Council hears updates, considers ordinances

Before hearing updates on the various projects happening around town, the Sundance City Council first considered a border dispute between neighboring landowners that appeared to underscore the need to revisit some city ordinances.

The border dispute includes neighbors in a subdivision where gravel is migrating from one property to the other and setbacks on a retaining wall are in question. The landowners requested assistance, but the council and City Attorney Mark Hughes explained that it is a civil trespass issue and should be handled legally.

Mayor Paul Brooks commented that the city had discussed revisiting its ordinances to clarify certain issues such as use of solar panels. Setbacks on retaining walls is one of a few issues, he said, that “probably need some clarity”.

On a similar note, a public hearing was held for Kyndell Flint’s request to put a new house on a lot on E. Cleveland that is zoned as general business. The council agreed last month that a variance would be in order on the basis that a house has sat on that lot for many years.

All landowners within 300 feet had been notified and the public hearing was advertised. No comments were heard and the variance was approved.

The council heard from Dan Mummert of Trihydro, city engineers, regarding ongoing projects. The Sundance West water tank project is now out to bid, he said, and a pre-bid meeting was held with contractors on June 16.

Clerk Treasurer Kathy Lenz requested a special meeting on July 16 to award the bid.

Regarding the Sundance Kid tank project, Mummert said Trihydro has executed a site visit and looked at potential sites. The preliminary boundaries of the area of probable excavation have been submitted to the Abandoned Mine Lands program, which is providing the funding, and survey information has been received.

Trihydro is working on the plans for the tank configuration right now, he said. Big steps have been taken on the project over the last month.

Two change orders were approved for the Old Stoney project to upgrade the fire suppression system to a level that will allow the state fire marshal’s

office to approve occupancy. DEQ has said the approval will be turned round as quickly as possible for the fire suppression valve, but it then has to be installed before the occupancy inspection can take place.

The change orders were for $16,036 and $994; both will be coming from grant funds, Lenz said. The change orders were approved.

The council approved the mayor’s signature on a contract for the Sundance Square Park project with Ainsworth Benning. The notice of award was also presented.

The council also approved an extension of the agreement with Powder River Energy for a temporary laydown work yard. The work to upgrade infrastructure around town has not yet been completed, explained Brooks, and the original agreement had a one-year limit.

The next regular meeting of the Sundance City Council is scheduled to take place on August 4.