By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
At its Nov. 15 regular meeting, the Watkins city council approved its first permit for backyard chickens under its new ordinance. Chickens within Watkins city limits must be registered, and there is no cost for the permit. There is a limit of eight hens (no roosters), and there are space requirements to keep chickens. A chicken coop counts as one of two allowed outbuildings in the city; a $25 land use permit fee is required.
They also discussed a revised parking ordinance that restricts RV parking on any city street, and bans RV parking on streets if used as living quarters. The new ordinance will be approved at their next regular meeting, Dec. 13.
The council reviewed the 2018 fee schedule for possible changes for 2019. The chicken permit will be added, with no fee charged.
The council canvassed the Nov. 6 election. There were 467 registered voters on the morning of the election, and 360 voters cast ballots. Frank Eder was re-elected mayor, and Tootz Tscumperlin and Jason Laumer were elected to the council.
The council approved a three-year contract with the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office for continued policing of Watkins, with a 2.2-percent rate increase per year. The council asked about the possibility of increasing patrols from four 10-hour days to five eight-hour days. On days not scheduled for patrol, at least one deputy per shift currently is required to patrol through the city of Watkins.
The council approved the Ambulance Service purchasing 25 highly reflective vests for its members at $54 each.
It was reported that a good deal of clean-up work has been done at a problem property on Central Avenue, enough to satisfy the council until spring. The other problem property in town has been sold and the new owners are renovating it.
Public Works director Steve Geislinger reported that the “brains” of the joint water plant with Eden Valley are in the process of being replaced, at a cost of $11,860. The fire exit behind the Village Hall will need to be replaced, most likely with another metal one. The Village Hall oven may not need to be replaced just yet; after replacing valves throughout the Hall, at a cost of more than $1,000, there have been no more gas leaks in the building. A new trash can has been built with deck boards and is sitting outside of City Hall; the council approved making another five, at a cost of $186.99 each (as opposed to simpler ones from the catalogue at $410 each).
The next regular meeting of the Watkins city council will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13.