Webster Council Draws Fire From Residents
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH WEBSTER - It was standing room only Tuesday night as North Webster town council members faced a couple contentious issues.
Town council member Jane Shepherd said several unnamed town residents have questioned the legality of the lease between the park department and Chuck Lawrance of Fisherman's Cove.
The park department this year signed a 10-year lease for $100 per year, allowing Lawrance access to the Cove, an area of town-owned lakefront on Webster Lake at 340 E. Huntington St.
(The town also leases lakefront property in the area to Lakeview Restaurant and the Dixie tour boat.)
In return, Lawrance provided dredging and put in new piers and sockets in the lake bed for pier posts.
Lawrance rents pier spaces at the Cove to recoup costs.
Lawrance has leased the property for 18 years. He passed out pictures of the area, which appears well-kept.
"I'm tired of all the cloak-and-dagger stuff and behind-the-back stuff," Lawrance said.
"We entered this with nothing but goodness in our hearts. Why we're getting all this feedback after 18 years, I have no clue," Lawrance said.
He added, "If you want me out, I'll get out. I'll sign off on it right now, if that's what you want."
He noted, however, that he expected to be reimbursed the $15,450 he spent on dredging and piers if the town wanted him out of the lease.
At that point, several members of the public spoke up in support of Lawrance, noting that he completed many improvements to the cove and has done a good job maintaining it.
Some in attendance questioned the motives of town council members.
Town council president Jon Sroufe said he could see "no problem with the validity of the lease."
The council took no action.
Next, the council tackled the issue of Jay Clutter's sewer rate for Joyland Mobile Home Park.
Clutter asked the town council in January to adjust his sewer rates and threatened a lawsuit if they didn't.
Clutter's property has 41 lots, but is seasonal. No one lives there year-round.
Currently, he is charged the residential rate for each lot - $31.22.
Clutter, who installed a flow meter at his own expense, asked the town to set his rate based on the highest monthly flow recorded, which was in July.
He proposed that he pay that rate each month, year-round.
Sroufe said after studying the issue, the council determined that Joyland, by state statute, is defined as a campground. The state views a campground as a place with more than 10 lots and no year-round residents. As such, it could have its own sewer rate classification.
Still, councilman Travis Marsh said he had reservations about changing Joyland's rate.
"If we change this rate, where do we go from here?" he asked.
"If we set a seasonal rate for Jay, why not for everybody else? We have a lot of seasonal residents around here," he said.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Clutter told Marsh. "It's not a seasonal rate. It's a peak rate."
Several residents expressed concern about whether it would be fair to lower Clutter's rate. They suggested he pass the costs along to his renters.
"I don't need you people telling me how to run my business," Clutter said. "What's right is right, what's wrong is wrong, and this is wrong."
Clutter has been paying the full residential rate since 1981.
The council proposed setting Clutter's rate at half the residential rate per lot.
After the decision, Jason Simbeck, owner of Dixie Haven Motel stepped forward to ask the council to review his sewer rates.
Simbeck's motel has five small efficiency units. Each unit is charged the residential rate. Simbeck asked that he be charged the motel rate.
The council agreed to consider Simbeck's request.
In other business, the council:
• Heard a report from the county highway department regarding replacement of the South Street bridge.
The bridge is slated to be replaced in late 2005 or early 2006.
County highway engineer Rob Ladson noted that there will be no way to put in a temporary bridge for vehicles during construction, although a temporary pedestrian walkway will be installed.
This will be a "huge inconvenience" for some residents, but is unavoidable. The bridge will be funded by the county.
The county was seeking approval to close intersections and inform the town that lift station modifications may be needed.
• Approved purchase of a new scanner for the police department at a cost of approximately $125.
• Heard from utilities superintendent Dennis Reafsnyder that he received a quote of $1,000 from Hamman's Excavating for cleanup at the utility grounds. A crane and bulldozer will be used to move concrete walls.
• Approved purchase of a 2002 Chevy dump truck with snowplow for $32,000. The truck replaces a 1978 model that is out of service.
• Approved an ordinance to improve parking efficiency on Washington Street in the first block east and west of Main Street.
• Responded favorably to a suggestion from John Routh to start a neighborhood crime watch program in North Webster. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH WEBSTER - It was standing room only Tuesday night as North Webster town council members faced a couple contentious issues.
