Two substantial columns of area resident's signatures filled a petition presented to the Ottertail City Council at their July 10 meeting. Present at Eckhoff's Village Inn for the 7 a.m. meeting were two concerned citizens who wanted to explain their case to the council.
The pair had been circulating the petition in response to an application for a conditional use permit for Advanced Docks & Lifts to relocate to 44033 Hawes Beach Road near Ottertail.
"Everyone has expressed that they would like to see a business at that location," said a representative of the concerned individuals, "they're just concerned with this particular business."
She went on to explain, "Our biggest issue is that we don't want to have that kind of a look at our approach [to Hawes Beach Road]." Cited in the petition was the opinion that the business's existing location on Highway 1 is "very cluttered and an eyesore."
Other reasons listed for the opposition to the business's relocation were: the area of the existing building would not accommodate a lot of inventory without overflow, the existing road having extra traffic flow, and concern about the above reasons threatening property value.
ADVERTISEMENT
The ultimate request of those who signed the petition was that the County Planning Commission reject Advanced Docks & Lifts permit application. Ottertail City Council members do not actually vote on the decision to accept or deny the permit request, but council members may attend the meeting in Fergus Falls where a decision will be made by the County Planning Commission.
Councilman Jeff Spanswick, who is a property owner near the proposed Hawes Beach Road site, stated that he might attend the meeting, but as an individual, not a council member.
Interested parties are encouraged to attend the County Planning Commission meeting which will be held on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Commissioner's Room in Fergus Falls.
