GRUNDY CENTER- The Grundy Center city council approved the hiring of Chad Luck as a full-time police officer and discussed additional stop sign installations during a regular meeting held on Monday night.
Police Chief Doug Frost touted Luck’s background working two jobs and said his former employers were sad to see him go but understood that he wanted to become a police officer. Luck currently lives in Cedar Falls, and Frost said he was within the response time requirement and would not be moving for now due to recently buying a house and his wife’s pregnancy. A motion to approve Luck’s hiring carried by a 4-0 vote (Dave Stefl was absent).
During the public safety report, Frost also reported that Officer Casey Walters is back to work, and the department has received new tasers and body cameras. They are still looking to hire a fifth full-time officer to return to full strength.
Later in the meeting, the council discussed a pair of stop sign proposals and opted to move forward with setting a public hearing to add signs at the intersection of L and Indigo Avenue, a currently uncontrolled intersection. Another request came for 6th Street and D Avenue and 7th Street and D Avenue, but those intersections are already controlled. Council members opted to remove them from the final motion.
Another discussion arose over a pair of requests to operate fireworks stands within city limits, as the code does not currently include any rules or regulations. Councilman Rick Smith opined that requiring a sales tax permit, peddler’s permit, proof of insurance and safe storage during overnight hours would make sense from the city’s perspective.
“I’m not trying to stop commerce here, but there’s no shortage of fireworks stands in the county,” he said.
During the public comment period of the meeting, Leonard Stephens asked the council about progress on addressing issues with a nuisance property near his home, and Rich Ahlberg asked Frost about the potential hiring of another officer before requesting that Public Works Director Dan Bangasser patch a rough road spot.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the council:
· Approved a change order totaling $18,476.50 for the sanitary sewer project.
· Approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Kiewiet to sign the five-year agreement with the Iowa DOT for maintenance and repair of primary roads within city limits.
· Approved publishing for a public hearing on June 21 for the two percent water and sewer rate increases.
· Approved the consent agenda as presented.
