Hartley council mulls fencing issue

A discussion about fencing material garnered the most significant debate on Monday during the Hartley City Council meeting.

A resident recently submitted an application to the planning and zoning commission to install a 6-foot fence made of pro-rib steel paneling trimmed with treated wood. The material is not one that is allowed in the city's zoning code, and the application was denied.

Due to the high cost of building materials right now, the option was the least expensive for the resident, who requested the council discuss changing the rules to allow its construction. Though all members agreed the fence would like nice, they opted to keep the ordinance as-is on the advice of City Attorney Brandon Krikke.

"I think we should leave it alone because I think you open up a big can of worms if we start changing things," said Council Member Nick Galm.

Council Member Mary Westphalen was originally open to tweaking the ordinance, but ultimately sided against it.

"The wording has to be precise so that somebody doesn't take some tin off an old silo, bring it into town and make a fence out of it," she said.

Ultimately, Krikke's recommendation trumped discussion and the council agreed to drop the issue.

"We can't micromanage planning and zoning," said Council Member Jerry Olson.

• Fire department report

Fire Chief Brad Meendering gave his annual update to the council. The department currently has 22 members, four short of a full roster. It responded to 20 calls during the past year.

Five sets of bunker gear were replaced in 2021 thanks to a grant from the O'Brien County Community Foundation. Another five sets are slated to get swapped out this year, and helmets will also get replaced soon.

Meendering made note of the fire station's roof, which received much-needed repairs in 2021.

"We think the roof is fixed and there are no new leaks that we've seen yet," he said.