JACKSON CENTER — An ordinance tabled during the June 12 and 26 meetings remained tabled after Monday night’s Jackson Center Council meeting.
Council revisted the ordinance, which deals with a proposed zoning change from R-1 Residential to I-1 Industrial that would permit Airstream Trailers Inc. to build a 275.000-square-foot manufacturing facility in an area that is currently zoned residential. The new facility has the potential of providing up to 100 new jobs.
“At this point council and the residents of Jackson Center are waiting on Airstream to provide some detailed information about their future plans and I want to make sure our residents have a chance to look at that information and study it thoroughly and voice any concerns before the ordinance is voted upon by council,” said Village Administrator Bruce Metz. “Airstream is not ready with a plan yet but I have met with them and they are seriously considering every available option to come up with the most viable plan that will work for all concerned, they indicate they want to be good neighbors so at this point we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Airstream has already addressed some of the complaints about the bright lights shining toward the homes in the area and is working on solutions to quiet the loud noise associated with a dust-collecting unit on the plant’s east side, said Metz.
At the June 26 meeting, council decided to leave the ordinance tabled to allow Airstream some time to clarify their intentions, reveal a detailed plan of action, and to study the situation to as to make it more palatable for those living next to the future building site.
“Hopefully the new study will ease concerns some of the folks are having about uncertainties related to what Airstream intend to do” said Mayor Scott Klopfenstein.
At a previous meeting, village residents voiced their concerns about the effects of the zoning change in regards to living conditions and property values; safety issues with children; traffic noise and headlights related to increased semi truck traffic associated with the construction of the 40-foot wide driveway that will cut through the middle of a residential area between two homes located in the area.
In other business, council voted to pass a resolution to create an Enterprise Improvement Project Fund in order to allow for the appropriation of funding for the new service building being constructed at the village’s wastewater treatment plant. An ordinance was also approved for adjustments in the 2017 Annual Appropriations of Public Funds to accommodate the funding process for the new building through that resolution.
In the administrator’s report, Metz noted he has been very busy keeping up with a variety of summer projects but also report that everything is on-track, He said he is pleased with the progress being made in the following areas and listed some of his activities:
• Working with Peterson on Jackson Center School project.
• Met with Access Engineering on construction of the new detention pond and street reconstruction projects.
• Met with Freytag on plans for new service building.
• Met with Tom’s Construction on Davis and Linden Street projects.
• Met with Efficiency Smart
• Prepared for the village audit that is now underway
“Our electrical department has changed the poles on Airstream Drive for the solar field, and our street department has been busy with a variety of projects including a water tap for the new school, hauling top soil from the detention pond, pouring concrete for the habitat house, and taking the T-ball fence down to be used later at the new park. Also the Airstream Drive lights are up and being tested and the final coat of paving will be applied once changes to a gas line have been completed, overall things are going as planned.“ Metz said.
He also noted the demolition of the old school was nearly complete and that progress is being made at the construction site of the new Casey’s General Store on West Pike Street.
Council then moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation concerning issues associated with Police Chief Joe Cotterman. No action was taken.
