Apublic hearing is planned July 8 on a petition to vacate a portion of Pinewood in Reber’s Addition near Evans Street in east Ellsworth.

The hearing will be at 4:30 p.m. in the community room of the Ellsworth Municipal Golf Course.

The issue dominated Monday night’s Ellsworth City Council meeting at City Hall.

Robert and Mary Taylor, who own property on both sides of the street, told council members they were interested in the west 100 feet of Pinewood.

In their petition, the couple said that section “has never been open for public use and is unimproved, and portions thereof have natural vegetation showing that it has not been used for street, alley or easement purposes, and is more or less impassable.”

The Taylors said they were told by the former owner when they purchased their property that the street probably would be vacated at some point. Having it complicates efforts to sell the property.

Also at the meeting were Mark Cunningham and Anthony Hopkins, who said their plans include a driving range. Cunningham called abandonment of the street a “dangerous precedent” for future development.

In other business:

• Council members approved the appointment of Johnnie Goddard to the J.H. Robbins Memorial Library board. He replaces Steve Steinhaus, who resigned.

• In preparation of the city’s work on the 2020 budget, city administrator Scott Moore asked for direction on priority areas.

Those he listed in alphabetical order were:

• Airport long range plans.

• Community/economic development.

• Debt obligation.

• Drainage.

• Equipment replacement.

• Infrastructure upgrades.

• Park, pool and recreation enhancements.

• Street improvements.

• Technology enhancements.

• Water and sewer infrastructure.

The city already is moving forward on many items within the list. Council members added no new areas of work.

• The council authorized Moore and city clerk Patti Booher to work with the North Central Regional Planning Commission on a citywide survey aimed at identification of the city’s low/ moderate income percentage. Moore said the information could help Ellsworth with Community Development Block grants for water and sewer and other infrastructure projects.

• The council also authorized Moore to apply to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan for $55,000 to pay for a new air pack system for the local fire department. Fire chief Bob Kepka said he already has $14,000 in pledges from local businesses and the city had committed $15,000 for a total cost of $84,000 with the Hansen application.