Butterfield city council to pursue zoning, police department changes
August 21, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
At a city hall meeting on Thursday, August 15, the Butterfield Board of Alderman made several key decisions that will have a continuous impact on the community.
The council was joined in the meeting by Brenda Periman, the proposed tenant of Butterfield’s first and only tiny house, located on Butterfield’s main road, North Business Highway 37.
Previously, the board had not cleared the structure to be connected to city utilities until city officials had time to look into ordinances regarding the types of structures that could be considered tenable within the city limits. After some research, it was discovered the tiny home actually met the size requirements to constitute a home in current ordinances.
The council ruled the tiny home could be hooked into city utilities, giving the owners of the property three months to do the necessary work to build a foundation for the home and build a plumbing system on the property capable of connecting to the city’s water and sewer systems.
One additional hurdle still exists to Periman moving into the residence, however. Despite the fact that most properties on the street are residential, that portion of the city is currently zoned for commercial properties.
Previously, a trailer home existed on the property that was torn down due to condemnation. That process meant the property automatically reverted back to designation as a commercial lot.
To make the property properly zoned, city officials plan to rezone that street to better reflect the current state of properties along that road. As it stands, most properties in that section of Butterfield are homes that have were grand-fathered in as this was a residential area before it was rezoned. Only two non-residential entities exist on that street: Ron’s Barber Shop and the Butterfield Community Building, located side by side at the end of the street near the city park. A gas station was also once located on the street next door to the lot that the tiny home was placed, but that has since closed and become a private residence.
In order to pass an ordinance that could rezone the area, city officials will need to call upon the zoning and planning committee for the first time in a great number of years. This presents a challenge itself as many members of the committee who were previously named to that board have either moved or passed away in the time since they last met.
The board of alderman agreed to contact citizens of Butterfield who may be interested in being on the reformed committee with an update on the matter expected to come with the next council meeting.
At the same meeting, the board of alderman discussed how to move forward with the Butterfield Police Department. In the wake of the resignation of former Butterfield officer Kyle Kuhn, the city has not yet filled the position.
The city currently has a budget for 20 hours of police patrol time usually filled by a single officer. The officer is usually also designated the chief of police.
Butterfield city officials are currently looking into ordinances to determine whether or not the city is required to have a chief of police.
Some debate ensued during the meeting about the best way to the proceed with the council eventually all agreeing to pursue the possibility of hiring two part-time officers to either work alternating weeks or 10 hours weekly each. City officials also considered a third person be appointed to act as a commissioner, keeping track of officer performance and passing along information for the officers to investigate.
Additionally, the board of alderman voted to purchase a standing sign for city hall to alleviate complaints about not being able to find city hall from the road. The sign will reportedly be made of hard plastic and cost an estimated $275.
At the end of the meeting, the council was approached by Eddie Ulmer, a representative of the Butterfield Community Foundation. The foundation owns and operates the Butterfield Community Building which is the former home of Butterfield City Hall.
According to Ulmer, without the city paying to rent the structure, the foundation is having difficulties paying the utilities while only subsisting on rental fees for the building. Ulmer came before the council asking if they could make a deal with the council to reduce the water rates given the nature of the building as a community meeting place.
Butterfield alderman Rusty Dilbeck cited the city’s forgiveness of the water rates for the fire department as a reason to consider the proposition. Mayor Tony Cope also suggested that the city aid the community foundation as it is the only community meeting area in town.
The council moved to cap the water and sewer bill generated by the community building at $50 a month regardless of water used in order to enable the group to continue operations.
For more information on city ordinances or to get involved with the zoning and planning commission, contact Butterfield City Hall at (417) 442-7975.
Vinnie Roberts
At a city hall meeting on Thursday, August 15, the Butterfield Board of Alderman made several key decisions that will have a continuous impact on the community.
The council was joined in the meeting by Brenda Periman, the proposed tenant of Butterfield’s first and only tiny house, located on Butterfield’s main road, North Business Highway 37.
Previously, the board had not cleared the structure to be connected to city utilities until city officials had time to look into ordinances regarding the types of structures that could be considered tenable within the city limits. After some research, it was discovered the tiny home actually met the size requirements to constitute a home in current ordinances.
The council ruled the tiny home could be hooked into city utilities, giving the owners of the property three months to do the necessary work to build a foundation for the home and build a plumbing system on the property capable of connecting to the city’s water and sewer systems.
One additional hurdle still exists to Periman moving into the residence, however. Despite the fact that most properties on the street are residential, that portion of the city is currently zoned for commercial properties.
Previously, a trailer home existed on the property that was torn down due to condemnation. That process meant the property automatically reverted back to designation as a commercial lot.
To make the property properly zoned, city officials plan to rezone that street to better reflect the current state of properties along that road. As it stands, most properties in that section of Butterfield are homes that have were grand-fathered in as this was a residential area before it was rezoned. Only two non-residential entities exist on that street: Ron’s Barber Shop and the Butterfield Community Building, located side by side at the end of the street near the city park. A gas station was also once located on the street next door to the lot that the tiny home was placed, but that has since closed and become a private residence.
In order to pass an ordinance that could rezone the area, city officials will need to call upon the zoning and planning committee for the first time in a great number of years. This presents a challenge itself as many members of the committee who were previously named to that board have either moved or passed away in the time since they last met.
The board of alderman agreed to contact citizens of Butterfield who may be interested in being on the reformed committee with an update on the matter expected to come with the next council meeting.
At the same meeting, the board of alderman discussed how to move forward with the Butterfield Police Department. In the wake of the resignation of former Butterfield officer Kyle Kuhn, the city has not yet filled the position.
The city currently has a budget for 20 hours of police patrol time usually filled by a single officer. The officer is usually also designated the chief of police.
Butterfield city officials are currently looking into ordinances to determine whether or not the city is required to have a chief of police.
Some debate ensued during the meeting about the best way to the proceed with the council eventually all agreeing to pursue the possibility of hiring two part-time officers to either work alternating weeks or 10 hours weekly each. City officials also considered a third person be appointed to act as a commissioner, keeping track of officer performance and passing along information for the officers to investigate.
Additionally, the board of alderman voted to purchase a standing sign for city hall to alleviate complaints about not being able to find city hall from the road. The sign will reportedly be made of hard plastic and cost an estimated $275.
At the end of the meeting, the council was approached by Eddie Ulmer, a representative of the Butterfield Community Foundation. The foundation owns and operates the Butterfield Community Building which is the former home of Butterfield City Hall.
According to Ulmer, without the city paying to rent the structure, the foundation is having difficulties paying the utilities while only subsisting on rental fees for the building. Ulmer came before the council asking if they could make a deal with the council to reduce the water rates given the nature of the building as a community meeting place.
Butterfield alderman Rusty Dilbeck cited the city’s forgiveness of the water rates for the fire department as a reason to consider the proposition. Mayor Tony Cope also suggested that the city aid the community foundation as it is the only community meeting area in town.
The council moved to cap the water and sewer bill generated by the community building at $50 a month regardless of water used in order to enable the group to continue operations.
For more information on city ordinances or to get involved with the zoning and planning commission, contact Butterfield City Hall at (417) 442-7975.
