North Webster Town Council Takes No Position On Lodge Request
August 18, 2021 at 12:51 a.m.
By Jackie Gorski-
Courtney and Brandon Sturgill, managers of The Lodge at North Webster, appeared before the Council Tuesday.
After the meeting, Courtney said The Lodge has a motel in the front of the property and 10 spaces for park models, which are like mini mobile homes. The Sturgills started managing the property Aug. 6.
During the meeting, Courtney said they’d like to bring in four more park models, not campers. They would be permanent structures that would have “heating and stuff like that so we could provide long-term housing for people who need it because it’s a growing thing in our community.”
Courtney said they would like the Council’s blessing to go to the county to see if they could bring in more park models.
Councilman David Waliczek said he wasn’t for it. He said the property was too much trouble as it is.
Courtney said they are currently trying to clean up the property. The maintenance man that was living in the back of the property and causing a lot of the debris to pile up is no longer living there, she said. They also got rid of some residents that were causing problems.
“We need to be able to bring in better places for people to live in order to be able to get better people here to move forward,” Brandon said.
Waliczek said they’d also have to get the neighbors’ permission, or at least tell them what The Lodge wants to do.
Councilman Dan Thystrup said it’s more up to the neighbors than it was to the Council.
Courtney said the Sturgills talked with the county and was told they needed the town’s blessing in order to move forward with anything with the county. She said they would just like something from the town saying the Council approves.
Council President Lisa Strombeck said The Lodge only has one neighbor.
Courtney said it’s a storage unit facility and the owner was previously complaining about the debris and trash but all that’s been removed.
Brandon said once they get everything set up, it will be a smoother transition and they will be better able to filter out new tenants and get a better feel of the type of people they’re going to have living there. Brandon said they have the available space and they’d like to be able to use it.
Police Chief Greg Church asked if the park models would be weekly or monthly rentals. Courtney said they could do weekly or monthly.
Strombeck said the Sturgills would have to watch who goes in there, and she understands they’re trying to clean it up and bring in people who need housing.
Church said he thinks there’s so much bad reputation with the property and every time there’s a new owner, it takes one step forward and two steps back.
Brandon said The Lodge needs to take advantage of the space it has in order to progress forward.
Town attorney Jack Birch suggested the Council let the county handle the request.
Strombeck wished the Sturgills luck and trusts they will keep it up and keep it clean.
Church said if they needed anything to let him know.
In other business, the Council:
• Learned the next meeting will be 6 p.m. Sept. 28.
• Approved $5,600 for work on a new transmission of a police squad car at R&G Auto. Church said the 2016 Ford squad car has the transmission out on it.
• Learned the police department is still looking for people to apply as officers.
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Courtney and Brandon Sturgill, managers of The Lodge at North Webster, appeared before the Council Tuesday.
After the meeting, Courtney said The Lodge has a motel in the front of the property and 10 spaces for park models, which are like mini mobile homes. The Sturgills started managing the property Aug. 6.
During the meeting, Courtney said they’d like to bring in four more park models, not campers. They would be permanent structures that would have “heating and stuff like that so we could provide long-term housing for people who need it because it’s a growing thing in our community.”
Courtney said they would like the Council’s blessing to go to the county to see if they could bring in more park models.
Councilman David Waliczek said he wasn’t for it. He said the property was too much trouble as it is.
Courtney said they are currently trying to clean up the property. The maintenance man that was living in the back of the property and causing a lot of the debris to pile up is no longer living there, she said. They also got rid of some residents that were causing problems.
“We need to be able to bring in better places for people to live in order to be able to get better people here to move forward,” Brandon said.
Waliczek said they’d also have to get the neighbors’ permission, or at least tell them what The Lodge wants to do.
Councilman Dan Thystrup said it’s more up to the neighbors than it was to the Council.
Courtney said the Sturgills talked with the county and was told they needed the town’s blessing in order to move forward with anything with the county. She said they would just like something from the town saying the Council approves.
Council President Lisa Strombeck said The Lodge only has one neighbor.
Courtney said it’s a storage unit facility and the owner was previously complaining about the debris and trash but all that’s been removed.
Brandon said once they get everything set up, it will be a smoother transition and they will be better able to filter out new tenants and get a better feel of the type of people they’re going to have living there. Brandon said they have the available space and they’d like to be able to use it.
Police Chief Greg Church asked if the park models would be weekly or monthly rentals. Courtney said they could do weekly or monthly.
Strombeck said the Sturgills would have to watch who goes in there, and she understands they’re trying to clean it up and bring in people who need housing.
Church said he thinks there’s so much bad reputation with the property and every time there’s a new owner, it takes one step forward and two steps back.
Brandon said The Lodge needs to take advantage of the space it has in order to progress forward.
Town attorney Jack Birch suggested the Council let the county handle the request.
Strombeck wished the Sturgills luck and trusts they will keep it up and keep it clean.
Church said if they needed anything to let him know.
In other business, the Council:
• Learned the next meeting will be 6 p.m. Sept. 28.
• Approved $5,600 for work on a new transmission of a police squad car at R&G Auto. Church said the 2016 Ford squad car has the transmission out on it.
• Learned the police department is still looking for people to apply as officers.
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