More chairs were brought in as time for the Sept. 14 Silver Cliff trustee meeting drew near. Obviously, the citizens had come to voice their opinion about changes in the community.

The first subject for discussion was Tim Broll’s request for a special use permit. Broll wishes to purchase 35 acres south of Hermit Road near the Vivienda Parque subdivision where he wants to use five acres for his company, Midwest ECM Repair. The company repairs and refurbishes computer boxes that are used to operate large trucks. Broll employs less than a dozen persons. 

A number of Silver Cliff citizens were out in force to oppose Broll’s request. The land is now zoned agricultural. A petition with 30 signatures was presented to the board to oppose the industrial use of the land, and Don Bishop read a two-page letter with his reasons for opposition.

After much discussion, the board asked Broll to seek a change of zoning before proceeding with his plan. A special use plan is up for renewal every year for a few years, then every other year. Once an industrial facility has been constructed at great expense, it would be absurd to renew a SUP every year, but if the correct zoning were in place, it would be more sensible not to have to go through the SUP process every year. In the end, the board commended Broll for bringing a good business to the Valley, but suggested he look around for a more suitable site for its construction, or seek a zoning change.

The next item on the agenda seemed to be emotionally charged, also, as William Terral, owner of Pizza Madness, once again sought the town board to re-consider its denial of a SUP for a parking lot for the popular eating facility. Accompanied by his lawyer for the second meeting in a row, Terral’s plea was complicated by the fact that the owners of the land to be used for a parking lot had just that day submitted their own SUP to allow their land to be used for a parking lot for Pizza Madness.

The board agreed in consensus that this action reset the clock back to the beginning. The new SUP would have to be considered before any action can be taken for or against Terral’s request. Terral’s attorney respectfully asked that the process be taken within the next thirty days, because at that time, Pizza Madness would be filing a law suit about this matter.

Next the board considered renewal of an SUP for Valley View Storage. According to town clerk Ginny Holloway, no complaints had been filed, so this SUP sailed through with no dissent from the board.

Town Clerk Ginny Linza then presented her case for a raise in salary. This matter had been discussed at a workshop during the month. After a long discussion, the motion for the $2.06/hour raise was granted, with Nora Drenner and Jeff Banning voting against it.

Christina Wentz is a graduate student who needs to have work experience in a small town to finish her master’s degree and secure a fellowship to continue her studies. The board agreed to welcome her advanced expertise in helping the town face challenges in zoning and securing grants, especially, since she will work for free. Wentz will be in the Silver Cliff offices Wednesdays and Fridays.

The board then re-arranged its committee memberships.

Dave Peterson joined the cemetery board and Larry Weber joined the grant committee. Nora Drenner resigned from the park committee and Dave Peterson replaced her.

 

Larry Weber and Brian Woods joined Jeff Banning on the Architectural Design committee. Nora Drenner replaced Linda Swift as the E911 Authority representative.

The board commended Greg Shields for taking care of the signage in the parking lot.

Ginny Linza showed the board what has been done so far on the town’s website. It now has a lot of useful content, although it is still under construction.

Greg Shields is making a very strong effort to get a sidewalk put in between VALI assisted living and the Mining Company restaurant for the sake of the elderly. He thinks the school may be able to help with that, as they have grant money for making sidewalks within a certain distance of the school.

The board set up a schedule for adopting next year’s budget. Holloway requests that citizens and board members get their “wish lists” to her as soon as possible. The public will be able to make requests and comments at the October trustee meeting.

October 29 at 6 p.m. there will be a budget workshop.

The November meeting will include the pubic hearing and the budget will be adopted at the December meeting.

On the April ballot, the town will make its case for an increase in the mill levy for road improvement.

– Joanne Canda