Hugo Bits & Pieces
Council Considers Rental Housing Ordinance
At its July 21 meeting, the Hugo City Council directed staff to draft a Rental Housing Registration Ordinance that would require residential property owners to file paperwork with the city if their property is being used as a rental property.
“Residents in the community have noticed rental properties showing up in places where they might not have expected them, like single-family homes, and there’s been concerns raised,” said Community Development Director Bryan Bear.
In addition to identifying properties in the city that are being used as rental properties, the ordinance would also provide the city and renters with property owners’ contact information in case issues arise.
SAC/WAC/REC Fee Policies Examined After a lengthy discussion, council voted to table any changes to the city’s policy regarding the collection of Sewer Availability Charge, Water Availability Charge, and Residential Equivalent Charge fees, giving city staff time to provide council with more information about how any changes might affect the amount commercial properties are charged and how the fees are collected.
SAC, WAC, and REC charges are paid by property owners for connection to a city’s sewer and water systems. Hugo collects the entire SAC/WAC fee when a building permit is issued, choosing to charge each end user a fee that is proportional to the amount of water used, in the case of the water hookup, and the amount of estimated waste effluent discharged, in the case of sanitary sewer.
“Hugo doesn’t want to be at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to attracting businesses,” added Council Member Chuck Haas.
In other action, the council:
• Received a check for $10,773.71 raised by Fairview Hugo Clinic employees for the Hugo Relief Fund. Employees donated their paid vacation time to the Fairview Foundation, and earmarked their donations for Hugo disaster relief.
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the city of Hugo and the United Way. The MOU allows the city to release money raised for the Hugo Relief Fund to the United Way, and also creates a timeline for disbursement of funds to affected residents.
• Approved a resolution recognizing outgoing Public Works Director Chris Petree for his nine years of service to the city.
• Appointed resident Doug Galler to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
• Approved the fifth pay request from Arnt Construction for work completed on the Rice Lake Soccer Complex for an amount of $38,420.57.
• Awarded the 2008 Seal Coating project to Allied Blacktop Company for the low bid amount of $143,529.95.
• Recognized Rochelle Schostag for winning the Girl Scout Gold Award.
• Scheduled a neighborhood meeting for the 129th Street Utility Improvement District for August 21.
• Approved the Church of St. John the Baptist’s charitable gambling application for their Fall Festival event, to be held on August 24.
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