The Nevis City Council fielded a planning and zoning request on Monday.

In a late addition to the agenda, Ben Ott requested consideration of a zoning change for a 19.15-acre parcel in the southeastern corner of the city.

Ott said he is thinking about subdividing the property for either residential or commercial development, but its current agricultural transition zoning requires a minimum 5-acre lot for private well and septic. That’s twice what Nevis Township requires.

Council member Ryan Mathisrud explained that agricultural transition districts are meant to be rezoned later when a development plan is presented, though Ott said he wasn’t ready to present a plan just yet.

He also asked to subdivide a 1.5-acre parcel with the existing house, which already has city water and sewer utilities.

The council referred the request to the city’s planning and zoning commission, which next meets Sept. 26.

Public Works Superintendent Don Umthun was not present to discuss the review of the city’s agricultural lease on 140 acres of farmland owned by the city.

Mayor Jeanne Thompson described the location as near the city’s hangar, where the city has a well pump and an irrigation pivot.

The current tenant, Austin Huffman, has given notice that he will not renew the lease, which he has held since April 2015 and that expires at the end of October.

The current lease calls for an annual rent of $86 per acre, or $12,040. It requires the tenant to grow alfalfa on at least half of the property; allows no more than two consecutive growing seasons on the remaining land, limited to oats, corn or soybeans, before rotating back to alfalfa; requires proper pest and weed control; requires maintaining a green crop throughout the growing season; prohibits cutting, trimming or removing trees without permission; and prohibits growing crops for human consumption. There are also requirements relating to the well, irrigator, chemicals that can be used, and liability insurance.

“We need to look at the lease,” said Thompson, “if we need to look at the rental costs, if it’s too high, if it’s too low; if some of the provisions are too extensive, or not.”

Other issues she suggested may need to be addressed include the length of the lease. “Maybe we look at a three-year lease,” she suggested. “We have a lot of ability to make it more user-friendly.”

Thompson advised the council to review the lease and identify any concerns to discuss or changes to suggest at next month’s meeting.

In consent items and general business, the council:

The city council’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at city hall, a special time due to the Columbus Day holiday.