The Cottonwood City Council held their August meeting Monday, August 11 and denied a street vacation request.
Ryan and Candice McHugh of MQ Land Company had requested vacating a portion of Junction Street located adjacent to their property at the former Herman Forsman residence. Junction Street is platted as 80 feet wide but the portion used as a street is much narrower. Candice McHugh said the portion in question has been considered as part of the yard of the residence for as long as she, or her father Mick Forsman, who grew up there, could remember. They were wanted to landscape it. All of the neighbors apparently were in favor with only one asking a caveat that no structures be placed in that area. There was some concern about the corner. A motion to have city attorney Joe Wright draw up the proper paperwork to be reviewed at the next meeting died for lack of a second. After some more discussion Kristine Holthaus made a second motion was made to deny the request. That passed 2-1 with Brett Miller, who made the original motion, voting no. Councilor Gus Hoene was absent. Linda Nida also voted to approve the motion.
In other business the council approved a preliminary plat for the St. Lawrence Subdivision conditional on approval by the city engineer. Even if the city engineer approves this won’t be the final stage, it just advances the process to the next step.
An alcohol catering permit was approved for Keuterville Pub & Grub for a St. Mary’s Hospital event scheduled for Oct. 4 in the Community Hall.
Ordinance #269, the fiscal year 2025 amended budget, was read and approved.
Ordinance #270, the annual appropriation ordinance, was also read and approved.
In the reports police chief Terry Cochran reported there was a house fire on 1^st Street South that was quickly spotted by Hometown Auto & Ag employees and taken care of until the fire department could respond. He is also continuing to work with the hospital on safety concerns.
Mayor Keith Holcomb gave the water report in Hoene’s absence. The city pumped 6,788,200 gallons of water and sold 6,386,357 gallons for a loss of 5.74%. Pat Enneking said they are looking to get the water line replacement on Bash Street finished this week. They were waiting on some parts.
In the sewer report Miller said they had some increase in flow from the recent storm but it didn’t last long.
Holthaus reported they completed the BST on Myrtle Street.
Nida reported she was able to get a couple of refrigerators for the Park Pavilion. There have been some issues with the splash pad. It works fine when you hit the button once but a rapid punching of the button can make it so it doesn’t automatically turn off after 30 seconds like it is supposed to. They are working on a fix.
There was nothing new to report at the airport.
Nida said in addition to the fire call Cochran reported on, there was one other fire call on August 6 at Kenny Seubert’s property southeast of town. They have a training coming up at the fairgrounds.
In unfinished business, it appears the house at the new sewer re-use site apparently has asbestos siding and may have lead paint as well. Instead of offering it for sale they will have a contractor remove it properly.
The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Monday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.