Dollar General likely on its way to Kenyon

Plans appear to be underway to build a Dollar General on the west side of Kenyon, at the former site of Milo Peterson Ford, with developer AMG properties committing to pay for the cost of rerouting a public sanitary sewer main to make the project happen.

According to the development agreement approved by the City Council, the cost of the sewer line rerouting is expected to exceed $200,000. The developer has provided a letter of financial security for $275,000, or 125% of the estimated project cost.

Up front, the developer will pay $16,000 to cover costs related to legal and project reviews, project administration and construction observation. Once the agreement is finalized, work is expected to be completed within a maximum of two months.

While the project could break ground as soon as this fall, providing Kenyon residents another option for basic shopping needs, it still needs to get multiple approvals from the city, including potentially for a variance to allow fewer parking spaces than would typically be required.

The site hugs the North Zumbro River, which bends towards the south to cross Highway 60 and pass through Kenyon Wayside Park, leaving it with a significant grade that could require a sizable retaining wall to accommodate the store and parking lot.

In addition, the site’s location along Highway 60 means that the Minnesota Department of Transportation will need to sign off on the necessary highway entrance. Developers appear to be interested in reducing the current two highway accesses from the property down to one.

Mayor Doug Henke said that while some city residents support bringing a new business to town, others would rather see a locally owned store set up shop. Yet as long as Dollar General goes through the required legal processes, Henke said that it has every right to come to Kenyon.

Animal ordinance

In other business, the council amended Section 900 of its code, governing animal control, to clarify that residents may keep no more than three cats or dogs, unless their cat or dog has a litter in which case they have up to six months to find new owners for the kittens or puppies.

The issue was raised by several city residents who raised concerns over neighbors who appeared to have more than the previously allowed three cats or dogs, creating a nuisance. Henke said that while on the books, the ordinance has not been enforced for some time.

Those comments triggered a review of the relevant city code, which previously did not clarify exactly how many animals under the age of 6 months a resident could keep. It also allowed residents to apply for a permit to keep more animals than normally permitted.

Under the newly amended ordinance, residents will not be allowed to keep more than a single litter of dogs or kittens, and that only for a six month period of time. The clause allowing for residents to apply for a permit to keep more dogs or cats was also removed.