Church seeks to buy former YWCA site

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HURON — After convening as the city board of adjustment, city commissioners on Monday approved variances for a church and communications tower and to allow an applicant to subdivide two lots tied together with a restrictive covenant into three lots so he can sell them.
Pastors Jeff and Autumn Mann of the James River Church said that after 12 years of renting a facility, members of their non-denominational church want to purchase the former YWCA administration building at 17 Fifth St. S.W.
They have rented the building for six years and rented a downtown storefront for six years before that.
Adjacent businesses signed a petition supporting the variance.
There are other churches within one and two blocks. Parking has not been an issue as there are enough public spaces available to accommodate the membership, the Manns said. The variance is to allow the church and to have less parking than required by code.
If the congregation decides to expand the building in the future, that will require a separate variance application.
Dakotaland Federal Credit Union received approval to install a communications tower at 48 13th St. S.W. that would be a maximum of 60 feet tall and without the need for guy wires.
Trees in the area are causing problems with wireless communications. The bank is also considering towers at its north branch and at the facility it will be building south of Coborn’s.

Commissioners also approved a variance filed by Randy Bauder, project address 588 Fifth St. N.E., to subdivide two lots tied together with a restrictive covenant into three lots so they can be sold.
Meanwhile, Beadle County Emergency Management Director Zach Nelson announced that a regional emergency exercise will take place Saturday at Ravine Lake.
The exercise will involve emergency personnel responding to a vehicle that is under water. It will be a major exercise with a number of first responders at the scene.
“If you hear something, it’s just a drill,” Nelson said.
However, there will be observation points for the public, he said.
Commissioners also:
• Approved the regular, full-time status of Chad Bogh, water-sewer maintenance, on completion of his probationary period.
• Approved the city engineer position as a full-time or part-time position.
• Approved the regular, full-time status of Kaleb Kopfmann, street maintenance, on completion of his probationary period.
• Approved Sarah Rogers as the code enforcement officer, effective Sept. 4.
• Renewed mobile home court licenses for the Sheltered Trailer Court, 1500 Third St. S.W.; Huron Mobile Estates, 541 Ohio Ave. N.W.; and Prairie Villa, 1400 21st St. S.W.
• Approved a request for alcoholic beverage consumption in a public area from Marco Castaneda for a baptism on Sept. 9 at the Campus Center.
• Approved raffles requested by the Huron Elks Lodge for Sept. 30 and Nov. 24 at the Elks Lodge.
• Announced that the solid waste department will be closed Saturday, Sept. 2 and Monday, Sept. 4 for the Labor Day holiday weekend.
The Monday residential garbage, yard waste and recycling collection will be done on Wednesday, Sept. 6.