By Robert Williams

Editor

For the second straight month, the Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA) / Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) discussed parking issues at city property between Altona Square and the municipal building, this time with parking of the Bookmobile.

City staff received a complaint, despite the Bookmobile only being in Vergas every other Thursday for a half hour from 1-1:30 p.m.

In July, the group discussed safety issues, speeding, parking and some near miss crashes in the same area.

The spot was chosen for the Bookmobile to encourage those picking up and returning books to visit downtown businesses. The Bookmobile also delivers to area residents’ homes and has a stop at Vergas Senior Living.

A few members of the Vergas Community Club do not want the Bookmobile leaving the downtown area, according to Secretary-Treasurer Julie Lammers.

One option discussed is moving the Bookmobile to the parking lot behind the city office as opposed to it creating a hazard in an already tight alleyway to park or drive through.

President DuWayne Ditterich, owner of the Mercantile, also brought up fumes that enter the grocery store, more in the winter than summer, from the Bookmobile’s diesel engine that runs continuously while parked near both the store entrances.

“It’s a horrible spot that’s not a parking spot,” said Ditterich. “It’s an alleyway there; it’s not marked as parking, yet we let them park.”

The EDA voted to make a recommendation to the city council to find a new spot for the Bookmobile to park.

Housing meetings

The EDA/HRA held one of their four annual meetings with the county on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

A county housing meeting will be held online this coming week to discuss the North Fields of Dalton senior housing project.

“I think that it is important for us to know as much about that as possible,” said Secretary-Treasurer Julie Lammers.

The county recently held a groundbreaking ceremony in Dalton for the project, which includes multiple triplexes, which are what is planned for the county-owned lots in the Sunny Oaks development in Vergas.

Habitat for Humanity will also be presenting at the county meeting. Habitat for Humanity has been discussed as an entity that could potentially build a home in the tax forfeited area of Vergas at Eva Street and Dianne Avenue.

On Aug. 22, West Central Initiative will be hosting their own housing meeting in Fergus Falls.

CEDA Update

CEDA Community & Business Development Specialist Jordan Grossman discussed the county’s Community Growth Partnership Grants of $50,000 per year for small cities. The building renovation program requires a one-to-one match of $25,000 locally. There are different amounts available depending on usage.

The EDA/HRA already has secured a $15,000 grant from CEDA that could be used for the program.

According to Lammers, Vergas has used the Community Growth program before, but Ditterich noted there are likely only a handful of buildings in Vergas that would qualify.

Joy Summers wants to hold it for the annual EDA/HRA meeting in the spring to garner any interest and noted, currently, she thought it was not the best use of the CEDA $15,000 grant.

The EDA/HRA will be contacting local businesses to explain the program and note any interest.

The annual $50,000 is available for such things as affordable housing rehabilitation, commercial rehab or a private commercial project.

Ordinance updates

A change to the Peddlers and Solicitors ordinance was discussed with a potential fee being added to licensing. Currently, there is no fee. Only a signed registration form is required to let the city know a temporary business is being run in or on the property of an existing business and has the approval of that business owner.

A recommendation will be made to the city council to add a nominal permit fee to the ordinance.