Cadott Village Board; Firework business relocation sent to Board of Appeals

Gary Rykal, village zoning administrator, suggested the Cadott Village Board review the building permit language and fees. The suggestion came during a regular board meeting April 3, after Rykal says the permits were not updated since 2003. The Ordinance Committee will discuss the next steps. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

Cody Junker, who would like to move his fireworks business from across the street from the truck stop, to the former location of the motel in Cadott, asked about the next steps of the process, during a regular Cadott Village Board meeting April 4.

Junker shared preliminary draft of building plans, put together by an architect who built fireworks buildings before.

“The issue that I foresee us having, is you guys have an ordinance that you can’t sell fireworks, or store fireworks, within 500 feet of another building,” said Junker.

He says state statutes have the minimum distance set at 50 feet. Junker asked if the distance requirements could be adjusted for him, so he can build a store there. He says the proposed location is 250 feet from the daycare building and about 320 feet to the gas pumps.

“For what it’s worth, they sell fireworks across the road, right?” said board member Russ Falkenberg. “That’s 304 feet from the pump.”

Junker says he would like if the village could change the distance requirements to 100 feet, so there is space for another building on the property in the future. If not, he says even a 250 feet would allow him to build on the space.

Board president Anson Albarado says that would have to go through the Board of Appeals.

Bart Chapek, board member, says they may also need to look into a permit to allow the sale of fireworks, since ordinance says one is needed, but says they really only use the current firework permits to light off fireworks for events like Nabor Days.

“Would that have to be a different permit than just igniting them?” asked Randy Kuehni, board member.

Junker says, most places, those are separate permits. Chapek says they may need to tweak the permit they have, to allow fireworks sales.

Board member Les Liptak asked if the self-propelled fireworks are legal to sell under state law. Junker says it is legal to sell fireworks to anybody who holds a permit for the use of fireworks. Liptak says he is also concerned how individuals are issued permits and wants to make sure they are in compliance with state laws.

Albarado also brought up increasing board salaries, as his time on the board draws to a close.

“I’ve been on for 26 years, and, in that time, it’s never been increased,” said Albarado.

The board voted to increase the salaries by $5, per board and committee meeting.

“Obviously, we’re not in it for the money,” said Falkenberg.

State approved plans for A& W were also approved during the meeting, for the building and plumbing.

A utility easement was also approved to provide sewer service to the future Kwik Trip location on private property, owned by Falkenberg. The agreement included a contingency that an assessed $7,942 fee, owed by Arlene Falkenberg, be exchanged for allowing the easement. R. Falkenberg abstained from the vote. “That’s seems reasonable,” said Liptak.

The board also agreed to place cameras at the yard waste site, with installation by Krista Computers, for $4,667.

Director of public works Jeremy Kenealy says one will point at the brush site and the other will show the driveway.

Gary Rykal, village zoning administrator, was also on hand to talk about building permits. Rykal says the permits were not updated since 2003.

“They need to be clarified a little bit between the residential and commercial buildings,” said Rykal.

Rykal also mentioned the penalty for nonconformance should also be looked over and clarified, too. He says pricing updates may also be appropriate, since they were also unchanged since 2003. The issue was passed on to the Ordinance Committee, so they can come up with some guidelines.

Board members tabled a decision on converting the tennis court in Riverview Park to a pickleball court, until they have more information. The Lions club expressed interest in contributing to the project.

“We know that the tennis court is not in the best shape,” said Albarado.

Kenealy says it would be nice to redo the basketball court, too, since that is in rough shape.