Ronan City Council discusses Miller subdivision, business licenses

Ronan City Council met Sept. 27, and began the meeting with a discussion of a proposed annexation and subdivision of Steve and Deborah Miller’s property on Ag Services Lane.

“It’s a complicated question,” said Ronan City Attorney Ben Anciaux, because the property is not contiguous to the city.

The property’s only connection to the city is the water lines. According to Anciaux, there really is no case law to offer guidance. He said he planned to talk to James Raymond, Lake County’s civil attorney, who was Ronan’s city attorney when non-contiguous properties were annexed on Timberlane Road, Spring Creek Road and Terrace Lake Road.

Anciaux noted the procedures the city of Ronan would need to follow in order to pursue annexation.

Business licensing was also a topic of discussion.

A business license would be a one-time fee when a new business opens up, and would not be assessed yearly, according to public works director Dan Miller.

“It was not our intent to be detrimental to opening a business,” council member Calvin Hardy said.

He made a motion to table the discussion until the council members can come up with a better definition of what they’re trying to do.

In other business, the finance committee will meet Oct. 4 for budget discussions. The Ronan Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at Ronan City Hall to discuss a proposed 221-lot subdivision on the east side of town.

After unanimously approving the payment of claims for the month, the council okayed two open-container permits – one for Safe Harbor’s fundraiser at the community center on Oct. 14 and one on Oct. 6 at the Ronan Co-op Brewery. The brewery also requested a street closure from 4-9 p.m. Oct. 6 of Fourth Street N.W. from Main Street to the alley, which was also approved.

The next meeting will be held Oct. 10 in Ronan City Hall.