New land may be sought for event center

The proposed Lindsay Area Event & Wellness Center will likely seek a new location.

At the Oct. 3, Village of Lindsay Board of Trustees meeting, the board was set to hire JEO Consulting Group, of Norfolk, to conduct a survey for a general description of approximately 4 acres, more or less, of village property south of Front Street between Ash and Elm Street. Then, after the property is sold, to conduct a survey for the exact legal description.

Lindsay Area Development (LAD) had sought to purchase the land from the village for the Event & Wellness Center. However, Aaron Reichmuth, of LAD, told the board there was no need to hire JEO because it is unlikely LAD will bid on the land.

“Based off of some of the criteria ... it’s our feeling that some of the criteria are unlikely to be met,” he said. “We just don’t feel it’s realistic that we’ll be able to meet the criteria set forth in order to put the facility there. I want you guys to be aware that at this point it’s unlikely that that site will be used for an event facility. We also feel that part of the village owned property is part of the city park, the school uses that property for football practices, and we don’t want to jeopardise part of village property that could possibly be owned by someone else. The reason we wanted to purchase it is because we felt we were doing something that’s good for the community.”

Board Chairman Fred Hoefer invited LAD to attend the Nov. 7 meeting to discuss the criteria.

He said the building permit application from whomever bought the land, would change the criteria.

“My question would be why would you guys even consider selling that property if it isn’t for this proposed facility? Until we have a clear answer my suggestion would be to table this (hiring JEO), because I don’t want you guys paying for a survey,” Reichmuth said. “I just want us all on the same page as far as what’s best for the village. If someone else would end up buying it there are things that could happen down there that aren’t in the best interest of the village.”

The board in September had requested LAD pay for the engineering costs to determine the exact location of the land it sought, but since decided to pay for that cost itself before tabling hiring JEO to survey the land at the October meeting.

Also at the September board meeting, the board voted to seek sealed bids for the land with a minimum bid of $40,000. LAD raised concerns that if someone else bought the land it could be used for a project that does not benefit the community.

LAD had asked board members several questions pertaining to the criteria required for the use of the land. The criteria included paying for a hydrologic and hydraulic study; documenting if there’s no adverse impact by using fill material; prove there’s no rise in the base flood plain level; submit to FEMA a letter of map elevation; show engineering drawings of location of facility and parking areas; exact size of proposed property in feet; provisions for enhancing the storm sewer system to handle additional runoff; and maintaining the set-backs for the trail.

Hoefer said at the September meeting those criteria only apply to the buyer after the land is purchased, and how many of the criteria apply depends on the use of the land.

LAD may have to meet more criteria for the project than someone else who receives the bid and will use it for some other reason.

In other agenda items, the board:

• Held a public hearing on the liquor license application for Tavern 1888. No one from the public spoke, and the license was approved.

• Approved the insurance coverage for village property, vehicles and city liability

• Tabled removing some trees at the request of the Farmers Coop Association along Dry Creek adjacent to co-op property until it can verify the cost.

Hoefer said he would like to see some trees removed along the property line on the steep part of the ditch that are dead or damaged and leave the healthy trees. He and board member Gene Werner said they want the healthy trees to remain to create a scenic view along the walking/ biking trail.

• Approved Seth Wiese’s building permit request to construct a 23-foot by 16-foot prayer garden along the west side of Lindsay Holy Family Church contingent upon someone from the church signing the building permit.

• Purchased a 7-foot by 14foot aluminum tilt bed trailer from Steve Pfeifer for $3,500.

• Approved the change order to the 2022 Utility Extension Project for Cottonwood Drive creating a water main loop.

• Authorized Hoefer to sign the agreement and notice to proceed for the 2022 utility extension project.

• Approved the resolution directing the sale by sealed bids of real estate.

• Approved the street closure application on First Street, east of the First and Pine street intersection so RDG Geoscience & Engineering can install two groundwater monitoring wells the last week of October or first week of November.

• Authorized Hoefer to sign Right of Entry and Indemnity Agreement with RDG Geoscience & Engineering for groundwater monitoring wells east of the Pine Street & First street intersection.

• Authorized Hoefer to sign an agreement with Contryman Associates for audit services of 2021-22 accounts.

• Tabled the proposed contract with Maguire Iron for fullservice water storage tank maintenance. One proposal was for an annual payment of $11,500 with a 5 percent annual increase, and the second proposal was a 10year contract at $7,4000 a year.

• Tabled the purchase of a 78inch wide Brushmaster Grapple for Skid Steer or JD Tractor for $7,000 from AKRS Equipment

• Approved the payment to JEO Consulting Group for engineering services for the Lindsay Pond Restoration project at a cost of $5,100.