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It’s official. The Center City Council voted 5-0 last week to authorize the city attorney to commence litigation to resolve the contested issues surrounding the ironworks business, operating at County Roads 9 and 12. Attorney Ted Alliegro said the specific vote was needed for the record.  A court date was not announced.

The ironworks manufacturer has reportedly been advised to halt certain practices and according to updates at council meetings and remarks by neighboring property owners, the alleged nuisance activities have continued.  

Complaints center on the company definition of what they are doing, which is interpreted as being in compliance with “light industrial” land use.  

Center City officials feel the operation is out of character with the historic site use, there was no permission requested/granted and production of the iron pieces disturbs the residential area.
The newly-elected Council member Garrett Boulineau was sworn-in replacing Madonna Higgins.  The returning mayor Jill Behnke and incumbent member Lloyd Vetter also recited  their oaths.
Council heard the annextaion of the Diebel property was finalized, Alliegro reported.  Council also gave the clerk direction on the utility billing at in-city level that this initiated.  The parcel near Pioneer Lake was accidentally omitted when a number of township parcels came into the municipal boundary seeking services years ago.

As for city services, there has been steady progress made on  water metering failures and Eric Garner, Public Works, reported he is down to a handful of residences where the people need to reach out to him. He has called, sent notices and left messages to all the listed “no reads” accounts and those who wish to continue to receive water need to set up an appointment for a new, working meter.

Meeting conflicts are expected on upcoming Tuesdays, such as Fourth of July.  Dates were adjusted mostly to the week following. Check ahead if you plan on bringing something to a session.
Garner also said there’s a number of snowmobile complaints this season.  Snowmobiles must stay off sidewalks and private property.  The use of Lorens Park outside of regular hours,  to ride off South Center Lake and use Grand Avenue because lake ice has been unpredictable, is also disallowed.

Council agreed to inform the patrol deputy of the problems and signs can be posted.

Former Clerk Valerie Fox was okayed to be retained as a consultant. Fox will get the hourly rate she would have gotten for 2023 if she had stayed on.

Newly-hired Clerk Dana Miron said she hasn’t encountered any problems yet, but it will be helpful to have someone to call as-needed.  Fox accepted the Shafer City Clerk post.  Last week was Miron’s first solo council meeting.  And, council approved two clerk training events for Miron to attend in March and in May.

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