Inspection not needed, Kinas grandfathered in building

It was decided at a Gilman Planning Commission meeting earlier this spring, that three buildings with residences attached – including one owned by Vonda Kinas – would need a Conditional Use Permit to live there, because the businesses formerly located there, are no longer in operation. Per village code, each of the buildings need an inspection, along with the permit.

However, Kinas and her husband built the apartment adjacent to their business in 1996, before the current code took effect, so she feels she should be grandfathered into the single family residence.

“We didn’t realize she would have to face a $300$500 inspection fee,” said commission chair Dee Bornheimer, at a meeting June 14.

Bill Standish is also going through the process, but is required to, as he lived there after the village codes took effect. Kinas had an inspection originally, with the documentation to prove it that she provided to the village.

“It shows when we bought the place,” said Kinas. Members of the Planning Commission agreed to waive the need for the inspection for Kinas’ building and approved the Conditional Use Permit still needed to maintain a residence there.

As for the third owner needing a permit, Jim Flood, zoning administrator, said the property doesn’t need to go through the process, since the owner informed him he had moved out of the residence. Flood said that was fine, but informed the owner he could not move back in.

“All three of them are completely different circumstances,” said Flood. Following the commission meeting, the regular Gilman Village Board was held, where resident Fred Romig was on-hand to discuss sidewalk repair in front of Romig’s Hardware. Romig got an estimate of about $8,000 to redo that stretch of sidewalk that is heaving and uneven, with the business required to pay 50 percent of the cost, while the village would pay the rest. With the member’s blessing, the go ahead was given to move forward with the project.

Russell Baker, board/Improvements Committee member, said the village planned on renovating some sidewalks next year, so the property owners would have enough time to budget for their share of the cost, but that Romig’s portion of sidewalk is too bad to wait. Baker also mentioned that not all of the sidewalks need to be completely redone, just patchwork here and there.

Cheryl Rosemeyer pointed out that the village is looking into a way the repairs could be put on the tax assessment, to spread out the cost, but that they need to research it more.

“Next year would be a really good year to try to get those sidewalks done,” said Rosemeyer.

Bornheimer also requested that the village look into what part of the sidewalk is the village property, and what part actually belongs to the business or homeowner.

While there, Romig asked that members look around the village and consider some ways to clean it up, as he thinks it’s looking a little run down. A survey was sent out to members to fill out, highlighting areas of concern and possible solutions to complete.

“We do have a very nice town, but there are some things looking pretty bad,” said Romig. “I think we can get some of that cleaned up pretty easy.”

Also decided on, was closing Third Avenue, from 2-6 p.m., Wednesdays, June 21 through Oct. 25, for the weekly farmers’ market. Traffic will still have access to the clinic during that time.

“And that wouldn’t affect the semis coming in there?” asked board member Bob Preston.

Village clerk Candice Grunseth says the market coordinators talked to the drivers, so they were aware, and that by the time the market was ready to set up, the semis were pretty well done coming in.

“There were a lot of issues with how fast cars go by in town,” said village president Jane DeStaercke of the reason for moving the market from the Corner Store parking lot.

DeStaerke also said that the patio behind Hidden Treasures, which was established by the Gilman Industrial Foundation, is open and was paid for through a Vibrant Spaces Grant that was received.

“Just to make it clear again, this space is not a village park or anything like that, but it’s going to be available for the entire community to use or anybody that cares to use it,” said DeStaercke. “All the funding for the project is sourced from local sources – nothing comes from the village.”

During the meeting, police chief Tom Tallier clarified if residents can burn in the village, saying they can use burn barrels or fire pits.

“As long as…it’s contained…then you can burn,” he said, but added that they can’t burn brush. “We don’t allow open burning.”

Public works director Dave Kroeplin confirmed that the volleyball court in the park is almost done, which was paid for by a Powerline Grant and constructed from a lot of volunteer labor. Kroeplin also said the site for the scoreboard that was donated is all ready, but that there is no word for when the electronic board will be installed.

“Everything is there, all they need is the scoreboard,” he said.

Kroeplin also reported that the proposed snowmobile bridge to cross the river so as not to involve vehicle traffic, is not happening. The landowner Kroeplin talked to didn’t want 300 people going through there a day.

“It’s her land,” he said. Unfortunately, there is no other place it could go. “That was like the ideal spot,” said Baker.