Afton Briefs

Strauss to get severance pay

The final bill has come in for the pay-off of former city administrator Shelly Strauss — and it tops $20,000.

Afton City Council members were asked to sign off the sum of $21,820 for severance pay (including uncompensated time and years of service), sick pay and vacation pay, along with other city council claims at the March 18 meeting.

The interim city administrator Jim Norman reported that two applications had been received for the permanent post of city administrator. The deadline for applications is April 10.

New lighting in the works

By the time you read this, Afton could be aglow with new, temporary lighting.

That was the verdict at the city’s March 18 meeting, when members authorized Ken Johnson, head of public works, to investigate the installation of up to eight new lights within the downtown area.

The city was forced to turn off its historic gas lamps in January after they were dubbed too expensive and inefficient to maintain, and businesses have pleaded with the city council to install temporary lighting until a more permanent solution is found.

Ordinance change request sent back

An application for an ordinance change to allow a truck school to operate in Afton has been sent back to the planning commission.

City council members discussed the proposal at their March 18 meeting, but expressed concern over a simultaneous application for a conditional use permit for the planned truck school on Hudson Road, which would be operated by Century College.

Councilor Peg Nolz said she felt it was premature to consider the CUP before any decision had been made on the ordinance.

Developer gets demolition extension

A developer has been given a one-year extension to demolish a farmhouse after the company failed to knock it down in time.

Afton Development LLC, which will be constructing the Cedar Bluff Homestead Development, was originally given until December 31, 2007 to demolish a farmhouse on the land.

Litigation against the company held up work on the site, so city council members agreed to a 12-month extension on March 18.

Tags: news, afton, strauss, lighting, developer, demolition, ordinance