The August 5, 2019 meeting of the Garretson City Council dealt with its first code enforcement complaint, fielded a request to install a septic tank within city limits, and finished establishing water drainage channels for the new housing addition.
The council began with approving new natural gas prices, which had gone up slightly to $0.82 cents.
The Parks Board had no updates beyond having one more movie planned for August 17.
Chris Lynde then presented to the enforcement board about his missing objects (for more information, please see the July 11 issue of the Gazette), requesting that the City reimburse him for the value of the missing items. Without proof that items were there prior to the official clean up, and as the council did not want to set precedent for reimbursing residents for those items that were removed when acting on a code enforcement order, Lynde’s request to be reimbursed for those missing items was denied.
The council re-iterated that consistent, civil communication with the code enforcement officer is the best way to mitigate having items removed in an untimely fashion.
They did agree to place a request to the company that the list of items specified in a removal letter is signed off on by the company lead to ensure only those items are removed.
The council then moved on to the ordinances that were denied and tabled at July’s meeting, which bring property ordinances up to suggested code. The City attorney had confirmed that the disputed language in each of the ordinances was normal legal-speak in those types of ordinances, and the council passed each of them without further discussion.
Next was a request to place either a septic tank or holding tank at the new house being built at 400 5th Street along Split Rock Creek. The builder presented on behalf of the owners, Jay and Cindy Bob (who were present), that installation and hook up of a sewer line would be non-feasible until further developments were placed to the north and west of the property, as there would not be enough use to keep the line from plugging up with solids.
After some discussion, the council requested the builder follow up with the South Dakota Department of Natural Resources to ensure there wouldn’t be concerns with pollution, and asked questions about depth. The builder was happy to report that there were no rocks found to a depth of 21 feet, so submerging the septic tank should not be an issue.
The council then tabled the request until the September meeting to wait for the response from the DNR.
Chad Hanisch of Infrastructure Design Group then presented on the updated plans for storm drainage in the new housing addition.
Initial plans had called for the entirety of the drainage to occur without channeling onto the property owned by Todd Pierret, but this caused concern as that area will likely have future development.
Hanisch recommended that after speaking with Pierret, a 7-foot deep, 40-50-foot wide channel that tapers down as it approaches city-owned property be built on Pierret’s land. While Pierret would still own the land, the City would be responsible for maintaining the channel, and further discussions would be needed as to whether an easement fee would be paid to Pierret.
The council, noting it was the only option available in order to do the project correctly the first time and save headaches in the future, agreed to back Hanisch in that proposal.
Hanisch then gave an update on the water line installation along 5th Street and Highway 11. Everything along 5th Street and the highway was complete except for the river crossing, and the company was starting on the area by the trailer court within the next week. The council noted that there had been legitimate delays, but were happy with the progress being made.
Blasting permits were still required in order to install the lines across Split Rock Creek. The council then quickly discussed areas that would likely have some down time within the next few days with their water being shut off in order to have the new lines attached to the system.
At that point, the council voted to go into executive session. The next meeting of the City Council will be held on September 9 at 6:30 pm at the Legion.
