Afton Briefs

E-mail system operational

Afton’s emergency e-mail notification system is up and running.

That was the message from Mayor Julia Welter at the city’s Oct. 21 meeting.

She said an initial list of residents’ e-mail addresses of those wishing to participate had been compiled in anticipation of an emergency situation in the future.

If any such situation does arrive, the city will notify all residents on the listserv by e-mail with further details and advice.

Any residents not already on the list should call city hall to register at (651) 436-5090.

Streets officially renamed

Several streets in Afton ceased to exist — at least on paper — on Oct. 21.

That’s because the city council voted to pass an ordinance re-naming two streets which were known variously under a handful of different names.

In response to a plea from the postal service to simplify matters, the Afton City Council voted to designate the roads in question Coulee Ridge Road and Afton Hills Drive.

The action was taken after a poll of the residents affected in each of the respective areas produced the preferred names.

Trash, recycling fees to increase

Afton residents will see their trash and recycling fees increase by five percent next year.

The city council voted to approve the increase — which equates to an additional $1.12 per month for a 60-gallon cart — at its meeting on Oct. 21.

Highland Sanitation, the company which is contracted to perform Afton’s trash and recycling removal, said the increase was necessary to cover an increase in dump fees and diesel costs.

Planning commission problems discussed

Frustration at a lack of commitment from some planning commissioners was evident at Afton’s city council meeting Oct. 21.

“We’ve had at least three, if not four or possibly five meetings since mid-May that have been canceled due to a lack of a quorum,” said planning commission chairman Jim Fox.

“In many cases, the commissioners who weren’t present had valid reasons and were excused.

“Nonetheless, we still have to get the work done and if we can’t get a quorum together, we can’t get the work done.”

When pressed for details by the members of the Afton City Council, Fox acknowledged there were two main culprits.

Council member Joe Richter, who is the liaison between the planning commission and the city council, said he would work with Fox to approach commissioners about their dedication.

“I understand exactly what Mr. Fox is talking about,” said Richter. “It’s very uncomfortable to be sitting there and have professional staff waiting, and no one shows up.”

The planning commission currently consists of nine members (although one seat is vacant), with two representatives from each of Afton’s four wards and one from the business community.

Suggestions at the Oct. 21 meeting included cutting membership down to seven, or having one representative from each ward with the remaining seats as at-large positions.

Further action may be taken after Richter and Fox have consulted with commissioners.

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