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Council limits public comments to five minutes after residents raise enforcement, property concerns
Summary
At its May 7 meeting the Village of South Range Council approved a five-minute limit on public comments and heard residents press for enforcement of junk-yard ordinances, updates on an alley abandonment inquiry, and fixes to sidewalks and snow-plowing practices.
The Village of South Range Council voted May 7 to limit public-comment time to five minutes per speaker after a string of resident concerns about code enforcement, property damage and municipal services.
Trustee Hill moved for the time limit, and Trustee Balma seconded; the roll-call recorded Ayes: President Eakin, Trustee Parolini, Trustee Marier and Trustee Korby and the motion carried. The change applies to future regular council meetings.
During the public-comment period, R. Petrilius asked whether the council had decided to abandon the alley on 7th Street. President Eakin said he had not yet spoken further with the village attorney and said he would prefer not to sell the alley to private buyers. Trustee Parolini said that if the council were to sell any village-owned land, it should be open to all members of the public.
Resident M. Harma criticized the council for not enforcing South Range’s ordinance on junked yards and said the village’s taxes were higher than neighboring towns. “South Range has a specific ordinance regarding junk in yards and the council has not been enforcing this ordinance for many years,” M. Harma said, adding she was tired of the council “never getting anything done.”
Other residents raised practical local issues. G. Stevens asked how long homebuyers have to repair condemned properties; President Eakin said he was unsure. K. Aho asked for updates on a burned building near her home and on a temporary snowmobile trail that passes her property; President Eakin said the trail topic would remain on future agendas. Street Commissioner Craig Burkman told K. Aho that public works could install a water hookup to her garage. R. Patterson asked whether the sidewalk in front of her house could be repaired; council members said the homeowner pays for the concrete and public works will do the installation.
The council took no formal action on the alley or junk-yard enforcement during the meeting; several residents asked the council to pursue follow-up action and more information at future meetings.