Town council member Jane Shepherd said several unnamed town residents have questioned the legality of the lease between the park department and Chuck Lawrance of Fisherman's Cove.
The park department this year signed a 10-year lease for $100 per year, allowing Lawrance access to the Cove, an area of town-owned lakefront on Webster Lake at 340 E. Huntington St.
(The town also leases lakefront property in the area to Lakeview Restaurant and the Dixie tour boat.)
In return, Lawrance provided dredging and put in new piers and sockets in the lake bed for pier posts.
Lawrance rents pier spaces at the Cove to recoup costs.
Lawrance has leased the property for 18 years. He passed out pictures of the area, which appears well-kept.
"I'm tired of all the cloak-and-dagger stuff and behind-the-back stuff," Lawrance said.
"We entered this with nothing but goodness in our hearts. Why we're getting all this feedback after 18 years, I have no clue," Lawrance said.
He added, "If you want me out, I'll get out. I'll sign off on it right now, if that's what you want."
He noted, however, that he expected to be reimbursed the $15,450 he spent on dredging and piers if the town wanted him out of the lease.
At that point, several members of the public spoke up in support of Lawrance, noting that he completed many improvements to the cove and has done a good job maintaining it.
Some in attendance questioned the motives of town council members.
Town council president Jon Sroufe said he could see "no problem with the validity of the lease."
The council took no action.
Next, the council tackled the issue of Jay Clutter's sewer rate for Joyland Mobile Home Park.
Clutter asked the town council in January to adjust his sewer rates and threatened a lawsuit if they didn't.
Clutter's property has 41 lots, but is seasonal. No one lives there year-round.
Currently, he is charged the residential rate for each lot - $31.22.
Clutter, who installed a flow meter at his own expense, asked the town to set his rate based on the highest monthly flow recorded, which was in July.
He proposed that he pay that rate each month, year-round.
Sroufe said after studying the issue, the council determined that Joyland, by state statute, is defined as a campground. The state views a campground as a place with more than 10 lots and no year-round residents. As such, it could have its own sewer rate classification.
Still, councilman Travis Marsh said he had reservations about changing Joyland's rate.
"If we change this rate, where do we go from here?" he asked.
"If we set a seasonal rate for Jay, why not for everybody else? We have a lot of seasonal residents around here," he said.
"You don't know what you're talking about," Clutter told Marsh. "It's not a seasonal rate. It's a peak rate."
Several residents expressed concern about whether it would be fair to lower Clutter's rate. They suggested he pass the costs along to his renters.
"I don't need you people telling me how to run my business," Clutter said. "What's right is right, what's wrong is wrong, and this is wrong."
Clutter has been paying the full residential rate since 1981.
The council proposed setting Clutter's rate at half the residential rate per lot.
After the decision, Jason Simbeck, owner of Dixie Haven Motel stepped forward to ask the council to review his sewer rates.
Simbeck's motel has five small efficiency units. Each unit is charged the residential rate. Simbeck asked that he be charged the motel rate.
The council agreed to consider Simbeck's request.
In other business, the council:
• Heard a report from the county highway department regarding replacement of the South Street bridge.
The bridge is slated to be replaced in late 2005 or early 2006.
County highway engineer Rob Ladson noted that there will be no way to put in a temporary bridge for vehicles during construction, although a temporary pedestrian walkway will be installed.
This will be a "huge inconvenience" for some residents, but is unavoidable. The bridge will be funded by the county.
The county was seeking approval to close intersections and inform the town that lift station modifications may be needed.
• Approved purchase of a new scanner for the police department at a cost of approximately $125.
• Heard from utilities superintendent Dennis Reafsnyder that he received a quote of $1,000 from Hamman's Excavating for cleanup at the utility grounds. A crane and bulldozer will be used to move concrete walls.
• Approved purchase of a 2002 Chevy dump truck with snowplow for $32,000. The truck replaces a 1978 model that is out of service.
• Approved an ordinance to improve parking efficiency on Washington Street in the first block east and west of Main Street.
• Responded favorably to a suggestion from John Routh to start a neighborhood crime watch program in North Webster. [[In-content Ad]]