City Council greenlights zoning changes, considers baseball field enhancements

The Tea City Council met Sept. 23 and held three public hearings. The first public hearing was for a conditional use permit for motor vehicle sales at 2000 Manville St., Suite 4. Planning and zoning administrator Kevin Nissen said the building currently on the property was set up as a contractor shop. Owner David Buffington plans to deal with higher-end vehicles and park them inside the majority of the time. Hours of operation will be a couple days a week and by appointment. The Planning Commission’s only stipulations were no dismantled vehicles on site and no selling vehicles with missing parts. The council approved the CUP.

The council held the first reading for ordinance 321, an ordinance to rezone lot 1B, Tempo Addition from ag to light industrial. 

Nissen said the property has been annexed into the city. He said the developer plans to put a buffer between the residential neighborhood to the north and the business area. Nissen said the proposed use for the property aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan for the area. While no one spoke for or against the rezone at the meeting, Nissen said he had received one letter from an adjacent landowner who was not in favor of the industrial zoning.

They approved the second reading of ordinance 320, an ordinance to rezone tract 1, Hascall Addition from commercial to R2-residential. The area would have six residential lots on Fanning Street. Nissen said the rezone fits into the city’s comprehensive plan.

The council approved the plats for lots 34 and 35, block 5 in Serenity Park Addition for two single-family lots at the corner of E. Dutch Street and Katie Avenue and lots 1A and 1B, block 3 in Gateway Park Addition for two commercial lots along Gateway Lane.

The council approved the Hascall Addition developer’s agreement with Nielson Construction. They discussed the Harvard Industrial Park Addition developer’s agreement but took no action.

They awarded the 2024 mill and overlay project to Black-Top Paving with the lowest bid at $498,525.90.

The council approved the purchase of a 2023 Dodge Charger for the police department at $39,240.

They continued their discussion of the possible roundabout at Brian Street but took no action.

Rob Schramm with the Tea Baseball Association addressed the council on some suggestions for changing things on the baseball fields. The association wants to start trying to host tournaments next year with two in May and a possible state tournament. Schramm estimates that they could see 50 teams and 2,000 people throughout those three tournaments. However, Field C and Field D would need additional base plates put in at 70 and 80 feet, respectively. In that case, some grass would likely need to be taken out. 

Councilman Joe Weis asked how any proposed changes would affect softball. Schramm said it’s something they have been having conversations about.

Councilman Jim Erck said he was not opposed to making some of the adjustments but thought it was a little premature. He thinks they need an overall plan for the facility before they rip up any sod.

Councilman Lynn DeYoung said they should move forward, noting the dugouts on the big field are a disaster. He said they need to follow the process but sometimes you need to speed up the process.