By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
NORTH ENGLISH – During the Feb. 4 meeting of the North English City Council, Laura Sauser of Iowa County Development gave the council an overview on the work her organization had done recently, in Iowa County and in North English specifically, highlighting work done to expand the library in 2023, renovate the community center in 2024, and improve Smoky Row Trail in 2024 and 2025. Sauser spoke about a pair of planned catalyst grant projects in North English: one to Trent Forrest to expand Main Street Grub and Pub this year, and one to Forrest Gibson to open a new Taekwondo studio on the square next year. Sauser explained both Forrest and Gibson had applied this year, but that they had come to an agreement to have Gibson’s project be pushed back.
She explained that, for these grants to be approved, the city would need to provide money to the project. Sauser stated that, when the council approved partnering with Tim and John Beachy a few years back to redo buildings on the square, they approved giving them $12,000, and stated that this was a solid contribution for a city under 1,000 people. Saucer said to keep that number for the new catalyst grants and that the city would need to officially approve giving that money prior to the middle of April. Mayor Dan Strohman noted that they had also offered $8,000 in property to the Beachy brothers, who were pursuing a larger project. The Beachy brothers project ultimately fell apart from lack of funding, with the city not ending up paying the $12,000.
Also at the Wednesday meeting, the council approved a $336,514 quote to rehabilitate Main Street. City Clerk Tara Heyne explained that there was $296,500 left in the account for the Washington Street Road Use Project, which had been reimbursed by Iowa County and the DOT. She also stated that there is $330,000 in he Local Option Sales Tax fund that they could pay out of. Strohman stated that the project was expected to begin in August or September, after North English Fun Days ends. Public Works Director David Knipfer asked when the project would be completed. Heyne stated that it would need to be completed before June of 2027, to be in the correct fiscal year. Knipfer requested putting in a specified end date.
The council approved spending $5,185 to get a new controller for the lift station. Knipfer stated that the controls were installed in 1996 and that they had been having trouble with the system for a few years, forcing them to shut it off every once in a while, and that they were worried it would not turn back on. Knipfer stated that they would also add a dial-out system, which would inform them when water was overflowing. This will require a phone signal be set up. He stated that the local phone company gave a quote of $4,930 to install fiber out to the lift station, plus $32 a month for a phone line, compared to getting a cell signal from an outside company, which would cost a few hundred dollars in cell equipment and $40 a month for the line. He stated that they preferred to use local companies, but that doing so would cost too much. Strohman stated that having the dial-out system would be important if anything happened. Knipfer stated that the DNR already questioned why they didn’t have a dialer and that it was only a matter of time before they began requiring it.
