Rec and Aquatic center updates also heard
The City Council met Monday for its regularly scheduled meeting and quickly got down to business. In the absence of any member of the clergy, Mayo Mike Boyd led the council in a prayer, and then in the Pledge of Allegiance. Next the floor was opened up for a public forum, but no one chose to speak. The consent agenda approving some new and renewed licenses among other standard items was also quickly approved on a motion from Councilman Lorenzen, seconded by Councilman Axtell, and passed unanimously.
From there the council heard from Library Director Jan Grandgeorge, giving the 2023 Annual Report. The Library serves Eagle Grove and several surrounding towns, Grandgeorge said, both in their brick and mortar facility at 101 S Cadwell Ave and online, where service is available 24/7. Not only physical books and periodicals are available through the library, Grandgeorge detailed, but also ebooks, music, films, and more, both on physical media and downloadable – a collection of over 200,000 items. Which does not include the materials which users can also retrieve from other libraries around the state through the local library.
The library also serves as an internet access point for the public, offering 24/7 wifi. Likewise, it serves as a neutral location for such things as DHS interviews, supervised visitation for parents and their children, job interviews, and much more, as well as a safe space for kids during school vacations.
In fiscal year 2023, Grandgeorge reported, the library circulated 17,065 ebooks, 15,090 downloadable audio files, received over 9,000 website visits, and over 2400 people visited in person (many on multiple occasions). 162 children participated in their summer reading program. Their meeting room was used roughly 35 times in just the last month. And about 16,000 books and periodicals were lent out.
“We’ve been busy,” Grandgeorge summed up, with a chuckle.
The Mayor then asked Grandgeorge for some information about legislation being proposed by state lawmakers that would wrest control of library operations from library boards and give that power to city councils. Grandgeorge indicated that librarians from across the state oppose such legislation and were that same day lobbying against it in Des Moines.
Next to give an annual report was Ron Mohr of the Eagle Grove Historical Society. Mohr expressed concern that the building that houses the Eagle Grove Historical museum still needs some work. “As far as the building, I’d like to see it tuck pointed,” Mohr said, also noting that the space is not handicapped accessible and if it were, would offer a very nice meeting facility downstairs, particularly after cleaning up one of the basement rooms. But, Mohr said, tuckpointing was his “biggest concern”, to prevent further moisture damage. City Administrator Davis estimated that the work to tuck-point the building would cost north of $100,000.00, and there was some discussion of fundraising and grants that could be applied for. There was broad agreement the work should be done to protect the building. “Since its the only building in Eagle Grove that’s on the historical registry, there are rules to follow,” when it comes to performing such work, and keeping the building historically accurate, Davis noted.
Next Bob Torkelson gave an update on the Rec Center. “Basically, it’s coming along pretty nice,” Torkelson summed up from the start. Punch List items that have been completed, he explained, included getting working furnaces going, which was a key concern for keeping the new facility in good condition given the ravages of the cold weather, as well as the installation of some flooring. Still to complete are the building of a wall, which Torkelson noted K&K Construction was lined up to complete soon, as well as the running of more electrical lines, more flooring work (including the gymnasium areas), and finishing work. “It’s coming along good. It really is,” Torkelson said, bookending the to-do list.
“So, are the funds in place to finish it,” Councilman Vandewater asked. Torkelson answered that they weren’t entirely, but they were expecting to be able to raise the balance needed in time, and that physical construction and the creation of related internet based services as well should be completed by “fall at the latest.”
In response to another question from Vandewater, Torkelson explained that areas of the parking lot and entryways which need to be concrete to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be concrete from the start, while other areas may start as gravel lots, and be replaced with concrete hopefully within the first year. “We’ll work on funding for concrete,” Torkelson said, noting that concrete costs had risen recently by as much as $15 per yard, but might later decrease as the economy improves.
Next the Council addressed the special election for Ward Two. The city has started accepting candidate applications, which must all be returned fully complete no later than 5 PM on Feb. 29th at the City Clerk’s office. The election will be held on Tuesday March 26th at Memorial Hall, open to voters who reside in Ward Two only. All other standard election rules will apply. Assuming the elected person accepts the position, the winner will be sworn in at their first meeting of the City Council, on April First. The council also unanimously approved keeping City Hall open until 5 PM on Election Day.
In other business, the Council:
– Consolidated their records of Mayoral Appointments.
– Tabled discussion of changes to the proposed contract with The Trash Man.
– Considered making the Flowing Well project a community project, where the work will be done by citizen volunteers and city workers.
– Discussed assisting the Eagle Grove Community Development Corporation with investments made to local housing, which will earn the city property taxes for at least half a century to come.
– Approved a certificate of completion on the property at 710 NW 2nd, allowing the city to move forward with processing a tax claim on the property.
– Discussed the property at 503 N. Cadwell.
– Discussed no parking signs to go up near construction zones and other areas where traffic issues have been reported.
– Discussed updating the zoning map.
– Approved Disbursement Request #2, for just over $50,891, for the Eagle Grove Community Child Care, Inc. Remodeling project at the Eagle’s Wings preschool and daycare (which was funded by the county using COVID relief funds, and the city serves as a passthrough financier on).
– Discussed the half million dollar Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Upper Story Housing Conversion Grant, and the $21,500 CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Grant, for Ward One.
In department reports, Eagle Grove Police Chief Ray Beltran reported that in January there were 247 calls for service, with the most common being traffic stops as usual. Officer Brendan Hennigar also received some training, attending the Sexual Assault Program in Des Moines.
In Public Works, City Administrator Davis noted that the Aquatic Center (pool) repairs are “still on track”, and so hopefully the pool can reopen on schedule.
In the Mayor’s report, Maor Boyd remarked that he’s been “working with Amy (Willard) and Bryce (Davis)” to understand everything that needs to be done. “I can appreciate the work they have to put into it,” Boyd said. “It’s monumental, to say the least”
