With the possibility of future housing development seemingly back on the table as the economy continues its slow recovery, Annandale City Council members approved a new housing study for the city in February.
That approval was contingent, however, upon the receipt of grant funds to cover at least half of the $9,500 cost, and the council learned during its meeting on Monday, March 3, that the grant had been received.
AgStar Financial Services has awarded the city a grant of $4,750, and council members approved a number of agreements during their meeting in order to receive the funds.
The city’s last housing study was completed in 2001. Updated data will allow the city to develop and adhere to a strategy of its own choosing when developers come forward with proposals.
As an example, City Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp explained last month that one option the city has to encourage a project in an area of need would be to waive sewer and water connection fees. In other cases where the study finds less need, the city could be more discriminating if developers request such incentives.
According to the proposal from Community Partners Research, the study would identify rental housing needs, examine issues with single-family housing, including lot development issues, evaluate rehabilitation and preservation priorities for existing housing, provide an inventory of existing housing and illuminate any unique housing situations the city may have.
The study is expected to be complete in May.
Other items
In other business, the council:
■ Heard from Public Utilities Director Joe Haller that city staff had thawed out 20 water service lines in the past two weeks, and that two lines remained frozen. After the city issued a notice for residents to keep a small stream of water running at all times to avoid freeze-ups, the city is now using 100,000 more gallons of water per day than usual.
Haller said the greater water flow is preferable to the expense and time of thawing lines, and that it is helping alleviate potential freezing issues in the water tower and water mains.
"Hopefully we’ll never know how much this has helped us," he said.
■ Haller asked the council to consider moving up the purchase of a new plow truck from 2015 to this year. He explained that the truck would have to be ordered in April in order to be ready for the next snow season, and an April order would allow the truck to arrive in October.
Aside from the benefit of having the truck ready for next winter, Haller said that while the dealer’s trade-in value of the city’s current truck is $25,000, the city of Freeport has expressed interest in purchasing the truck for $45,000. Using the truck for another winter would decrease that value, and having a willing buyer merited discussion, he added.
"I’m not saying they’re the only buyer out there and we have to jump on this, but when they come to us looking, we should consider it," he said.
Haller said the total cost of a new single-axle truck would be about $173,000.
Approving the purchase in April would put the city’s capital improvement plan budget in the red for 2014 by $70,000 to $80,000, Hinnenkamp said, an amount that would have to be made up for in other areas for auditing purposes.
At Haller’s request, the council took no action but will consider the matter before the April meeting.
■ Was notified by the county that a parcel of land in the Candlestick Park development has been forfeited due to non-payment of taxes.
The city is able to recommend conditions to the county for the tax forfeiture sale, and Annandale added five conditions for the parcel, which was formally owned in common by the development’s property owners.
Among the restrictions were that the parcel be sold as a non-buildable lot, that the lot owners be granted easements through the parcel to their lots, and that the new owners form an association to provide for the maintenance of the common elements of the parcel.
The parcel includes all of the land surrounding seven structures in a cul-de-sac.
■ Noted the 22nd employment anniversary of Police Chief Jeff Herr.
■ Viewed a police report for January, which noted 219 incidents for the month. Among those incidents were 34 medical calls, 15 civil incidents, 10 warning tickets, seven thefts and five warrants.
■ Viewed a fire department report for January. There were 14 total incidents, including eight rescue or medical calls and three hazardous condition calls such as gas leaks or electrical short circuit.