Council discusses new grants, new businesses, and lingering concerns

The Troy City Council had its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 21. After approving the minutes for the Dec. 27, 2017 meeting and the Special and Work meeting held on Jan. 10, the council reviewed the department reports. Troy Police Chief Katie Davis applied for and received a $5,000 grant, which would allow for 32 extra four-hour patrols during the summer.

Councilwoman Shawna Kelsey was also recognized for receiving a grant for a handicapped accessible floating dock at the Roosevelt Park fish pond. Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and the Troy High School Outdoor Club will assist in its construction.  Using other available money, the city also plans to replace the slide at Roosevelt Park, add new handicapped-accessible swings, and provide barbecues at the pavilion near the fish pond.

A new council president was elected. Mayor Dallas Carr recommended Crystal Denton and the motion was unanimously approved.

After the election and brief park update, the council moved on to approving new business licenses. Mike Thoeny’s carpet cleaning and window washing business All Spruced Up! was approved; Daniel and Raychel Smith’s Realistic Handyman Services was approved; Michelle Richter and Jason (Aaron) Mendive’s business The Rustic Porcupine was approved. Richter and Mendive plan to open a thrift store just outside of town.  Jennifer Harriet Sanders’ business Tolowa Gardens, an organic vegetable stand, was approved.  Sanders has been participating in the Troy Farmers’ Market small business course.

Ordinance 2018-747, which regulates nuisance parking and storage, was amended to address people living in recreational vehicles while constructing a business or residence. The amendment was recommended after Penny Robins asked if a recreational vehicle could be lived in while she builds her business E.A.S.E. Under the amendment, persons can request a 90-day, $100 renewable permit for these types of living situations.

The long-standing Rosebud Flats subdivision issue between the city and Davis Surveying concerning a sewer line was resolved.

A second reading of Ordinance 2017-744, which would forbid parking on the east side of Second Street South between East Grant Avenue across from the high school, was approved.

Mayor Carr contacted the former mine, who offered to let the city come and take any shelving or welding tables the mine no longer needs.

Claims and a list of cancelled checks were approved.

During the public comments, a citizen noted that the Jan. 10 minutes stated that a decision would be reached by Feb. 21 about the Town Pump expansion. Carr said that it was a typo and he hoped that some headway could be made by March 21 and that nothing has been decided. Mayor Carr said there is a city growth plan but zoning has not been approved to provide context for the expansion.  Carr said a board would have to be established to create a zoning plan and he welcomed any volunteers who would like to contribute. Carr recognized that it was naive of Town Pump to offer only one plan to residents. He said there are a lot of people against the plan and many people for the plan and the council intends to give the issue a lot more thought. Mayor Carr stated that Town Pump, who had previously claimed that TCO Lube and Oil was not interested in selling, will be talking to owner Bruce Cole within the next couple of days about selling his property. TCO is located on the same block as the current Town Pump location. Many hope that if Town Pump can utilize the entire block, there will be no threat of closing Second Street.

Another citizen stated that if the city allows Town Pump to close Second Street, he believes that the city would be up for litigation should other businesses lose business because of the expansion.  Mayor Carr agreed it was a subject he would discuss with the city lawyer, but he also said he could not deny improvement or expansion because of the possible jobs created, which could be potentially helpful with Troy’s declining population.

A third citizen asked whether the city would temporarily close Second Street to test the impact, as suggested at the public meeting on Feb. 7 and Mayor Carr said, unless the council thought otherwise, he was not for closing the street. Carr reiterated that anything that happens has to be right for the town. The meeting was then adjourned.