SHERBURN — ​​The Sherburn City Council met on Monday evening.

As part of the Consent agenda, they approved a gambling permit for Sherburn Lions Club for June 21 (Holiday Festival).

They approved the ordinance proposal after its second reading for R1 uses to include churches and funeral homes in the City.

One fire hydrant does not work, and one needs repair/replacement. The Council decided at a previous meeting that they should be replaced since repairing them was more expensive than replacing them in the long run. They approved purchasing two hydrants for $12,580+ at this meeting.

Habitat for Humanity asked that 211 North Prairie Street be sold to them for a little and that the tax assessment be cut in half for that lot at a previous meeting. The Council denied cutting the tax assessment and would like to help the group find a lot. Taxes are needed to run the city. The Bury family (Mathew, Tom, Mike, and Monica) explained an entrepreneur proposition called Modern Neighborly Properties LLC Tiny House Community that they would like to build in Sherburn at 301 South Prairie Street. This is the site of a vacated trailer park. The City Building Inspector was consulted. A purchase agreement contingent on Council approval has been accepted. They plan to clean up the lots and get utilities ready, then bring in new prefabricated homes on wheels, anchor them, and put up skirting, or remove the wheels and anchor them. These homes are small (approximately 24 feet) at 400 square feet or less. Each would have their septic, water, and 100 amp electric hook up and meters. The lots would be about 50 to 55 feet, and maintenance would be part of the sale or rent. Plans would be picked out by the client. The roads by them would be granite gravel. They plan to build a Storm Shelter for the residents on one of the 20 lots. The City would have to permit by ordinance the project. The Council took the information hand-out with pictures and will discuss the project. All agreed it would be nice to clean up that lot.

Andrea Ballard’s Clerk Report asked about having an enclosed area for the aluminum cans being collected behind the City Hall, similar to the enclosure used for the rural recycling.

Officer Jorgenson will give the Clerk the contact information she needs. The Clerk is continuing to review policies for the City. The liquor store staff discussed concerns about accountability and schedules with the Clerk and the manager. Cornerstone management company, the Clerk, and Lisa Lange from Temperance Lake Ridge discussed concerns. The Clerk has also been looking into financing for a fire truck with the USDA.

Sean Devenn, Deputy Clerk, will be attending training for Clerks from the Minnesota Small Cities group and also training at the City Hall. The Public Works Department may need a part-time staff for snow removal and mowing. Perhaps the money spent on overtime for current staff would be better spent on a part-time staff. This would give the current staff time for days off. The Council will discuss this and it can be added to the budget for next year.

Council reports also asked about the chlorine in the water. The Publc Works checks the water at least every week, and the water is safe to drink and use. The chlorine was dialed back a small amount. Flushing hydrants affect the water to some degree.

The next Sherburn City Council meeting will be at 5 p.m. on March 17 at the City Hall.