City Council discusses housing study, noise ordinance, and budget adjustments at April 28 meeting

The Lennox City Council met Monday, April 28 in Lennox City Hall. Mayor Danny Fergen and Council members heard agenda items including housing study discussions, noise ordinance requests, and supplemental budgets. 

Mayor Fergen began the meeting by continuing discussions on the community’s housing study. 

“At the April 14 meeting, we requested additional information on the housing study and how that investment would be returned over time. I did mention at that meeting that past housing studies had been used for grant applications. I know I’ve used it for SRF applications and a development plan. Those need specific information and it’s a consistent source of that information, but it is available elsewhere,” said City Administrator, Nate Vander Plaats.

Vander Plaats suggested using Census Bureau data as the information source and gave the board a broad overview of what a housing study does. 

“I would like to think that as a City Administrator and active resident in the community, I’ve got a pretty good feel for the housing market. However, I could not provide you with an evidence-based report on the items above. What I can provide would be entirely based on anecdotal evidence. For example, I can tell you that we need more rental and multi-family housing in Lennox based on the number of inquiries we see and hear about at City Hall,” Vander Plaats said. 

Rental units need to be addressed in the housing study, but more information needs to be gathered on unit size and price range. 

“As a growing community, we’re going to have more decisions to make in the coming years and as Countryside fills up much faster than any of us predicted, there are development efforts on the west side and the east side of Lennox and developers are consistently looking for that next opportunity,” Vander Plaats said. 

Motion made by Bill Daugherty to approve the proposal by PorchLight, seconded by Lauren Van Driel, motion carried.

Vander Plaats has had multiple property owners voice concern with the level of noise produced by idling semis at a commercial business and is requesting the adoption of Ordinance 658 – Amended Noise and Idling Ordinance. 

“The issue comes to us several years after status quo that does not appear to have been resolved in any meaningful way. This was last before the council in July of 2021. At that time, the business at which the idling was taking place agreed to take reasonable steps to restrict idling at the business, but unfortunately those efforts have not been as successful as we would have hoped and neighbors continue to reach out with concerns particularly with overnight idling,” he said. 

According to Vander Plaats, Ordinance 658 would address the residents concerns in two different ways.  

“First, it restricts idling of vehicles from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. at filling stations/service stations in the General Business and Central Business zones. Second, it restricts noise in all zones during certain hours and activities this ordinance mirrors the Sioux Falls noise ordinance,” he said. 

Lennox Police Chief Will Erickson was present to give further information to the Council. Alderman Britney Mower asked what the penalty was for the zoning violation. 

“What typically happens with them is we discuss what the appropriate finance should be through Council. Council will make a decision and every year we post certain things under zoning and the penalty is up to $500,” he said.  Chief Erickson told the Council there are designated areas in town for those vehicles that need to remain idling on Industrial Avenue where overnight truck drivers are encouraged to park. 

Alderman Van Driel expressed her concerns with the time limits given Lennox is a rural farming community and harvest times exceed those hours and suggested a time change to the ordinance of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

“There’s state law that allows for those who are actively unloading and loading a delivery to have ample time to do your job, and for us to be able to stop them from doing their job and using commerce is not for us to decide. This is for the drivers that are parked overnight because they’re out of time. Those are the individuals who will find spots wherever they get to because they’re at the mercy of a clock,” Chief Erickson explained. 

The Council agreed to review the time restrictions to align with the previous ordinances and no action was taken.

The City of Lennox must pass a supplemental budget each year to match the end of the year budget with actual spending. 

“Throughout the year, actual revenues and expenses will vary from what was adopted in the budget months before the year began. The City Council must authorize that use, and we typically take care of that in a year-end supplemental budget instead of handling it as each item comes up throughout the year. This year’s supplemental budget is coming to you far later than we would prefer, but without a Finance Officer for several months, I don’t know that we really have had much of a choice,” Vander Plaats said. 

Top highlights included General Fund net gain of $80,594; Recreation Fund net loss of $8,916; Second Penny net loss of $150,656; Water Fund net gain of $160,680; Sewer Fund net gain of $11,370,685; Ambulance Fund net loss of $98,685; Swimming Pool Fund net loss of $39,691. A motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance 660 – 2024 Supplemental Appropriations carried unanimously.