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Building official changes approved
Pipestone City Council members during their Sept. 2 meeting accepted the resignation of Solomon Derby from the position of building and zoning official, effective Aug. 29, and the termination of a temporary building official agreement with the city of New Ulm, effective Sept. 7. They also approved an agreement with SAFEbuilt Minnesota, LLC for virtual building official services. The company’s fee is 80 percent of municipal permit fees and 100 percent of plan review fees, as set by the City Council, with a minimum fee of $50. Other fees and hourly rates may apply for additional services.
Building plans can be submitted to the company electronically. Contractors or property owners would then have to schedule times for a virtual inspection and use a phone with a camera to show SAFEbuilt staff members the project area. City Attorney Jason Hill said he’s worked with SAFEbuilt before in other cities and townships and that they are experts in the field and do quality work.
Updated sign regulations approved
The City Council approved an ordinance repealing and replacing Section 153.32 of city code, which pertains to signs. The updated language was developed and recommended by the Pipestone Planning Commission, and the ordinance was introduced at the Aug. 18 City Council meeting. Updates include added sections about billboards, prohibited signs, permits and exemptions; a chart with types of signs allowed by zoning district; revisions to the number of freestanding signs allowed for lots with over 300 feet of street frontage; increased surface coverage area for window signs; changes to the maximum allowed square feet of freestanding signs; added heights and coverage area for freestanding signs by zoning district; revised wording and definitions; and other changes. The full text of the ordinance is available by contacting the city office.
Early figures show 11 percent levy increase
Preliminary data shows an 11 percent levy increase for the city of Pipestone in 2026. That’s based on preliminary figures that show a total levy of $3,144,839. During a special City Council meeting on Sept. 2 to review the preliminary figures, City Council members said they thought an 11 percent levy increase was too high and discussed several potential options to reduce it including a renegotiated law enforcement contract with the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, the switch to virtual building official services, more accurate figures regarding health insurance and updated cost of living raises based on the increase to Social Security benefits. The Council must approve a preliminary 2026 levy by the end of September.
Conditional use permit approved for accessory structure
During their regular Sept. 2 meeting, the City Council approved a conditional use permit allowing Zachary Wiese to place a prefabricated 10-by-24-foot accessory structure on his property for use as storage, with the condition that an existing accessory structure be removed. A conditional use permit was required because city code only allows one accessory building in addition to a garage in residential districts, except by conditional use permit, and he already had one.
Hearing scheduled for assessment of unpaid municipal services
A public hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. to take comments on proposed assessments for unpaid municipal services and utilities. The City Council will consider and possibly adopt the proposed assessments at its Oct. 20 meeting.