Joe Drennan
Staff WriterWith a relatively short agenda for the June 9 Columbus Township town board meeting, the town board resolved several issues in a timely manner.
Jerry Richert Jr. appeared before the planning commission requesting a variance from 36-inches of mottle soil to 16-inches of mottle soil for a possible addition to his home. Richert hopes to put an 18-20í addition onto his home that was built 111/2 years ago.
The reason Richert had to apply for a variance is because the current township code calls for a 36-inch separation between the lowest floor and the 100-year flood plain. Richert says that since his house was built they havenít had any water problems and the sump basket has never had a drop of water in it.
Town engineer Larry Bohrer said that since the addition would be a walk out basement, that would minimize the need for a sump pump. The town board listened to Bohrer and granted Richert his variance.
Dog kennel
Deloris Strom appeared before the town board to request a kennel license for her home. Strom, who lives at 5252 182 Lane, breeds dogs and shows them. Town code calls for a kennel license if someone wants to have four or more dogs. An individual license allows for ten dogs. If a kennel owner wants more than ten dogs they must apply for a second kennel license.
Strom said that she does not plan to have ten dogs, but she currently has three dogs of her own and is housing a friends dog at the moment.
One of Stromís neighbors had concerns about the noise the dogs would generate and how many dogs would be in the kennel.
ìI just want to build a kennel,î Strom said. ìI donít want a lot of dogs, there are just times that there are dogs over six months old at the house.î
Strom went on to explain that several neighbors hadnít realized she had dogs at her home until she returned their dogs to them after they wandered. She added that an open lot behind her house that could possibly develop at a later date would not see the dogs because the back of her property is wooded.
ìMost people who have a kennel are not the problem dog owners,î town chairman Mel Mettler said. ìThey are doing it [running a kennel] with a serious intent and control things.î
The town board approved Stromís kennel license.
Road improvements
Bohrer said he has contacted Lino Lakes about a joint powers road improvement of Pine Street. Bohrer said that Lino Lakes gave three possible dates for a neighborhood meeting, June 22, 29 and July 26. Columbus town board member selected June 29 as the day to have the joint neighborhood meeting at the Columbus Town hall at 7 p.m.
Missing cones
Columbus Township is missing 70 road cones that were on Crossways Lake Drive as crews were repairing a road ditch due to erosion from heavy rains. The cones went missing the first week of June after crews were done working for the day.
The cones which cost the township $12 apiece had ìTown of Columbusî spray painted on them. If you have any information on the disappearance of the cones call the town offices at 651-464-3120.
Top of Page
