Centerville Tidbits
Council Approves Extra Party Hour
The Centerville City Council passed four motions allowing the Centerville Lions Club to organize and oversee the live music and partying that will take place during the Fête de Lacs/Sesquicentennial weekend, but the move was not without a little controversy.
In order to recoup some of the costs that the Lions Club is spending on fireworks, music, security expenses, and drinks for the city's sesquicentennial celebration, Lion Greg Kieselhorst asked the council to approve live music until 12:30 a.m. and noise until 1 a.m. on Saturday, August 4 in Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park, an hour later than in previous years.
Although most council members were amenable, Mayor Mary Capra refused to support a motion allowing a half-an-hour of extra drinking and noise in the park on Saturday night, saying, "It's not that I discount the fact that [the Lions Club] is spending money, I just feel that for me, personally, I can't support 1 a.m. for noise.it's always been 11:30 [for drinks] and midnight [for noise]."
In response, Council Member Jeff Paar said that "[The sesquicentennial] is a once-in-a-lifetime deal, but yeah, the people that live [right next to the park] will be inconvenienced."
Council Member Tom Lee pointed out that "some of the people who live [next to the park] may be at the festival anyway."
In the end, the move to extra time for drinks and noise - which was rolled into a larger resolution granting the Lions a temporary 3.2 liquor license for the festivities - passed by a 4-1 vote, with Capra voting against.
The council also granted the Lions a special event permit for the Fête des Lacs/Sesquicentennial festivities, a noise permit for the weekend, and a fireworks permit.
EDA Public Hearing Scheduled
Council scheduled a public hearing during the second regularly- scheduled council meeting in May to discuss passing a resolution that replaces the resolution previously adopted to establish the city's Economic Development Authority.
In this case, the city would like to allow local business owners who are non-residents to be eligible for appointment to the EDA. Larson said that out of five recent applicants, three were non- residents.
"[The council] would like to be able to appoint a non-resident," Larson said. "These people are business owners in the community and they have a stake in the community," he added. The hearing will be held May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
In other action, the council:
. Approved a contract with DSU/Bonestroo to provide consulting services to the city as Centerville moves through the process of amending its Comprehensive Plan.
. Approved a special assessment payoff for the total of $17,044.
. Approved a request by the Bald Eagle Waterski Show for a ski jump placement on Centerville Lake.
. Approved three separate encroachment agreements for fence construction for Mr. & Mrs. Michael Carter, 6913 Sumac Court.
. Accepted a bid for the purchase of the city's 1986 Ford CC CDL-Plow. The bid was for the amount of $9,611.
. Rescheduled the public hearing for Old Mill Road improvements to May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.