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Commission approves fence ordinance
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 11/11/2008 |
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Close to 20 Madison residents attended Monday night's city commission meeting to hear the final reading of a city ordinance on fence construction.
The ordinance originally proposed that no resident may construct, erect or maintain a fence of any character or material which encloses the city's manually read electric or water meters.
Prior to adoption of the ordinance, commissioners deleted one word from the ordinance: "maintain." City Attorney David Jencks said that word removes the retroactive nature of the ordinance and would therefore only affect residents who propose new construction of fences around their properties.
Commissioner Dan Bohl proposed the deletion of the word from the ordinance, indicating that its removal eliminates most of the concern expressed by residents.
"New construction would be addressed when people apply for a building permit," Bohl said.
During Monday's meeting, several reasons for the ordinance were discussed. Some current fences have no gates, some gates don't open, some have latches on the interior side of the fence, and some have animals inside.
"Most people are sympathetic to what's going on," Bohl said. "They don't want the reader chased by dogs or jumping fences."
City meter reader Russ Klosterman said that some issues can be remedied by moving latches to the exterior or removing the bottom two inches of a wooden fence so it doesn't drag on the ground. But, there are some fence doors that don't work at all and other fences built at a height where he can look over the top to read the meter but another city employee may require a ladder.
In situations where meters aren't read, a card is left at the home. The homeowner is instructed to read the meter and return the card. But, Klosterman said, only half of those cards are returned.
When asked what steps are taken when cards are not returned, City Finance Officer Jeff Heinemeyer said that the homeowner might get a reminder call asking for the reading, a city employee may be able to return to the home and get a reading, or it might be that the city provides a billing with an estimate for that month's usage.
Because the ordinance doesn't affect homes with existing fences, commissioners said existing issues pertaining to homes with fences that prohibit meter reading from taking place will be dealt with individually.
Those homeowners who plan to build fences will be required to assure the city that access to the utility meters is available.
The second reading of ordinance 1469 was also approved Tuesday night. This ordinance sets the speed limit on S.W. 3rd from Union Ave. to Highland Ave. at 25 mph.
The first reading of several other ordinances was held. Those ordinances set new rates for waste collection, water and electricity; add two new streets to the city's snow emergency route; and establish no-parking zones on N. Lincoln Ave. at the intersection of N.E. 8th St.
Pat Keating, Dakota State University's building and grounds supervisor, expressed concern about the no-parking zones on N. Lincoln Ave. The ordinance effectively eliminates two parking spots from that side of campus.
"We hate to lose any spots," Keating said. "It's difficult to understand why now."
Commissioner Karen Lembcke said the ordinance is being put in place because there have been accidents at that intersection, and also because there have been complaints about congestion there which reduces the visibility of traffic.
The ordinance originally restricted parking 65 feet south of the intersection and 85 feet north.
Commissioner Scott Delzer approved the ordinance changing the parking restriction on the north end to 65 feet.
Ordinances that increase water, sewer and waste collection rates were all approved.
Delzer said the waste collection rate increase will offset the increase in rates at the Sioux Falls landfill, which will cause a shortfall in the current city budget.
Bohl said the water rate increase is necessary to offset funds spent on the Lewis & Clark project and on debt service for past projects; and the increase in electric rates is necessary to offset the intended increases in rates by both WAPA and Heartland on Jan. 1.
Bohl said the average family will see a $1.50 increase on their water bill and about a $4.90 increase for electricity.
Roads added to the city snow emergency route include S.W. 7th St. from Union Ave. to Highland Ave. and S.E. 3rd St. from Egan Ave. to Washington Ave.
Public Works Superintendent Heath VonEye said the addition of S.W. 7th is to clear the road for the East Dakota Transit bus and employees at manufacturing companies there. S.E. 3rd is being added because that's where the Madison Fire Hall is located.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2010
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