City discusses development projects
By Wendy Sweeter
The Tea City Council met Nov. 7 with a full house.
The council heard from citizen Joe Pania about an animal at-large ticket he received for his dog that had chased a cat out of his yard. He admitted that the battery in his dog’s collar that works with his invisible fence had died and took responsibility for that. He was asking for the ticket to be dismissed or that the cat owner also be fined for having an animal at-large. After much discussion, the council voted 4-2 to dismiss the $50 ticket.
Mike Van Buskirk with Van Buskirk Companies talked to the council about the Mueller Land Development along Gateway Boulevard and Sundowner Avenue. The 6.4 acres is zoned commercial. They would like a right in, right out driveway off Sundowner Avenue. He said that the businesses they are looking at note that access is often a deal breaker for them.
HDR engineers Jason Jensen and Ben Scholtz do not like how close the proposed driveway is to the intersection. The proximity of the proposed driveway would impede traffic flow in that area and cause safety concerns, they said.
While the council did not take any action on the driveway discussion, the consensus from most of the council members was that they did not want a right in, right out driveway in that location because of the traffic flow and traffic safety concerns.
In another informational update, planning and zoning administrator Kevin Nissen informed the council on the preliminary plan for GC Estates located north of High Pointe Street and west of Cole Avenue. They held an open house to inform the neighbors of the changes that were requested at the public hearing, which he noted the biggest concern was drainage and water sitting in the backyards of homes.
Nissen said the drainage was redesigned to install a pipe that would run parallel to 468th Avenue on the west side of the development. The plan also calls for a half-acre pond about 5 feet deep.
Councilman Joe Weis brought up the intersection of 1st Street and Main Avenue and the safety concerns. The mother of a child who was hit by a car at the intersection spoke about how there’s nowhere safe for children and other pedestrians to cross at that intersection not just during the school year. She and Weis would like to see a four-way stop at the intersection.
Scholtz said they were already planning a traffic count study for that area. It should take a couple of days and will be done within a week.
The council approved the 2023 package off-sale liquor license renewals for Cubby’s, Fareway, HyVee Dollar Fresh and both Casey’s General Stores. They also approved the 2023 retail on-sale liquor licenses for American Legion Post 266 - Blau DeBoer Post #266, Squealer’s Smoke Shack, Double M LLC DBA Prairie View Event Hall and Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar.
They approved the 2023 retail on-off sale wine and cider liquor license for Dolgen Midwest LLC DBA Dollar General Store, MG Oil Company DBA Jokerz 7 and Tea Hospitality DBA Grandstay Hotel & Suites.
They held public hearings for a liquor license transfer from The Big Dill LLC from 315 N. Heritage Parkway to 46992 271st St., Tea, and a new retail on-off sale malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine license for Boss’ Pizzeria & Sports Bar Casino because they were adding 10 more video lottery machines. No one was present to speak in opposition of the licenses and the council approved them.
The council approved the resignation of Trent Van Ravensway as a police officer.
The council plans to hold a first reading Nov. 21 for the fireworks ordinance.
They approved the pay application from Metro Construction for $398,036.75 for the regionalization wastewater pump station and force main and for $161,554.31 for drainage done on James Avenue. They approved the second to last pay application from D & G Concrete for $182,388.75 for work on Gateway Boulevard. They also approved the pay application from Asphalt Surfacing Company for $418,276.63 for work on Mindy and Monty Streets in the Hagedorn Industrial Park.
The council adjourned at 9:26 p.m.