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Councilman delays license renewal for local bar
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| Nathan Tafolla works on his last summer project as a part-time Street Department employee. Next week Tafolla returns to UNI where he is a psychology major. City Council had approved repainting the south city parking lot barrier next to First Street Southwest as a temporary improvementt project. The barrier will probably be removed when the next phase of the downtown streetscape is considered sometime in future city plans. |
BY DEB KUNKLE
OELWEIN – A local restaurant/lounge will have to wait two more weeks for approval to renew its liquor license following a request from Councilman Nathan Lein (3rd Ward) to table action on the renewal.
As the City Council prepared to grant a blanket approval on a number of standard requests in the consent agenda, Lein asked to take the Class C liquor license and Sunday sales renewal for the Yankee Scoreboard out of the lineup. He said he had some questions for Police Chief Jeremy Logan on alleged violations at the popular downtown establishment. Lein said the police chief was currently attending a law enforcement conference out of state, but would return in time to meet with him on the subject before the next council meeting Aug. 25. The renewal deadline for the businesses liquor license is Sept. 1.
The third and final reading for an ordinance amendment outlining the types of permitted business signage in Oelwein's Central Business District was passed. Corresponding with that amendment, the council also approved a resolution amending the Central Business District architectural design guidelines Section 9.1 concerning signage so that the city regulations and the proposed guidelines are not in conflict.
Downtown businesses will be permitted to display internally or externally lighted signs, as long as they do not contain flashing, blinking or rotary lights, or electronic or mechanical moving features. Detached signs or those extending into the public right-of-way are also prohibited, except sandwich board signs.
The city began a neighborhood revitalization program in mid July 2004, which was revised by the council in September 2007. The purpose of the program has been to help property owners rid their neighborhoods of unsightly, abandoned and/or dilapidated structures for the betterment of the area. The city annually budgets funding to the program, which is allocated through applications at City Hall. Several property owners have already benefited from the program in which they purchased adjoining unsightly properties and then successfully applied for demolition funding assistance to improve the neighborhood.
Recently, the council decided guidelines for the program needed revision after receiving applications from churches and businesses. New criteria for applicants fall into two categories: primary and secondary considerations. The council approved the revisions and a complete list of the considerations may be obtained with an application for demolition funding assistance at City Hall.
The council approved scraping and repainting the south city parking lot barriers near the sidewalk along First Street Southwest (vicinity of former Chamber office). Councilmen said a temporary improvement project would make the barrier look better until the city decides to go into the next phase of the downtown streetscape project, which would include the area of the barrier.
City officials reported receiving complaints about truck (semis) traffic on First Avenue Southeast between Ninth and Tenth streets. The matter was referred to the Public Safety and Street Committee. Liaison Duane Brandt reported the committee recommended the council direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance amendment prohibiting semi truck traffic in this area. The council approved the recommendation.
City Councilman Rex Ericson (4th Ward) asked the question: How about a Howitzer? Ericson explained the Rock Island arsenal has a 75mm Howitzer cannon that could be used as a display feature in a local park (Veterans' Park, for example). He said the non-operable large cannon is World War II or Korean War vintage and would be fixed up and painted prior to transporting to the community if city officials are interested. Following a brief discussion, Mayor Larry Murphy and council members encouraged Ericson to pursue more information on the Howitzer.
Committee reports and the reappointment of Lori A. Leo to the Library Board concluded Monday night's meeting.
City Council meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month at City Hall. The meetings are open to the public.
As the City Council prepared to grant a blanket approval on a number of standard requests in the consent agenda, Lein asked to take the Class C liquor license and Sunday sales renewal for the Yankee Scoreboard out of the lineup. He said he had some questions for Police Chief Jeremy Logan on alleged violations at the popular downtown establishment. Lein said the police chief was currently attending a law enforcement conference out of state, but would return in time to meet with him on the subject before the next council meeting Aug. 25. The renewal deadline for the businesses liquor license is Sept. 1.
The third and final reading for an ordinance amendment outlining the types of permitted business signage in Oelwein's Central Business District was passed. Corresponding with that amendment, the council also approved a resolution amending the Central Business District architectural design guidelines Section 9.1 concerning signage so that the city regulations and the proposed guidelines are not in conflict.
Downtown businesses will be permitted to display internally or externally lighted signs, as long as they do not contain flashing, blinking or rotary lights, or electronic or mechanical moving features. Detached signs or those extending into the public right-of-way are also prohibited, except sandwich board signs.
The city began a neighborhood revitalization program in mid July 2004, which was revised by the council in September 2007. The purpose of the program has been to help property owners rid their neighborhoods of unsightly, abandoned and/or dilapidated structures for the betterment of the area. The city annually budgets funding to the program, which is allocated through applications at City Hall. Several property owners have already benefited from the program in which they purchased adjoining unsightly properties and then successfully applied for demolition funding assistance to improve the neighborhood.
Recently, the council decided guidelines for the program needed revision after receiving applications from churches and businesses. New criteria for applicants fall into two categories: primary and secondary considerations. The council approved the revisions and a complete list of the considerations may be obtained with an application for demolition funding assistance at City Hall.
The council approved scraping and repainting the south city parking lot barriers near the sidewalk along First Street Southwest (vicinity of former Chamber office). Councilmen said a temporary improvement project would make the barrier look better until the city decides to go into the next phase of the downtown streetscape project, which would include the area of the barrier.
City officials reported receiving complaints about truck (semis) traffic on First Avenue Southeast between Ninth and Tenth streets. The matter was referred to the Public Safety and Street Committee. Liaison Duane Brandt reported the committee recommended the council direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance amendment prohibiting semi truck traffic in this area. The council approved the recommendation.
City Councilman Rex Ericson (4th Ward) asked the question: How about a Howitzer? Ericson explained the Rock Island arsenal has a 75mm Howitzer cannon that could be used as a display feature in a local park (Veterans' Park, for example). He said the non-operable large cannon is World War II or Korean War vintage and would be fixed up and painted prior to transporting to the community if city officials are interested. Following a brief discussion, Mayor Larry Murphy and council members encouraged Ericson to pursue more information on the Howitzer.
Committee reports and the reappointment of Lori A. Leo to the Library Board concluded Monday night's meeting.
City Council meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month at City Hall. The meetings are open to the public.
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