Zoning change makes way for expansion of local business

HARTINGTON — The Hartington City Council Monday cleared the way for a local business to begin an expansion and renovation project.

The Council approved a zoning change for Farmer's Union Co-Operative Gas & Oil Company.

The downtown business wants to expand, but first must get its property rezoned.

Current plans call for the house immediately to the west of Farmer’s Union to be razed and the ground leveled out this year.

Farmer’s Union manager Roy Carl said it is hoped a three-bay garage can then be built on the site next year. The current repair shop would then be set up in the new building.

Eventually, Carl said, they would like to make it even easier for diesel trucks to pull in and fill up at their pumps and for those trucks to be serviced at Farmer's Union.

The long-term plan, he said, is to move the gas pumps to better accommodate trucks. They'd also like to renovate their current 96 year-old structure so large trucks could be serviced, he said.

In order for any of this work to begin, though, the Council first had to rezone the lot immediately to the west of the business from residential to business, which they did on a unanimous vote.

The Council also agreed Monday to rezone another property in northeast Hartington from residential to light industrial.

Chris Brummels asked for the zoning change so he could put up a metal shop building.

There are currently several other metal shop buildings in that area.

The Council also granted a building permit for another property in that area, which they had recently rezoned from residential to light industrial.

The Council gave its approval for a storage building at 305 N. Aberly for Nick Haselhorst's business, Haze Homes LLC.

In other action, the Council approved a request from Mike and Karil Adams to shut down a portion of the street in front of their home at North Oak Avenue on Wednesday, July 3.

The Council also agreed to grant the Hartington Chamber of Commerce permission to briefly shut down part of Felber Park in the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 3. It will be part of the Fun Run route in that area during Hartington Dayz festivities.

Council members also spent time discussing the city's regulations governing above ground and below ground propane tanks. Council members didn't feel any changes needed to be made to the current ordinance concerning above ground tanks. City Attorney Nikki Brandt said it might be a good idea to better regulate the use of underground propane tanks though, since they are not mentioned in the current statute.

The Council agreed with a request to change the liquor license at the Big Hair Brewhaus to eliminate the brewery from the license.

Jason Wintz recently purchased that part of the business and will now be brewing beer for the establishment.

The Council also discussed selling its old garbage truck to the village of Wynot.

The City Council will meet again on Monday, June 24, at 5 p.m. at Hartington City Hall.