Two issues dominate meeting

CLOVERDALE -- With a full room in attendance, more disagreement accented the Cloverdale Town Council’s regular meeting last week.

This time, two issues concerning a potential water base rate and safety on Stardust Road put the council and Town Attorney Daniel Hofmann at odds with Stardust Hills developer Don Gedert.

Hofmann took the floor to introduce a draft ordinance for a flat utility rate for individuals who may own property but do not reside in Cloverdale.

More specifically, the proposal applies to those properties which are vacant but still connected to the town’s water and sewage system.

Gedert, who owns several properties within Cloverdale, came out vehemently against the proposal. He characterized the ordinance as a “penalty” which targets a few individuals.

Hofmann responded that the base rate would act as a deterrent against people who do not maintain their properties. As such, he advocated that it would not apply on its own to other residents who do.

Hofmann also provided that the major impetus for the proposal was to generate revenue for the town, specifically for infrastructure and future projects. A secondary issue is the fact that Cloverdale has not seen a rate increase in years.

Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Galloway said that a water study undertaken in 2014 recommended a rate increase of 1.5 percent per year. As this has not occurred, the council also focused on instating an increase to catch up on lost income.

Galloway provided that the number of dilapidated and vacant homes has driven property values down in Cloverdale over the years, making revenue a more crucial issue.

While she said that increasing rates was something she knew would be unpopular, Galloway believed that the flat rate, as well as a rate increase, would help in the long run.

The council agreed that a special meeting was needed to put heads together about the proposal, as well as a potential rate increase. It has been set for Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Cloverdale Town Hall.

As the last agenda item, Hofmann announced that the town was moving forward concerning obstruction at the main entrance to the Stardust Hills community. He related that Gedert was asked to either remove or alter the walls there to improve the line of sight.

Agitated, Gedert responded that the town would soon hear from his attorney. He also professed that speed was the major issue on Stardust Road, and that the line of sight was “secondary” to stopping at the spot in question.

In turn, Hofmann replied that the town had the responsibility for the interest of safety on Stardust Road, and also had the ordinance authorizing due action as it saw fit.

The issue goes back to the January meeting when resident Mark Wingler stated that the walls were too high. Gedert’s point of stopping was argued against as a potential hindrance to regular traffic on the road.

In other business, the council heard from property owner Kim Fidler regarding the damaged facades on Main Street. She stated that demolition and building permits were being worked through, and that Spiker Excavating is handling the renovations as the weather permits.

Fidler shared with the Banner Graphic prior to the meeting that exterior designs for the facades have also been drawn up.

The town also swore in Lee Carnish, Shelby Gilbert, Bradley Magnuson and Avery Barney as four new reserve deputies for the Cloverdale Police Department.

Town Marshal Steve Hibler also announced that Wingler was recently instated as CPD’s chaplain. Wingler led a prayer for the new officers.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Town Hall.