During the Seward City Council’s Feb. 5 meeting, the board:
• held the first reading of an ordinance that could amend the city’s Unified Land Development Ordinance to allow car body repair in the central business district.
City Administrator Greg Butcher said he and City Engineer Jake Vasa reviewed how other first class cities handle body repair in similar districts after Carey Hendrix requested the city look into the matter.
Hendrix, Councilmember Alyssa Hendrix’s husband, owns a mobile business in the district, but said he wants to know if he could expand.
Butcher said, in reviewing other cities, he and Vasa found an even mix of cities that allow that use, cities that require a special permit and cities that do not allow it.
He said the main concern is the appearance of having cars in disrepair.
The board took no formal action on this item.
• approved an ordinance to amend the ULDO on use types, zoning district regulations and supplemental use regarding long-term and recreational vehicle storage.
The council previously directed the administration to research how other cities handle long-term storage of vehicles. The administration brought its suggested changes to the planning commission, which approved the amendments.
Butcher said the new ordinance combines long-term, short-term and RV storage.
According to the city council’s packet, which includes information and documents on agenda items, the amendment would only allow vehicle storage in an industrial district and “requires security fencing, requires vehicles that are to be stored not be in disrepair and are only allowed 300 feet from Highway 15 and 34 corridors.”
• held a public hearing on the city’s one- and six-year road plan.
• sent a claim from Alejandro Garcia to the city’s insurance company.
Garcia’s claim, for $16,000, states the city’s sewer line backed up into his home.
• approved a special designated liquor license to Makovicka Winery for an event March 9 at Harvest Hall.
• accepted the Seward Memorial Library’s annual report.
• heard a presentation from Will Crane of Bluestem Energy. He said Bluestem can help the city sell its renewable energy credits, which the city earns through use of its wind turbine, west of town.
No formal action was taken.
• tabled action on designating an alternate truck route for truck
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traffic along highways 15 and 34.
• approved a handicap and disabled parking space on the east side of Fourth Street, south of Highway 34, for Union Bank and Trust.
• approved a settlement agreement for $3,760.59 from Berridge Manufacturing Company. Butcher said these funds are what’s left of a warranty on the paint used on the Dowding Municipal Pool house roof, which was installed in 2004 and has been peeling.
amanda@sewardindependent.com
