PdC city council opposes limitations on residential accessory structures
The Prairie du Chien Common Council has had several attempts at bat with an ordinance that would limit height and size for residential accessory structures, such as garages and sheds, within the city. After tabling the issue a couple of times and sending it back to the plan commission for review, the council reconsidered it Tuesday night and ultimately denied it. Eight Aldermen Mark Thein, Todd Myers, Sharon Boylen, Karen Solomon, Kyle Kozelka, Nate Gilberts, Mike Jones and Ken Fleshner were all opposed to the proposed maximum height limit of 20 feet and maximum size limit of 1,000 square feet.
Also during the council’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, the group:
•reviewed final plans and bid authorization for the North Ohio Street reconstruction project, which is scheduled to begin later this spring.
•approved participation in an alcohol enforcement grant with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department. As part of the grant, the city is allowed $4,999 in equipment with a 25 percent match. Sergeant Kyle Teynor went through a list of the equipment and funding options, before the council OK’d the grant application with the additional funding coming from the 2015 police budget and, if necessary, the contingency fund.
•approved issuing the request for proposals (RFP) to secure a firm to perform all real estate acquisitions for 2017 phase of the Marquette Road project.
•acted, after closed session, to oppose the Writ of Mandamus filed against the city by Excalibur Laundry, and directed city staff to send the Notice of Writ to the city’s insurance provider to see if the city’s defense costs will be covered by insurance. If coverage is not provided, the council would like City Attorney Tom Peterson to defend the city. City Administrator Aaron Kramer was asked to report to the council at its March 3 meeting on the budget impact of opposing the Writ of Mandamus.