revenue for the city. They discuss.
Mr. Nance questions the sign going up on West Main Street. Mr. Rice said he seen it driving through town. Mr. Doan states that Tom Cowart owns that. Mr. Roby states that there was a sign there before and was granted permission to use the existing sign. Mr. Nance states that the post wasn’t there for awhile.
In the audience, a man questions 519 South D Street. He wants to know when it will be mowed. Mr. Doan states that the Street Department just received this yesterday and is on their list to get cleaned up.

Adjournment: Mr. Nance makes motion to adjourn, Ms. Brown seconds, and all agree.

Meeting Adjourned.

_______________________________
President