05/23/2023
The Paullina City Council met in special session on May 23, 2023 in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 127 S Main St, Paullina, Iowa. Mayor Brenda Ebel Kruse called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call. Council Members present: Steve Heeren, Jay Jones, Jean Unrau, Carol Honkomp, Lexy Murphy. Mayor Ebel Kruse declared a quorum.
Also present: Deputy Clerk Michelle Wilson. Superintendent Kelly Top (arrived 6:15pm). Guest: Mike Hohbach. Press: Radtke.
Motion by Honkomp; second by Unrau to approve agenda. All ayes. Motion carried.
Personnel updates were presented by the employee committee. Discussion of assistant clerk candidates & hourly wage were held. Motion by Murphy; second by Heeren to offer the position to candidate #3 at $18.50/hour on a 40-hour week with benefits. Ayes: Heeren, Honkomp, Unrau, Murphy. Nays: Jones. Motion carried. Mayor Ebel Kruse requested Council for permission to immediately advertise/post for any open positions upon receipt of a written resignation in an attempt to fill the role faster. Council agreed to allow this.
Permit approvals & processes were discussed. Mayor Ebel Kruse explained that several recent building permits were requests outside the allowed setback guidelines. Council discussed a rezoning variance request for a deck extension that would further the property’s non-conforming situation by 6 feet. Before calling a meeting of the Board of Adjustments, the Council chose to offer the applicant a 4-foot compromise or the option to let BOA address re-zoning request. Motion by Murphy; second by Unrau to allow Waterman to build a 12-foot deck to the east of his home. Ayes: Heeren, Honkomp, Unrau, Murphy. Nays: Jones. Motion carried.
Contractor Mike Hohbach spoke on behalf of homeowner Kevin Brasser who is out of the country for a few weeks regarding his garage extension. The permit was approved based on the setback numbers on the application. When line locates were done, it was discovered those figures were mistakenly calculated. This led to discussion over variances & sightlines within the block. Motion by Unrau; second by Jones to allow Brasser’s garage extension to continue as approved given the other setbacks within the block. All ayes. Motion carried.
Council Comments: Murphy asked for a no-parking sign on Groesbeck east of Maple as the road is too narrow with vehicles parked on both sides. Will look into updating the ordinance at a future meeting.
Motion by Unrau; second by Honkomp to adjourn at 7:03 p.m. All ayes. Motion carried.
Brenda Ebel Kruse, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Wilson, Deputy City Clerk
Published in O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier June 8, 2023