By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
SIGOURNEY –During the Sept. 16 meeting of the Sigourney City Council, the council approved the first reading of new ordinances designed to clean up the city square. Councilman Adam Clark explained that the public safety committee had met with members of the public, who requested these changes. The new ordinances prohibit camping, loitering, sleeping or creating an obstruction on any public property owned by the city. The ordinances also establish a “Sigourney Square District” extending half a block in each direction from the square, where similar loitering and camping restrictions will be enforced. Violation of these ordinances will result in a $25-50 civil penalty.
The ordinances require there be a minimum of five feet of sidewalk clearance maintained for pedestrian use. This will prevent residents from obstructing or placing or storing objects on city sidewalks. Clark explained that there would be exceptions for businesses, allowing them to place things in their storefronts, as long as they left five feet of sidewalk clear. He stated that five-feet would ensure sidewalks were ADA compliant.
The ordinances will also ban parking on city streets in the square district from 3-6 a.m. Clark explained that these hours were chosen after speaking with a local bar, that closes at 2 a.m., and would give patrons time to leave. He noted that the city used to ban parking on the square on Sunday nights because of streetsweeping and currently ban parking during snow removal.
Councilman Randy Schultz asked if this would apply to people who live in the square district. Clark stated that it would, but there was parking available on all four sides of the square. Schultz asked if all of the housing units have parking and Clark said they do. Schultz stated that he didn’t want people to have to park across town and that the ordinances sounded “extreme” when he first read them. Councilman Gary Iosbaker stated they were entering the territory of trying to enforce the letter of ordinances and that this would annoy people.
Clark noted that the Antique Mall on the south side of the square already violates the sidewalk clearance ordinances. He stated they would be grandfathered in, but that any modification to the business would have to abide by the ordinances. Clark stated that the intent was not to pick on or upset any business owners, but to clean up the square. Regarding parking, he asked if it was the city’s responsibility to provide free parking for building owners that rent apartments.
A concerned citizen in attendance argued against this, pointing out that the city had put tax money into putting apartments on the square. He stated that there wasn’t enough parking at every building, stating that residents at the Wohler buildings on the south side have to park in an alley and residents at the north-side apartments have to park at Memorial Hall. He stated that it didn’t make sense to not let apartment residents park on the street. Iosbaker stated that they had spoke to the Wohlers, who said they  prefer it not be that way but do have parking
The council also approved the first reading of ordinances closing down city parks from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Clark explained that there had been complaints about people camping or setting up shelters in the parks. He stated that there are already signs saying the parks close at 10:30, but nothing in the ordinances, and that there would be leeway for events at the parks. This ordinance will affect Legion Park, the Town Square Park, the sports fields, and any other city property designated as being for recreation.
Sigourney Schools Superintendent Kevin Hatfield spoke to the council about the upcoming bond referendum, which, if passed, will allow the school district to issue up to $9,900,000 worth of bonds to fund infrastructure updates at the high school, which will be repaid over 20 years. Hatfield highlighted the plans to add secure doors, update fire alarms, HVAC, electrical systems and boilers, remove asbestos, and redo the restrooms. The public will be able to vote on the referendum during the Nov. 4 election.
The council approved two submitting invoices for different tax increment financing measures, one for the Belva Deer Inn urban renewal and one for the downtown urban renewal plan, which featured the upper story apartments and façade projects. City Clerk Ashley Fry stated these TIF programs would give the city back $63,000 and $25,000 respectively, and that this would not raise taxes.
