Abby acquires land for future improvements
The Abbotsford City Council approved the purchase of six acres of land which is to be used for future housing developments.
During closed session at the council’s August 7 meeting, the council decided to purchase the land from Ken Christensen for $150,000. City Administrator Josh Soyk said the city intends for the land to be sold to Abbyland at some point so they can put up two or four more apartment buildings near the Schilling Subdivision.
The development would be added onto the seven apartment buildings that were built over the last five years in the subdivision. The land was already included in the city’s sixth TIF district and any development would be eligible to be a part of the district.
n The council discussed a fencing ordinance that was confusing and had caused issues between residents in the past. The original ordinance states that fencing can be placed on the lot lines and also states it has to be placed three feet off the lot lines. The council voted to add a clause that states that fencing may be placed on the property lines only with written approval from adjoining property owners.
n MSA representative Dan Borchardt said the Cedar Street project came in under budget. The council approved a final pay application to Haas Sons, Inc. for that project during the meeting.
n Borchardt told the council that the water tower rehabilitation project will be complete over the weekend. Crews from Viking Painting were working on chlorinating the reservoir and will be refilling the tank with water August 10 - 11.
n A resident offered to donate two swings to the city park located just north of the public safety building. Public works director Craig Stuttgen said his crew could put them up if they were in decent enough shape.
n Abbotsford Public Library Director Jenny Jochimsen said the school gave the library permission to add copies of the school’s yearbooks to the library website. She said she has been currently working on putting that together.
n The council voted that the following alleyways will be posted with signs saying these alleyways are service alleys only and residents are not to park or drive vehicles down them:
n 2nd Street - 3rd Street from Oak to Cedar
n 3rd Street - 4th Street from Cedar to Maple
n 2nd Street - 3rd Street from Maple to Pine
n 1st Street - 2nd Street from Maple to Pine
n 3rd Ave. - 4th Ave. from Hemlock to Sycamore “In order for Jason [Bauer] to enforce them, we have to have a sign posted,” Stuttgen said.
The service alleys remain unplowed during the winter board members brought up the fact that people like to use the trails to get to snowmobile trails during the winter.
It was unclear if that would be an issue among residents whom have complained about the alleys being rutted up in the past. Stuttgen said that specific scenario didn’t come up in the complaints.
Alderman Kevin Flink asked if they would still get torn up when the city goes back there if its muddy and wet. Stuttgen said they could because there’s no gravel base but the city would do its best to fix them if that were the case.
“Most of the manholes are in the intersections,” Stuttgen said. “There are a few midway but we can reach 500 feet with our truck so we’re usually pretty good.”
