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City council works on changing hunting ordinance in city limits
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
The Warsaw City Council approved the 2007-2008 tax levy ordinance Wednesday and discussed whether to allow hunting inside city limits.
The $159,232 tax levy includes the following funds: general corporate, $32,310; street and bridge, $11,970; public library, $39,970; audit tax, $5,050; insurance tax, $19,600; motor fuel tax, 0; IMRF tax, $21,216; playground and recreation, $500; Social Security, $19,600; police protection, $9,975; water taxes, 0; sewer taxes, 0; and community development, 0.
Warsaw's original hunting ordinance, which was instituted in 1914, says guns cannot be discharged inside city limits, including the property zoned for agriculture use.
“Then Kibbe opened up and allowed hunting and that's in the city limits,” said Mayor Robert Frank. “That attracted a lot of hunters.
“Another reason we should change the ordinance is because we have 50 miles of road that includes large timber hunting areas in the city limits zoned for agriculture.”
Franks asked the city's attorney, Bill Rasmussen, to suggest how the city could make changes to allow hunting on some of the property within city limits.
“There are two ways to do it,” Rasmussen said. “Tie it to zoning districts or make our own map. The roads aren't going to change, but zoning districts will change.”
After checking the city map, the consensus of the council was to allow hunting on all property in the city limits that is zoned for agriculture except for an area north of Mill Street and west of Water Street.
Rasmussen was directed to draw up an amendment for council consideration.
Because the state law does not allow the discharge of a gun that shoots slugs within 300 yards of a residence and forbids the use of shotguns or bows within 100 yards of a home, council members believe the safety of its residents is covered by state law. Any change Warsaw makes to the ordinance does not affect those requirements.
In other matters, Mary Jane Harris of South Fifth Street, complained about the sewer water that periodically backs up into her basement.
“What are you going to do about the sewer?” she asked the council. “Would you want sewer backup in your basement? The smell is horrendous.”
Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Joe Samuels said the city has “somewhat of a game plan for that situation. We don't know where that material comes from that ends up in your sewer ... We'll come up every three to four weeks and use the root saw, run it through, until we have the money and time to correct that.”
“It will be done?” Harris asked.
“Yes it will,” Samuels said.
Samuels said the city water crew worked on a water main and then discovered a water leak Tuesday on Cemetery Road. Employees put in a 15-to-17- hour-day, working until 11 p.m., he said.
He asked for a new saw for the sewer department, but suggested the city split the $1,200 to $1,500 price between the street and sewer departments because the saw would be used by both. He said the old saw often won't start. Samuels suggested the city get an industrial saw with a 14-to-16-inch blade.
In other business the city council:
Thanked Warsaw teacher Fred Shoup and his class for hanging Christmas greens.
Heard dirt work for the new fire hydrants has started. The hydrants likely will be installed by next week. Salt and snow plows are ready for snow.
Noted that the planning commission approved a request for a special use permit for Jim Whitecastle, who proposes building an $18,000, 40-by-60-by100-foot structure with parking and a picnic area for a museum to contain large items such as fire trucks at 10th and Main streets.
Whitecastle also has a building permit for the structure, but hasn't bought the property yet, according to Joe Clarke, city building inspector. The city council would have to agree to the special use permit before Whitecastle would build the museum, Clarke said. However, Rasmussen suggested the city require Whitecastle to show the city a contract for intent to purchase as a contingency for getting a special use permit.
“The planning commission has done its job,” he said. “Now it's up to you.”
Whitecastle told the planning commission he is willing to discuss the appearance and amenities of the building with the city council, Clarke said. Clarke added that Whitecastle said he plans to eventually donate the building and its contents to the city. Clarke said the planning commission wants the building finished within a year.
Will allow the Gabe and Kathy Nagy property on North Fourth to be zoned from business to residential.
Approved the following building permits: Dale Frey, Hickory Lane, 24-by-24-foot garage valued at $4,500; Gary and Kathy Stansbery, Lee Lane, 60-by-123-foot new home, $135,000; and Velma Brackensick, LeClaire St., siding and shutters on a house, $3,800.
Agreed to pay Poepping, Stone, Bach and Associates an engineering fee of $13,480 for construction of the Warsaw-Hamilton Road from Sept. 25 to Oct. 26.
