COURTLAND – The Courtland City Council is losing a member next month.

City Councilor Paul Bode announced during Thursday’s meeting that he would be resigning following next month’s meeting.

Bode is moving from Courtland and will no longer be eligible to serve on the city council. His last meeting will be held in May.

Bode first joined the city council in January 2023 and previously served on the Courtland Planning Commission.

Bode thanked the council for allowing him to serve the last two years.

The council will discuss the steps needed to find a replacement for Bode during the next council meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 1.

In other news, the council discussed the feasibility of a new business constructed north of the city off Highway 14.

Courtland recently updated it’s comprehensive plan to reflect zoning in the community following the completion of Highway 14. The new zoning map was reviewed by the Courtland City Council Thursday. The review led to the discussion of a potential new business off the highway.

“There is a business that would like to build on the nine acre parcel of land north of the city,” Mayor Al Poehler said. “The advantages of the business building on that parcel would mean that their business would be visible from the highway and traffic to the business would not have to go through Courtland.”

A discussion continued on how the city could have utilities brought to the business.

“I have been in contact with Bolton and Menk to give me some numbers for utilities for the parcel. The cost would be in the millions of dollars. That doesn’t seem feasible for the city,” said Poehler.

The idea of the business having their own well and septic system was discussed with mixed feelings among the council members.

“It seems like we are going backwards allowing them to have their own well and septic system, and then we’d need to decide if we are going to do it for others,” said Councilor Pam Rodewald.

Poehler replied, “I do not like the concept, but looking at the cost, I do not know how the city could do it at this time. It would be a burden on our taxpayers.”

“If the business did have their own well and septic system, it might be necessary for us to require that after ten years, the business would need to connect to city utilities, if they are available,” he said.

Rodewald said she felt they needed the assurance from the county that the business could go with their own well and septic system.

“The water would need to get tested,” she added.

The business would like to remain anonymous for now. However, Poehler will go back to the developer and ask them to attend a planning commission meeting to discuss options for the business.

“One business might feed other businesses. The first business is important. We cannot just think about one business. I would be in favor of their own well and septic system to bring the business to Courtland,” said Councilor Bode.