HUMBOLDT A zoning change will allow a butcher shop to open at the former Moons Market property.
On Monday, Humboldt City Council members accepted 6-0 (with Ashleigh Dooley and Sarah Lassman absent) a unanimous recommendation of planning commissioners to rezone the former grocery store property to accommodate processing of animals.
Monarch Cement Company, which owns the real estate, sought the change from commercial to industrial, the only local zoning that permits such processes, to trigger refitting of the store.
The slaughter area and butcher shop will be in the southeast part of the store, which will have its commercial floor space reduced somewhat for shelving and cooler space. Scott Welch, who will operate the store, said earlier that would be ample to offer a comprehensive supply of canned, boxed, frozen and fresh foods.
The rationale is the store doesnt need a proliferation of brands, rather one from a major vendor and one of discounted prices.
His intention is to slaughter beef (his own) one morning a week, and also offer custom processing for other livestock owners.
He hopes to have the store open sometime in February. The zoning change will allow preparations to proceed in high gear. Welch also said earlier without slaughter facilities, he doubted the store would fly financially.
PROPERTY insurance rates may decrease in Humboldt.
Sean McReynolds, Humboldt Volunteer Fire Department chief, emphasized the may in a presentation to council members Monday evening.
Following an exhaustive review of the towns firefighters in response to structure fires, the Insurance Service Office, Mt. Laurel, N.J., lowered its Public Protection Classification from 6/6x to 5/5x.
That means the credibility of our response to fires has improved, McReynolds said. Such ratings are based on dispatch (10 percent), availability of water (40 percent), and the fire departments level of equipment and its location.
Humboldt volunteers respond to fires in town, Fire District No. 4 and Humboldt and Logan townships, 128 square miles, the chief explained. Rural components dispatched from Humboldt are hampered by not having water sources in many places and a good portion of the area being more than five miles from the fire barn. Its PSI rating is 9/10.
The first number in ratings refers to residential structures, the second commercial.
Humboldts new ratings will take effect in March and will be in place for five years.
We have the goal of replacing our 27-year-old pumper and also improving our rating to 4/4x, which is definitely obtainable, McReynolds said.
A REQUEST from Mike Hess, an employee with the water and sewer department, to receive 60 days of unpaid leave was approved. Hess has health problems that have resulted in him expending all sick leave and vacation time. He has been an employee since 2010.
