Page 2 | December 29, 2011
www.jordannews.com | Jordan Independent
STRIKING SHALLOWS
TELL US … What’s the best book you read this past year? It’s list-mania time: Top news stories … biggest newsmakers … craziest celebrities … best new restaurants. And, we’re piling on by asking all of you bibliophiles: What’s the best book you read in 2011? If you have a book recommendation – whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry or (heaven forbid!) reference – then send us the title, author and a couple of sentences describing why it’s great. Share your book recommendation by sending the information listed above – no more than 200 words, please – to Editor Mathias Baden, editor@ jordannews.com, before noon on Friday, Jan. 6. Include your name, city of residence, and a daytime phone number. We’ll run some submissions online at jordannews.com and the best recommendations in the Jan. 12 Jordan Independent print edition.
PHOTO BY DAVID SCHUELLER / REPRINTS AT PHOTOS.JORDANNEWS.COM
The difference between the current Minnesota River level and flood stage is striking. On Dec. 28, the water measured in at 5.51 feet, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is 25 feet. During the spring flood on March 28, the river crested at about 31.8 feet. The highest flood crest was 35.07 feet in 1965, according to the weather service. Taken from the boat launch, this photo shows how many rocks are exposed compared to previous water levels.
E-MAIL:editor@jordannews.com PHONE: (952) 345-6571
HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
Burton receives one-time lot split ®
from your
Incoming business covers utility hookup, taxes
service technicians
BY MATHIAS BADEN editor@jordannews.com
Expan d Staff = ed L Wait T ess ime!
No t Appointmen Necessary
Oil Change
© WIN THIS TRUCK! ©
Motorcraft Premium Synthetic Blend Oil & filter change
$
95
19
Using the oil recommended for your vehicle helps save fuel. Up to five quarts of Motorcraft® oil and Motorcraft oil filter. Taxes, diesel vehicles and disposal fees extra. See Quick Lane® Manager for vehicle applications and details. Offer valid with coupon. Expires 1/15/12.
Batteries
AFFIRMATIVE
W are pleased We l d tto announce th thatt St St. JJohn’s h ’ Parish and School have teamed up with Wolf Motor Co. to raffle off a 2012 F150 4x4 Truck! Proceeds will be used to promote growth in our St. John’s Parish and facilitate strong Catholic Education.
Please contact Maresa Murray at 952-492-2298
Windshield Wipers Brake Service ®
Motorcraft Tested Tough PLUS Batteries
$
In an unnecessary controversy, according to the business owner involved, the Jordan City Council allowed a one-time lot split in a highway commercial area meant for large buildings. By announcing that she has secured a potential business for the Whispering Meadows district behind Radermacher’s Fresh Market, Kitty Burton “put a little pressure on the city” to reconsider its past denial of a minor subdivision proposal for her Burton Insurance property, City Administrator Ed Shukle said. The buyer, who Burton said is from Jordan, will “actually put a building up,” Shukle told the city council last month. Burton declined to publicly state what business is interested, but she noted that she was open to detailing the proposal in private.
Motorcraft® Premium Flat Blades
$
00 OFF
20 89 19 95 $ MSRP w/100 mo. warranty Free Installation
With exchange. Taxes extra. Limited warranty includes FREE towing on Quick Lane-installed battery. See Quick Lane Manager for vehicle applications and limited warranty details. Expires 1/15/12
95
Motorcraft® most vehicles. Not valid on tire purchases. must present coupon at time of purchase. Expires 1/15/12
RISK REVEALED Ewals argued that just because someone buys the property doesn’t mean she will build something.
