City council approves revision to Serenity Park Addition

The Tea City Council met March 3 and took action on the revised Serenity Park Addition planned development district.

The council held a public hearing on the revised Serenity Park Addition planned development. They had discussed this item at the last council meeting but took no action at that meeting. 

Developer Kelly Nielson spoke on what he would like to do in that area. He noted that the roundabout would have been more helpful if it would have been right on the corners instead of more of it being in his property. 

Councilman Aaron Otten said their biggest concern at the last meeting was the 2.5 acre sliver of grass and wetland area on the west side of the development. After discussing it more, Nielson said that area is not sellable and it serves as a drainage way through the development. 

After no public comment, the council approved the revised planned development district that allows some minimum lots of 5,000 square feet and up to 8,000 square feet.

After discussing that Nielson would stop street construction up to Brian Street, the council took no action on Brian Street.

They approved the plat of lots 19-23, block 2; lots 12-16, block 4, lots 11A & 12, block 3, High Pointe Estates 3rd Addition. This was another area developed by Nielson. He said he plans to grade and seed those lots. HDR engineer Ben Scholtz asked the city to consider making those lots a drainage easement, which the council approved.

The council approved the hiring of Albert Schmidt.

Schmidt will serve as community development director at $108,160 per year. The council also approved the police department vehicle purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse from Karl Automotive Group for $44,114.75.

They approved empowering city administrator Justin Weiland with hashing out the details with what the council wants to lease the lots on the west side of Titans Tavern that contain the sand volleyball courts to Titans Tavern. The owner said the lease that was held with the Tea Steakhouse was too high for them to afford in their first year of business.

The council went into executive session at 7 p.m.