Council schedules public hearing regarding tower

During their regular monthly meeting the evening of Feb. 13, members of the Ellendale city council set a public hearing for changes to the city zoning ordinance regarding telecommunications towers and antennae. Proposed changes listed on documents shared during the meeting are a reduction in the number of zoning districts where a telecommunications tower is an allowed or conditional use. If the changes are adopted, towers would be allowed only in areas zoned “industrial,” and not on land zoned agricultural or residential.

The public hearing was set for 6:30 p.m. March 13, 30 minutes prior to the next regularly scheduled business meeting at the Ellendale city hall. Also receiving public input at that time will be a proposed city ordinance which delegates decisions regarding licenses for cannabis retail or production facilities to county, rather than city, approval. Under current guidelines, Steele County is likely to issue fewer than five licenses anywhere within its borders. State and local laws prohibit any such businesses from being within 1,000 feet of a school, a daycare facility, a park, or other designated sites.

A resident who lives within sight of a controversial tower–actually a pole-top camera mounted on a trailer– located at 601 Lageson Court in Ellendale, stated she believes in a property owner’s right to monitor activity on his or her property, but went on to say the “part country, part city” feel of the property where she has lived for the past 10 years has been damaged by the presence of the tower, and especially by the circumstance that images which include her property have been posted online at least three times.

Daniel Petsinger, owner of the Lageson Court property and of Radio Link Internet, appeared at the meeting regarding his company’s contract leasing a small amount of space in and on the city water tower for transmission equipment. Petsinger noted the current five-year contract ends in May, saying his intent for presenting it in February was to be proactive. In answer to council member questions, Petsinger said his equipment currently housed on the water tower provides service to about 700 residences, fewer than 20 of which are located in the city. He further noted some of the customers use their internet connection for vital health alert services.

Council member Joel Berg mentioned that city maintenance personnel had suggested it would be better if only city-operated safety equipment were kept on the tower in the future.

“I am asking you to reconsider,” said Petsinger, stating his equipment has caused no damage in the 10 years or so it’s already been in place, and pointing out the terms of his contract make his company financially responsible for any damage that might occur.

“I would like to see [the contract] continue for another five years under the same terms,” stated Petsinger. “Why would you want to disadvantage a business that’s already here?”

Under the terms of the current agreement, Petsinger pays $150 a month to have his equipment in place. When a question of power consumption was raised, he expressed a willingness to “look at” some changes to the terms if that would encourage the city to continue.

“I don’t want to fight about this,” Petsinger said. “I want to continue providing a service to my customers.”

If the city chooses not to renew the contract, Petsinger mentioned he would be requesting an extension, since he estimates it might take about 6 months to plan and build a structure which would meet his company’s needs.

In other business, council members requested that city clerk Steve Engel make arrangements for future work sessions covering a number of topics including 2025 street repairs and creating an inventory of city-owned equipment which summarizes expected usable “lifespans” and a possible replacement calendar.

City maintenance lead Josh Otto presented a map of the city with color coding indicating the condition of city streets. He also shared estimates from an Albert Lea paving company indicating possible projects would cost a combined total of about $428,000. When asked which streets should be prioritized, Otto named those in the Crown Ridge subdivision and Commercial Street, a much-used unpaved street near the school grounds. After learning Otto was awaiting additional information from the paving company, council members decided a future work session would be valuable.

The council voted to donate $1,500 to the Community Foundation of Ellendale (CFE) to support its efforts to ensure automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be installed in the city community center and three city churches. CFE secretary Allie Larson informed council members the group has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the Mankato-based Taylor Family Farms Foundation; CFE is expected to match those funds and meet the total cost of acquiring and installing the AEDs, then training area residents in their use.

Upon hearing mayor Scott Groth’s motion to donate $1,500, Larson stated a heartfelt “God bless you.” CFE members speculated the donation, in combination with other anticipated contributions, will likely allow the group to expand its plans, especially in the areas of notifying the public and providing training.

Under the CFE plan, AEDs will be installed at the city community hall, First Lutheran Church, the United Methodist Church, and Vibrant Life Church.

Council members reviewed a list of “codification” matters at four city locations including two at 109 Sixth Ave East and 408 Seventh Avenue West, which they decided to submit to the courts for possible condemnation proceedings because no progress toward improvement has taken place despite “several years” of communication.

The city council adopted a seven-page “Rules of Procedure” policy which outlines accepted courses of action for council proceedings and also includes more than a page of expectations for “public comment” portions of meetings. Among the clauses is the expectation that all communication will be kept civil, and will not be directed to any single council member, but rather to the group as a whole.

The council also voted to purchase two curved tables which will create a “half-moon” physical layout in the council chambers. Anticipated cost is $1,400.