Afton City Council briefs: garage limits reviewed, bridges in need of repair, more ...

Council punts on garage limits

Council members balked at moving forward with a Planning Commission recommendation to cap the size of garages in Afton.

The proposal called for a 2,000 square-foot limit for garages, but concerns including whether the proposal could lead to so-called “car condominiums” led City Council to kick the issue back to Planning Commission.

The commission was called on to draft ordinance language and to submit it to the council. Council members agreed to review the draft language before deciding whether to give it a public hearing.

Council member Joe Richter worried aloud that the proposal could allow someone to build a small dwelling in Afton – and construct a 2,000 square-foot garage next to it.

“They can build their car condo with minimal expense,” he said.

Planning Commissioner Tom Nolz, who spoke up from the audience, disagreed.

“Nobody’s going to do that to throw up a storage building,” he said.

The issue will be revisited at the March City Council meeting.

Afton bridges in need of repair

Two Afton bridges are deemed structurally deficient.

Diane Hankee, Afton’s city engineer, told City Council members Feb. 21 that a bridge on Valley Creek Trail and one on Trading Post Trail received the designations and require repairs. She said the costs could add up to $40,000.

The issue will be heard at the next Afton Public Works Committee meeting.

Report: city finances in good shape

Afton city officials received good financial news at the Feb. 21 City Council meeting.

Accountant Tom Niedzwiecki released his financial report for 2011, which revealed the city’s general fund has a $96,904 positive balance.

Council members approved transferring $20,000 to an account for unemployment claims and $20,000 to an account for severance pay. The city recently severed ties with Sara Irvine, the former city administrator.

-Mike Longaecker

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