Commission opts not to rezone requested parcel

Presque Isle Academy had an interest in purchasing the Standard Plumbing and Heating building on Industrial Park Drive to make into their new school. In order for the school to operate out of the new building they would need the parcel to be rezoned, allowing schools to operate in that zone.

The commission held a public hearing on the rezoning several weeks ago and at the last meeting of the commission commissioner Jerry Robinson said he thought a deed restriction required the building to be kept for industrial use.

City attorney Mike Vogler and city manager Joe Hefele looked into this deed restriction concern and did not find anything saying it had to remain as an industrial building. The commission discussed the topic first on Monday evening?s agenda and when it came to a vote Mel Perkins and Bernie Schmeltzer voted yes while Robinson, Charles Abshagen and Gary Wregglesworth voted no, denying the request.

According to Hefele some of the commissioners were concerned with the small amount of industrial property and buildings Onaway has and did not want to give up a parcel for a school.

The vote made the option of rezoning the parcel impossible, however, the school can explore other options if they still wish to operate a school in this location.

IN OTHER CITY COMMISSION NEWS:

? The commission adopted an ORV ordinance allowing ORV?s to operate on city streets in Onaway that parallels the state law on the issue. The speed limit per the ordinance is 25 miles per hour, a change requested by Chief of Police Jim Gibson so the ORV?s did not disrupt the flow of traffic.

? City manager Hefele and attorney Vogler will be working on master plan updates with some help from NEMCOG on mapping.

? 20905 Spruce Street, a property the city took over in tax foreclosure last year is a parcel that the Habitat for Humanity has expressed interest in acquiring. No formal request has been made by the organization, but when it is the city will move forward with zoning variances and other issues with the property. The parcel may be available to Habitat for under $850, the amount of money the city has put into the property.

? Hefele updated the commission on several streets considered for street projects in the next budget year. He provided the commissioners with maps detailing where the projects would be done and where recent projects have been done. It was an informational item on the agenda, something that will be looked at in the budget meetings in January and February.

? The fuel tanks were installed at the DPW garage and filled by Basel Oil, through whom the tanks were purchased. Painter Petroleum will be in charge of keeping the tanks full in the future for the city.

? Hefele has been informed that some grant funding from USDA could be available in November that would help the city in purchasing a new pickup truck, but nothing is known for sure. The USDA has allowed Hefele to continue obtaining bids on the new truck, taking the city ahead of the game both if money is granted to Onaway or if

it is not.

? The existing purchase agreement with R & B Outdoors for the old police building had a closing date of October 31, however, this date will not be obtainable as the new building is not completed. Discussions with the purchaser have allowed Hefele to draft an amendment to the purchase agreement that has been signed by the purchaser and the commission approved the city officials to signing it, stating they would be out by November 28.

? Money was added to the contract with Larson and Sons Construction for the new police building as they will be working on the phone and data lines.

? The Onaway police department was granted approval to purchase photo equipment at the request of chief Gibson at an earlier city commission meeting.

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