DUBOIS – On Monday night, the DuBois City Council voted to approve an addition to Carlson Auto Repair, located at 100 E. Park Ave.
The Planning Commission had recommended requesting for the repair garage to file for a “certificate of non-conforming use.”
However, the commission did not recommend making it a requirement while it is a pre-existing, non-conforming use.
“We all know it was a non-conforming use,” said City Solicitor Toni Cherry, adding that it was a garage and would continue to be a garage.
In response to Councilwoman Diane Bernardo’s concerns over vehicles sitting on the property, Cherry indicated that the addition would be killing two birds with one stone.
It was noted that the vehicles would have to be moved in order to complete the addition. Also, it was explained that the vehicles were those left by owners over payment issues.
In other business, council awarded the 2016 Streetscape Project bid to Hallstrom Construction for $577,217.14. Also, it awarded the Miracle Field bid to KTH Architects.
Council reported the city reservoir is 20 inches low. The city currently uses 2- to 2.2-million gallons of water daily, a quarter of that comes from the new wells.
“Even with our Sandy Lick Creek, we used to make fun of our ducks walking in it. They can walk across the whole darn thing now,” said Council Member Randy Schmidt.
Redevelopment Director Joe Mitchell provided council with an update on the CDBG surveys that will influence the funds the city receives.
He reported there have been 184 of the 348 surveys returned to DuBois City. There are plans to go through and visit all the non-respondents again, he said.
City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio asked for citizens who have received surveys to return them.
Before and after the public meeting, council held executive sessions over potential legal issues.