Council reduces allowable grass height by half

Zoning changes are nearly complete as the Kimball City Council held the second of three public hearings on the matter at the most recent meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Reasonable requests submitted from residents were honored, according to City Administrator Daniel Ortiz.

During the public meeting Larissa Binod asked how residents are being notified of potential changes, as her property was changed from rural residential to R-1, a single family residential distinction because the parcel is smaller than the rural residential zoning requirements.

The public hearing process is the sole notification, according to City Administrator Daniel Ortiz.

“Once the zoning is finalized we will put a notice in the newspaper and the utility bills notifying them of the finalized changes,” Ortiz added.

A second public hearing was held regarding the zoning of dog kennels within city limits. The issue was revisited because the city had no way to notify neighbors within a 200 foot radius of the kennel permit.

Additionally, currently licensed dog kennels in residential areas will be allowed to continue under conditional use permits with a reduction in allowable animals from 10 to eight.

One more reading will be conducted regarding the changes to dog kennels within city limits.

Council also considered amending the ordinance to reduce the height of weeds, grasses and worthless vegetation from twelve inches to six before beginning the abatement process.

“Part of the conversation we had last meeting was by the time they reach 12 inches and notices get sent out, sometimes you are dealing with three feet of weeds and grasses that someone has to try to mow,” Ortiz said.

Reducing the height to as low as six inches allows the council to begin the abatement process sooner, thereby reducing the height of grass and weeds that must be mowed.

The City of Kimball has approximately a dozen properties, and council member James Shields asked if the crew was taking care of city properties, as well as abating the properties on the list.

“I was mowing on Saturday with the rotary mower that I have that is a commercial mower. Six inches may be the depth of what I can mow with that piece of equipment without dragging it through the dirt,” Shields added. “I understand the concept based on being able to get ahead of it before its three feet tall.”

Kimball’s Mayor, Keith Prunty and council members each echoed sentiments that while the decrease in allowable height may be necessary, current staff members are only concerned with those properties that consistently present concerns.

Council member Christy Warner argued that if the ordinance is changed, it will be carried out long after the current council and staff are gone. She continued that while those currently in those positions distinguish between repeat offenders and the occasional oversight, in the future the staff and council may not make such distinctions.

“We aren’t trying to give nuisance notices to the everyday person that just didn’t make it to their mowing,” council member Christy Warner said. “If it was set at nine inches, would it really make that big of a difference? The rule we make today affects people ten years from now.”

Council introduced Ordinance 738 amending the rules for vegetation height required for abatement processes with Warner casting the sole dissenting vote.

Schnell and Warner both voted against passing the ordinance as it was read, requiring the Mayor to cast a vote and break the tie. Prunty voted for the ordinance, which passed with a height requirement of six inches.

Other items before the board:

Authorized the Airport Authority property tax request totaling more than $45,000, the same amount approved for last year.

Received update from Kimball Public Library.

Received an update on nuisance and zoning violations at 801 W. 1st St. and 1101 and 1109 S. Oak St., properties owned by Mike Schadegg.

Received an update on the Underpass project. The project is moving forward with environmental studies complete, all entities attempting to iron out details, according to Ortiz. Work should be opened up to bidders sometime this year, Ortiz said.