Received an Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association Loss Prevention Safety Award for an outstanding accident prevention record.
Contracted to buy insurance from Cason, Huff, Schlueter, Inc., Insurance Agency of Quincy, Ill.
The $159,232 tax levy includes the following funds: general corporate, $32,310; street and bridge, $11,970; public library, $39,970; audit tax, $5,050; insurance tax, $19,600; motor fuel tax, 0; IMRF tax, $21,216; playground and recreation, $500; Social Security, $19,600; police protection, $9,975; water taxes, 0; sewer taxes, 0; and community development, 0.
Warsaw's original hunting ordinance, which was instituted in 1914, says guns cannot be discharged inside city limits, including the property zoned for agriculture use.
“Then Kibbe opened up and allowed hunting and that's in the city limits,” said Mayor Robert Frank. “That attracted a lot of hunters.
“Another reason we should change the ordinance is because we have 50 miles of road that includes large timber hunting areas in the city limits zoned for agriculture.”
Franks asked the city's attorney, Bill Rasmussen, to suggest how the city could make changes to allow hunting on some of the property within city limits.
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After checking the city map, the consensus of the council was to allow hunting on all property in the city limits that is zoned for agriculture except for an area north of Mill Street and west of Water Street.
Rasmussen was directed to draw up an amendment for council consideration.
Because the state law does not allow the discharge of a gun that shoots slugs within 300 yards of a residence and forbids the use of shotguns or bows within 100 yards of a home, council members believe the safety of its residents is covered by state law. Any change Warsaw makes to the ordinance does not affect those requirements.
In other matters, Mary Jane Harris of South Fifth Street, complained about the sewer water that periodically backs up into her basement.
“What are you going to do about the sewer?” she asked the council. “Would you want sewer backup in your basement? The smell is horrendous.”
Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Joe Samuels said the city has “somewhat of a game plan for that situation. We don't know where that material comes from that ends up in your sewer ... We'll come up every three to four weeks and use the root saw, run it through, until we have the money and time to correct that.”
“It will be done?” Harris asked.
“Yes it will,” Samuels said.
Samuels said the city water crew worked on a water main and then discovered a water leak Tuesday on Cemetery Road. Employees put in a 15-to-17- hour-day, working until 11 p.m., he said.
He asked for a new saw for the sewer department, but suggested the city split the $1,200 to $1,500 price between the street and sewer departments because the saw would be used by both. He said the old saw often won't start. Samuels suggested the city get an industrial saw with a 14-to-16-inch blade.
In other business the city council:
Thanked Warsaw teacher Fred Shoup and his class for hanging Christmas greens.
Heard dirt work for the new fire hydrants has started. The hydrants likely will be installed by next week. Salt and snow plows are ready for snow.
Noted that the planning commission approved a request for a special use permit for Jim Whitecastle, who proposes building an $18,000, 40-by-60-by100-foot structure with parking and a picnic area for a museum to contain large items such as fire trucks at 10th and Main streets.
Whitecastle also has a building permit for the structure, but hasn't bought the property yet, according to Joe Clarke, city building inspector. The city council would have to agree to the special use permit before Whitecastle would build the museum, Clarke said. However, Rasmussen suggested the city require Whitecastle to show the city a contract for intent to purchase as a contingency for getting a special use permit.
“The planning commission has done its job,” he said. “Now it's up to you.”
Whitecastle told the planning commission he is willing to discuss the appearance and amenities of the building with the city council, Clarke said. Clarke added that Whitecastle said he plans to eventually donate the building and its contents to the city. Clarke said the planning commission wants the building finished within a year.
Will allow the Gabe and Kathy Nagy property on North Fourth to be zoned from business to residential.
Approved the following building permits: Dale Frey, Hickory Lane, 24-by-24-foot garage valued at $4,500; Gary and Kathy Stansbery, Lee Lane, 60-by-123-foot new home, $135,000; and Velma Brackensick, LeClaire St., siding and shutters on a house, $3,800.
Agreed to pay Poepping, Stone, Bach and Associates an engineering fee of $13,480 for construction of the Warsaw-Hamilton Road from Sept. 25 to Oct. 26.
Received an Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association Loss Prevention Safety Award for an outstanding accident prevention record.
Contracted to buy insurance from Cason, Huff, Schlueter, Inc., Insurance Agency of Quincy, Ill.
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