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St. Joseph council approves Knife River permit, amends American Legion facade, adopts subsidy policy and defers Rassier assessment
Summary
Councilors unanimously approved a Knife River interim use permit for a temporary portable crushing operation, approved steel siding for the American Legions west side, adopted an updated business subsidy policy after a public hearing, and granted a 15-year, 0% assessment deferment to the Rassier Trust.
The St. Joseph City Council on Aug. 19 approved a slate of land-use and local policy actions, including an interim use permit for Knife River, a materials deviation for the American Legion building, adoption of an updated business subsidy policy, and a 15-year, 0% assessment deferment for a Rassier Trust property.
Knife River asked for an interim use permit to operate a portable crushing operation to process and stockpile asphalt, concrete and rubble on a site north of its existing facility. Planning staff described equipment and controls, hours limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and a five-year permit term with setbacks to wetlands and revocation language. Applicant Holly Renaud said the operation is temporary and aimed at reducing truck congestion: "Mainly, all we wanna do is we just wanna move it over ... and just to make more room and make it more easier for our trucks," she said. The planning commission recommended approval 7-0 and the council adopted the finding-of-fact resolution (Resolution 2024-054).
The council also approved a materials deviation permitting insulated steel siding with exposed fasteners on the western side of the American Legion building in the downtown district. Planning staff said the south and east facades facing Minnesota Street and First Avenue will remain brick and that the commission recommended the request 7-0. Council approved the change by voice vote.
Earlier in the meeting, following a public hearing, staff presented an updated business subsidy policy that reforms the policy format, updates pre-application and application forms, removes outdated attachments and aligns language with statutory requirements. The council moved, seconded and adopted the updated policy.
On a separate agenda item, the council considered an assessment-deferment request for property in Green Acres owned by the Rassier Trust. City attorneys said property in Green Acres is generally eligible for automatic deferment; the council discussed precedent, interest treatment and duration. The applicant, Dan Rass, said a prior assessment had a 15-year, 0% deferment and asked for similar terms. The council approved a motion to defer the assessment for 15 years at 0% interest, with interest to begin accruing at the market rate applied to assessments at the time the deferral ends or if Green Acres status is lost.
What happens next: Implementation steps include permit issuance and monitoring for Knife River, building-permit coordination for the American Legion siding, distribution of revised subsidy forms and policy documents, and tracking the deferred assessment on the citys tax rolls until the deferral ends or the property changes status.
