At the regular meeting of the Clarion City Council on Tuesday, May 19, the group was busy with multiple agenda projects in addition to hearing from a few citizens. Most of the citizens came before the council to share their opinion on Gold-Eagle Co-op’s plans to populate the railroad tracks around Clarion with empty rail cars to store them. That matter is covered in a separate story in the Monitor this week.
In agenda items, the council held the first readings of two ordinances that would postpone water and sewer rate increases that were scheduled to occur this spring. The council had previously expressed concern that the rate increase would put a burden on Clarionites during an already difficult time. The ordinance would delay the rate increase for a year. City Administrator Clint Middleton noted though that the city’s financial advisor still recommended the same number of rate increases, meaning there would be increases in 2021 and 2022. To be adopted, there will be two more readings of the ordinance.
A public hearing on a Small Business Association’s Paycheck Protection Program loan for Iowa Specialty Hospital was held. Greg Polzin, the hospital’s CFO, explained that the hospital received $4,455,000. The PPP, which is part of the CARES Act, is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. The loan can be forgiven loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. A resolution to proceed with participating in the program passed.
The council held a discussion of the water rebate program for new housing. Since 2017, a rebate has been in place through which the city offers $4,500 to people building houses in town when a new water meter is put in. Middleton explained that the water fund that the rebates came from is being put toward other water projects now. He asked the council if they would like to keep the rebate the same or explore other options, such as a tax rebate, to offer new home builders those funds. The council agreed that they would like to look into other options.
Mike Kruger appeared before the council to discuss a building he wants to put on his property on the farthest lot on the southeast corner of town. Kruger sought a permit to put a building of about 2,000 square feet up on the property. His permit was denied since it is zoned as a residential area where the permitted uses are one or two family dwellings. Kruger said he was unhappy because he had torn down a damaged, dangerous building that had sat on the property for three years but now cannot put up a new building that he would maintain. Middleton noted that even though there was previously a building similar to the one Kruger wants to build there, current ordinances don’t allow a new one. In the end, city officials said they would continue to look into the matter.
In other business:
-A public hearing on budget amendments was set for June 16 at 4:35 p.m.
-The final pay request for Wicks Construction for the runway repairs was approved at the amount of $28,475.45
-Middleton said that they are planning to fill up the pool so it will be ready when the governor allows them to open. (Later last week, it was announced that pools could open May 22 for lap swimming and lessons only).
-The council also declared the week of May 17-23 Emergency Medical Services Week.
