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Volume 2, Issue 49 May 2, 2025 Total Raised: $60,831 Lead this Legacy
: Everyone pitches in at White Lake Trash Bash
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In memory of Lorraine VanDyke
Fire hydrants and food trucks discussed at latest Hart City Council meeting By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
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HART - Tuesday, April 22, the Hart City Council was provided a city’s fire hydrants status report from DPW Superintendent, Brad Whitney. The 2025 report was to be shared at an upcoming fire board meeting as well. In his report, Whitney stated that in 2023, he, Oceana’s Emergency Manager Troy Maloney and Hart Area Fire Chief Dwight Fuehring audited the city’s 186 fire hydrants, with the intent of developing a plan for hydrant maintenance and emergency planning. Whitney referenced the city’s water Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) saying, “We’ve done a few rate studies, and I encourage the council to look hard at those.” The city has completed water main projects and hydrant upgrades throughout the city in the past few years, however, water department priorities also include water tower maintenance, well maintenance, water main capital improvements and lead service line replacements. Of the 186 fire hydrants located within the city limits, the oldest fire hydrants with dates on them are from
Traverse City Ironworks, the oldest being dated 1942. There are other “legacy” hydrants without dates and Whitney guesses they date back to the 1930s. The remaining hydrants are either Waterous hydrants dating to the 1990s or East Jordan Ironworks, used exclusively now by the city. At the time of their original audit, of the 186 hydrants, nine were found to be completely inoperable and out of service; six have no “steamer;” four are hard to operate; six need work and three could not be located, Whitney noted that two of the “missing” hydrants have since been located. Adding to the uniqueness of the city’s fire hydrant inventory, all three models operate in a different way, not all share the same thread pattern and due to a couple of factors not every hydrant produces the same flow rate. Whitney explained saying that the city’s older cast iron pipes have probably corroded to a much smaller diameter than from when they were first installed. For example what was once an 8-inch diameter pipe, could now be as small as 2-inches in diameter on the inside. The number of elbows leading to any given line, can also affect a hydrant’s rate of flow. In an effort to make the best use of the city’s fire hydrants and to be prepared for the future, Whitney explained his department’s plans going forward. At the fire department’s request, the city is painting the caps of its fire hydrants indicating what size water line the hydrant is connected to. The city’s CIP calls for the replacement of three hydrants a year. Whitney would also like to have the fire department learn more about the city’s hydraulic systems so they are better equipped in case of an emergency. In action items the city held its first reading of four separate ordinance amendments - proposed Chapter 1245 A-Residential Zoning Amendment; proposed Chapter 1246 A1- Residential Zoning Amendment; proposed Chapter 1243 Landscape Zoning Regulations and proposed Chapter 870 Food Truck Zoning. City Manager Rob
Splane explained all four had already undergone public hearings at the Planning Commission level, and another public hearing would be held at the second reading at the next city council meeting. He said the city’s Redevelopment Ready Community designation allows for tiny homes and after discussing these at three separate meetings, the commission believes the square-feet amendments for new construction are good compromises. The A-Residential zoning amendment proposes reducing the minimum ground floor area in a one-story home to 400 square-feet from the current 720 square-feet requirement. For a two-story home, the amendment proposes reducing the minimum first floor area from 600 squarefeet to 500 square-feet for the ground floor. The reduction may seem extreme, Splane said, but the planning commission is making the recommendation due to the city’s low housing inventory. “These amendments may allow people to be able to afford (materials) and build now,” he said. The A-1 Residential Zoning Amendment is similar, but applies to buildings containing three (3) or four (4) dwelling units. Councilor Catalina Burillo asked if there was an area in mind where this construction could take place. Splane said currently this zoning would be allowed citywide. With regards to the Landscape Regulations amendment, it too was discussed at three separate planning commission meetings, and changes will most likely affect new builds and development going forward. “Basically, if you cut down a tree, you need to plant a tree. It provides a matrix, but trees can be planted anywhere in the city, whether on city property or private land. It’s not so broad, it’s going to chase away developers,” Splane said. The proposed Food Truck ordinance addresses everything from permits and applications to regulations and insurance. “Food truck zoning is not RRC required, but it’s been talked about on and off for about
10 years. It’s such a hot-button issue,” Splane said. According to Splane, the planning commission discussed the ordinance several times and have come up with what he called a “best case scenario.” While there is a concern from brickand-mortar businesses about fair competition, for special events such as the National Asparagus Festival or Hart Sparks, these establishments are easily overwhelmed. “Food truck lots are becoming more popular,” Splane went on. “Other municipalities are saying they bring in tourism.” Splane concluded the first reading of said ordinance by saying, “This isn’t permanent. We will most likely do a 12-month review.” Finally, the council discussed for a second time the possibility of changing the procedure for hearing public comments. Councilor Jim Cunningham reminded the council what he believes are the two options. One would be to give the public the right to comment for no more than three minutes on any item not on the agenda, with a total of 10 minutes being allotted for all comments on the same subject. The second option would allow the public to provide comment on agenda items that had received a motion and a second, and after the council had held their own discussion first. These individuals, as well, would be given a three-minute time limit, with a total of 10 minutes being allotted for all comments on the same agenda item. After questioning whether a three-minute time limit is too long and if the 10-minute time restriction was long enough, it was decided the council could extend a comment period if necessary. It was discussed that the first public comment section remain where it is on the agenda, following the approval of the agenda, and that the second public comment section be added later during the action portion of the agenda. Council gave unanimous consent to use this format starting at the next council meeting, with the caveat that the new procedure could be changed or eliminated in the future if necessary.
• Contributed Photo
Annual Hart High School Troy Moran Tractor Day honors late principal during Ag Week
• Stacia Erickson/Echo
Emery Velat broke the mold by adding an environmentally-friendly “tractor” to the parade.
Officer Elizabeth Schoedel waves to the crowd.
Students got to see an array of animals after the parade.