Claremont requests tax forfeited land

The City of Claremont is one step closer to acquiring land in the center of downtown that will be eventually used for a Veterans Memorial.

Because of property tax forfeiture, the county owns the two lots at 216 and 218 West Front St. Two abandoned buildings used to sit on the property but the county spent over $100,000 to demolish those buildings and rehab the lots in the recent past. Now the city of Claremont would like to acquire the lots and “turn that area into a city park and within three years become a Veteran’s Memorial. There will be sitting benches, a trash can, a sidewalk, and green space,” said a letter from City Clerk/Treasurer Elizabeth Sorg. 

At their meeting Dec 13, the Dodge County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to transfer those lots to Claremont.

The reorganization of the Environmental Services Department was explained to the commissioners and a lengthy discussion followed concerning changes to job descriptions. 

Sandra Schaefer is retiring as the septic system coordinator. Chad Knudson is the current environmental program manager and he will take Schaefer’s job. Rita Cole, the current environmental technician, will become the assistant waste management administrator. Her duties will include the waste department’s administration, education and accounting. Melissa DeVetter will remain as zoning administrator with changes in the feedlot program.

As part of that reorganization, the commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding that spells out the feedlot governance which has been moved from environmental services to the county Soil and Water Conservation District. Specifically, the District’s staff will be the point of contact for producers regarding the state Pollution Control Agency 7020 - feedlot rules. 

Documents provided to the commissioners noted, “the reorganization assumes that the Dodge Soil and Water Conservation District provides feedlot technical and financial assistance services that are currently provided by Environmental Services staff.”

Environmental Services Director Mark Gamm also asked the commissioners to approve the hours of the Transfer Station for the new year. The facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays; from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and it will be closed for major holidays