Board of Adjustment denies variance for Lemke property

The Decorah Board of Adjustment on Monday night voted 4-1 against giving a variance for the Dwaine and Cheryl Lemke property at 107 William Street.

City officials earlier this year ordered the Lemkes to halt construction of a storage facility next to their business, Countywide Plumbing.  The move was taken after city officials learned an application for variances in the property contained inaccurate information.

Neighboring property owners Bernard and Colleen Wetli on Monday night told the Board of Adjustment "We trusted (Dwaine Lemke) to give us all the correct information--and that didn't happen."  The Wetli's attorney, Karl Knudson, told the Board "the building never should have been built there."

But the Lemkes' attorney, Dale Putnam of Decorah, said the Wetlis had not proven their property values would be affected by the new building.  He also pointed out that the Wetlis initially did not object to the building.

The Board of Adjustment sided with the Wetlis, with only Board member Sue Sander supporting the variance.  The 4-1 vote means the Lemkes will either have to dismantle the building or take the matter to court.

The Lemkes had also submitted a request to rezone the property from R-3 to M-2.  The city's Planning & Zoning Commission Monday night scheduled a public hearing on the request in August.  Whether the public hearing is held will depend on what future course of action the Lemkes decide to take.