Dorchester preps for east-side land deal
By Kevin O’Brien
Dorchester appears to be gearing up for new commercial development on the east side of STH 13, but at this point, it’s unclear what that will look like.
The village board met in closed session on June 2 to “discuss business incentives and land sales,” but according to village clerk Susan Ballerstein, no action was taken in open session.
Earlier in the meeting, the board voted to rezone two lots on the east side of its industrial park from I-1 Light Industrial to C-2 General Commercial.
One of the lots belongs to Meyer Lumber Supply and the other is vacant land located just south of Meyer Lumber. The village owns a total of about 42 acres of developable land across three lots in that area.
Village president Kurt Schwoch said the commercial zoning designation is “more appropriate for what we want to do out there.”
At its May 5 meeting, the board authorized Schwoch and village attorney Bonnie Wachsmuth to negotiate the sale of village-owned land in that area to Brody Halokpa, owner of Pac Knife Sales. The site being sold is 400 feet from west to east and 570 feet north to south, just off the southern end of Meyer Road.
The current address of Pac Knife Sales is listed as 234607 Skilbert Ave., located in the town of Holton just east of the land being sold by the village.
When asked about that sale, Ballerstein said the deal has not been finalized at this point.
_ Utility operator Rick Golz told the board that a 2017 van was purchased for use by the water, sewer and public works departments. The vehicle cost just under $13,000, which was the limit set by the board at its May meeting.
Golz also said the village crew fixed a fire hydrant at the intersection of CTH A and North Fifth Street and plans on putting in a new culvert at the intersection of Third and Oak this Thursday.
_ Village clerk Sue Ballerstein said she spoke to the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, who assured her that two deputies will be “on the ground” at night during Dorchester Days, and deputies will do regular daytime patrols “as much as possible” during the three-day festival.
With the sheriff’s department ending its regular patrols of the village as of this past Monday, board members also talked about to do with a couple of abandoned vehicles in the village. Golz said one of them is an unlicensed truck across from the laundromat that is getting in the way of cutting grass.
Trustee Clem Klimpke, who mentioned a vehicle that has been abandoned on Fourth Street for over two years, said he would talk to one of the deputies who has been patrolling the village to see what options are available for removing them.
_ The board accepted a granite bid from Paul Bugar, at a price of $11.08 per yard for crushed granite. The village plans on buying 3,000 yards, so the total cost will be $33,240. Bugar was one of three contractors to submit bids.
_ The board approved a semi-pro wrestling event to be held at Memorial Hall sometime in October. Trustees were told that the event is run professionally, security is provided, and there were no issues at a similar event held at Paradise Shores in Holcombe.
_ The board approved the purchase of 24, eight-foot tables, at $80 apiece, for Memorial Hall. The purchase of two round tables, at $100 apiece, was also approved, for a total cost of about $2,100.
Deputy clerk Christie Erikson said many of the existing tables are not usable, leaving the hall without enough to seat the number of guests allowed. The account for hall maintenance has over $20,000 in it, she noted.
_ The board accepted the annual compliance maintenance report.
_ The board approved an alcohol operator’s license for Amanda Newberry.
