by Mari Radtke
Street Superintendent Matt Dreckman answered questions of the council about a request made by Little Sioux Corn Processors to dump refuse from their wash bay. The expansion has generated faster filling of the onsite pit. Historically the pit would fill and seep away. With new growth, the pit can’t seep water away quickly enough. The request is to pump refuse (no animal waste) into 250 gallon totes and dump into the city’s sewer ponds. The frequency was not specified but vaguely described as occasionally with 1-3 totes a stated estimate. LSCP would do their own testing to meet DNR contaminant standards. Some questions in how an arrangement could work or be worded within the existing ordinance brought out a lot of questions.
Dreckman was directed to talk with the city attorney about a possible contract for dumping.
Northwest Iowa Community College has submitted an offer to purchase Hometown Guesthouse to convert into classrooms. Covenants governing the Business Park where the hotel is do not specify educational facility as an approved use of the land. Covenants refer back to the Marcus Zoning Ordinance for permissible uses. The Zoning Ordinance governing GB (General Business) and HC (Highway Commercial) District allows activity conducted within its borders identified as conditional permitted uses in CB (Central Business District). Educational uses is not identified in the conditional permitted uses in the Central Business District. However Business or Commercial schools are a Principle Permitted Use in the Central Busines District.
Since changing the use from hotel/motel of the Hometown Guesthouse to educational is not permitted, 51% of the allowable votes of property owners in the Business Park are required to approve the use as educational and amend the covenants. Councilman Gary Edwards, also Chair of Hometown Guesthouse reported to Council that he is collecting the signatures. Mayor Pat Bunt would not allow questions during the meeting and Edwards declined to answer questions on the matter after adjournment. Any timeline is unknown. Potential consequences of not reaching the 51% threshold are also unknown.
Council also approved the purchase of real estate at 113 S Locust St. in Marcus. A public hearing will be set for the purchase of that real estate at another meeting.