Standard Brake Service Includes: • Install brake pads or shoes • Resurface drums or rotors • Road test vehicle
Set Installed
BY MATHIAS BADEN editor@jordannews.com
Must present coupon at time of service write-up. Offer valid with coupon. Taxes extra. Expires 1/15/12
Alignment
• Mon-Thurs 7AM to 8PM, Fri 7AM to 5PM, Saturday 7:30AM to 3:30PM
10
• Servicing ALL Makes and Models
952-492-3781
Shop at Jordan Ace Hardware & Radermacher’s Fresh Market while you wait! N W
®
E S
y
w
952-492-3781
16 y
Tire & Auto Center of Jordan 600 West 2nd St. Jordan, MN 55352
9
2
28
219024
s
H
Must present coupon at time of service write-up. Offer valid with coupon. Taxes extra. Expires 1/15/12
• Free WiFi & Coffee
w
$69.95 2-Wheel • $99.95 4-Wheel • Inspect your vehicle’s steering suspension • Before and after computer printout • Road test vehicle • Camber Caster Adjusters Extra
Facto ry Traine Techn d ician
H
00 OFF
Next to Radermachers
OUT OF THE WAY Shaw reminded the council that the Jordan Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Jordan Planning Commission approved the proposals, and urged the council not to stand in the way of business expansion. “It really comes down to being friendly to the smallbusiness owner,” Burton said. “I’d like to see this project get fi nished,” Councilmember Sally Schultz said. “There’s no time frame on when you develop,” Ewa ls said. “You certainly can’t force anyone to building anything,” City Attorney Annette Margarit agreed.
Permit fees cover high legal expenses
No Appointment Necessary
$
The council voted 6-0 to approve the second reading of an ordinance allowing one-time splits of lots in the highway commercial district, and 4-2 to approve a minor subdivision at 210 Eldorado Drive. Councilmember Tanya Velishek and Mayor Pete Ewals opposed the measure. Councilmember Jeremy Goebel, a firefighter, was absent from the votes due to a fire call. Last November, the council approved the fi rst reading of the ordinance. The ordinance change was crafted with Burton’s property specifically in mind, since the recent vision for the highway commercial district includes large lots and potentially big-box stores.
“This is the city taking a risk,” Velishek said in agreement. Councilmember Mike Shaw, though, insisted that the choice was clear: one building “and all that green space,” or a lot split that could yield a new, taxpaying business. Generally, the highway commercial business district requires larger lots, since the city reworked its zoning districts in 2010. The city required 150-foot-wide lots, but made an exception for Burton’s 115-footwide lot. Without the lot split, “that lot would never be used,” Shaw said. Burton said that the proposed business will construct an exact replica of her building next spring, but any further delay could’ve driven away the new business before the end of the year. Ewals pushed for compliance with a city ordinance requiring water and sewer hookup at the time of the subdivision, but Burton asked to be spared the $7,000-plus for the hookup and the $10,000 in 2012 taxes. The mayor accused the business owner of making a proposal “just to get away from paying extra property taxes.” He said that making an exception to the ordinance opens a Pandora’s Box.
Building permit revenues and legal expenses are up at city hall. Jordan Finance Director Tom Nikunen suggested using the extra revenue from building permits to cover the cost of being over budget in the legal department. Jordan City Councilmember Tanya Velishek took exception to the idea. “W hy wou ld we wa nt to take that plus and spend it on legal fees when we don’t need to? ” she said, raising her voice. “That’s my point. I think that’s something that the citizens need to know.” At the Nov. 21 council meeting, Velishek questioned Nikunen about the status of the city’s spending on legal representation – not even close to the fi rst time the question has arisen in the past year or so.
“We’re over budget on that,” Nikunen told her. But, he added, the city can take comfort in ending up “plus” on permit fees, offering the extra revenue to cover any other general fund expense. The city budgeted for $10,000 in building permit fees in 2011, and as of last month, had already surpassed the projected total by $87,000. The council has a policy of saving leftover general fund money for capital projects, like a future city hall, a new police station, and the proposed library. But overspending on legal issues during the fi rst 10 months of the year jeopardizes contributions to capital improvement project savings account, as does the purchase of a new police car. In this year’s budget, the city projected $138,000 for legal (it is $19,650 over budget, according to Nikunen) and had planned on buying only one police car (it will buy two).