By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the May 27 meeting of the Guthrie Center City Council, resident Renea Winkelblack addressed the council regarding what she views as unequal treatment regarding ordinance violations. She noted that in April, she informed the city’s compliance officer of several properties in violation of city ordinances, and no apparent action has occurred.
“Here we are, a month later, and the places that I complained about still are not taken care of,” Winkelblack said.
Winkelblack said she feels singled-out by Compliance Officer Wes Clark for compliance violations.
“There’s a lot of other people in this town that have the same stuff in their yard that I have in mine, but he’s coming after me and wanting to fine me all this money,” Winkelblack said.
Mayor Mike Herbert said he would discuss the matter with Clark.
The council heard an update from City Administrator Kris Arrasmith regarding the funding for the Little Charger daycare center. Arrasmith said she had been in contact with bond attorney J Danos and received advice on how the city could best handle the situation.
“He’s very well versed in these things. Long story short, the easiest and cleanest for a public entity is to do a ‘moral obligation,’ Arrasmith said. “He would write it up for us.”
Arrasmith explained what the suggested step would entail.
“Basically, what it says is, should they (Little Charger) get into trouble, the council would give full consideration to assisting them however they could financially. It’s not binding; it’s kind of a gentleman’s agreement,” Arrasmith said.
The council consensus was to move forward on the moral obligation letter.
The council discussed a request to allow livestock on a property zoned C-3 near the Rural Electric Cooperative on the eastern edge of Guthrie Center. Arrasmith said if the council chooses to allow this, it would simply be an agreement and not an ordinance change. The council voted to allow the livestock as requested.
Arrasmith informed the council that state law now allows non-commercial fireworks to be used from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 3, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4, and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. She explained that cities can have ordinances that are less restrictive than this, but not more restrictive.
The next regular meeting is set for Monday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.