After much debate, the Minonk City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2011-03 which provides for the City's acquisition of Mill Street for $8,400 from owner Larry Hill.  The reason for the purchase is to have access to property that will allow the City to run its proposed storm sewer line through the property.  The property, according to Mayor Bill Koos, contains the greatest surface drainage area in the storm sewer project.

While Alderman Corey Ruestman claimed that the CIty basically wants to take the road away from Hill, Alderman Sean Cunningham argued that the City is being held hostage by Mr. Hill because all other property owners have given the City easement rights to run the storm sewer through their property.  Cunningham said, "The whole think stinks."  He added that Hill is the biggest complainer of the water problem and yet he will benefit the most from the drainage project.  To which Hill countered that Marge Hill is the biggest beneficiary of the storm sewer project.

Cunningham said, "If the City pays Hill for the easement, then in the future other property owners will want to be compensated for an easement.   Going around Hills's property will cost the City an extra $50,000 but that may be less money than what it will cost to pay for future easements if the City agrees to pay for this easement."  Alderman Kari Carls agreed with Cunningham.

Property owner Larry Hill told the Council that he wanted to clear up the confusion on the Mill Street property.  Hill said that Mill Street was never platted in the original city plat book and evolved from traffic that was using the property for hauling grain in and out of the old Minonk Milling Building, which adjoined the property.  Hill said, "Around 1949 the area was paved over to get rid of the ruts that developed from the traffic around the mill.  Basically, the city blacktopped someone's private property and I am paying property taxes on property I can't use."

Hill said he was advised by his attorney that the property is worth about $1 a square foot but the City offered to pay .65 a square foot, which he accepted.  He added that once he gives the City  easement to that land, he cannot build on it and he should be compensated for it.

Alderman Cunningham told Hill that other owners cannot build on land that they own either, citing owners on Fourth Street in which they are paying taxes on property into the middle of the street.  He told Hill he should donate the land to the City if he doesn't want to pay taxes on it.

Hill countered that he has paid taxes on the property for the past 18 years and feels he should be compensated for it if he is going to give it to City. 

Cunningham argued that perhaps the previous owners asked the City to blacktop the ground on which Mill Street now resides and were willing to pay taxes on it.

Hill said that the City might have done it on there own as well.

The Council approved the first reading of the ordinance with Aldermen Cunningham and Fortner voting no.  The Council will vote on the approval of the second reading at the next council meeting.

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