City addresses rezoning, school resource officer plans, and EMS funding challenges

The Lennox City Council met Monday, Nov. 10 at Lennox City Hall. Council members heard agenda items including a public hearing, school resource officer discussions, and ambulance coverage.

Mayor Danny Fergen opened the meeting with a public hearing on Ordinance 662 – Opheim Rezoning. The City of Lennox has received and processed an application to rezone the Opheim Addition from A1 Agriculture to R2 Multifamily Residential. 

“This property was annexed a handful of years ago upon the subdivision of the larger parent parcel. In addition to annexation, the City of Lennox required the dedication of approximately 300’ of the existing driveway for future street use. The property to the South is now under contract with the contingency for the successful rezone,” said City Administrator, Nate Vander Plaats. 

Mayor Fergen opened the floor up to public comments from proponents and opponents on the ordinance. 

James Jibben was the first to speak in opposition of the ordinance.

 “As some of you may know, Howard Opheim was my father-in-law and I’ve had the opportunity to farm this piece of ground for approximately 50 years,” he said. 

Jibben explained to the council the importance of knowing the layout of the land to know how weather will affect the area. 

“Whatever you decide to do, if you’re going to approve what the planning and zoning did, that you realize this is a water line that can’t be disturbed. We need that,” he said. 

Betsy Hills and Ralph Trollson, and Patrick Hills, shared similar points to Jibben. 

“There’s going to have to be a lot of serious thought about exactly how many people could be housed on that property. If I start having a bunch of water backing up to my property because of multifamily housing units, then what do I do? I don’t mind single family houses, they can put all of them there they want because they have water run off and lawns, but with multifamily, you don’t,” Trollson said. 

Alderman Daugherty asked Chief Will Erickson to share what traffic enforcement could potentially look like for the location. 

“Traffic enforcement isn’t as heavy on Cleveland, it’s more of an industrial area. We do some minor traffic on it, but don’t spend a lot of time as our focus has been primarily through the school zones and heavily traveled roads that are straight through town. I don’t see a lot of complaints that we’ve had coming in from Cleveland,” Chief Erickson said.

“A lot of people are correct with the Koyker traffic. That is probably the biggest nuisance traffic that we have, but as far as for general traffic itself, we don’t see as high of a volume as we do in other parts of town that have the same need for the excessive speed, careless driving, or danger to the general public,” Erickson added.  

A motion to approve the first reading by Chad Swier, seconded by Billy Welch, motion carried unanimously.

The City Council was asked to consider Ordinance 663 – FY 2026 Appropriations as the City of Lennox must pass a budget ordinance for fiscal year 2026. 

“The City Council held a Public Hearing on the proposed budget on October 27. At that meeting, the public and City Council had the opportunity to seek clarity on any areas of the proposed budget, and to make proposed amendments to that budget. No changes were proposed, and staff followed that meeting with drafting of the required appropriations ordinance. That ordinance is prepared and ready for your review and approval of first reading tonight,” Vander Plaats said. 

Motion to approve by Daugherty, seconded by Lauren Van Driel, motion carried.

The council was asked to consider a draft School Resources Officer Agreement with the Lennox School District. 

“Chief Will Ericksen and I met with Lennox Superintendent Adam Shaw early this fall to discuss the broad parameters of an SRO program. Mr. Shaw, having previously served on the Madison City Commission, is familiar with that community’s SRO program and was able to provide the agreement used by the City of Madison and the Madison School District for that program. I have edited that agreement and provided it in your packets for discussion tonight,” Vander Plaats said not looking for action on the matter, just discussion and guidance. 

Daugherty asked if the school board had made a final determination on the matter. 

“The only thing that I’ve heard is that it came out of their strategic plan that this is a top priority for them in 2026. My assumption is that money would follow with that though their budget does not begin until July whereas ours begins in June,” Vander Plaats responded. 

Erickson believes he and the Lennox Superintendent have built a solid working relationship together and thinks the program will be beneficial to all. 

The City of Lennox continues to experience significant financial losses in the ambulance service. 

“At the Public Hearing for the FY 2026 budget on Oct. 27, 2025, I recommended to the City Council that we cease providing EMS for areas outside of the Lennox municipal boundary effective January 2027. I would appreciate discussion tonight on that recommendation, on the Council’s position on pursuing an ambulance district, and how to proceed,” Vander Plaats said. “With tonight’s direction, I plan to draft a resolution for upcoming action that formally directs the City to move in that direction,” he continued. “There’s an opinion that we don’t have the authority or that the ambulance district cannot be formed without county blessing, am I interpreting that properly?” 

Daugherty asked. 

“That belief may be out there, but I don’t know for sure,” Responded Vander Plaats. Daugherty asked if it had been verified. 

“Not yet,” responded Vander Plaats. 

Disruption of service is not the goal of the council, but rather an agreement with the surrounding towns and the county to help fund the resource. 

“Our goal is to get to a solution that doesn’t change the coverage or improves the coverage. We just need to get some progress,” President Swier said.