City council approves license for new garbage hauler

The Tea City Council met Dec. 18 and approved the new garbage hauler license for Roo’s Sanitation.

Finance officer Dawn Murphy said city ordinance says when the city gets to 4,501 people they can have five garbage haulers. Roo’s Sanitation is owned by Tea couple Justin and Ruby Zuraff and they started their business in January 2017. They will plan to start servicing Tea in January with Friday pickups.

They also approved the garbage hauler renewals for RBS Sanitation, A-OK Sanitary and Novak Sanitary. The council tabled Waste Management since they have not gotten their renewal form turned in.

The council also approved the Nov. 20 minutes and the warrants.

The council held a public rezoning hearing for tract 5, Howling Ridge Addition from ag to R1. John Schwartzle applied for the rezone. The proposed rezone corresponds with the 2004 Howling Ridge Addition final development plan and the Tea comprehensive plan. A neighbor to the addition voiced his concerns about water flooding into his backyard. Planning and zoning administrator Kevin Nissen said the drainage will not go toward his house. Mayor John Lawler declared it their first reading.

Toby Morris with Dougherty & Company talked to the council about Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts. He provided the city with information about a TIF since the city is poised for growth.

Nissen reviewed the building expansion site plan for DeGeest Manufacturing in the Hagedorn Industrial Park. The site plan was for a 48,000 square foot addition. Scott and Derrick DeGeest expressed their concern for the drainage pipe installed at the neighboring property of Harvard Industries. City engineer Ben Scholtz with HDR said the city approved the plans for Harvard Industries earlier this year but did not see the impact drainage would have on neighboring properties.

At this point, the city, the county and the company’s engineer are talking about how to change that drainage pipe to minimize possible damage to DeGeest in future large rain events.

The council approved DeGeest’s site plan.

Nissen presented information for the site plan for Jodi’s Rental on Linda Avenue in the Hagedorn Industrial Park Addition. The council approved the plan.