Like the previous meeting, the Clarion City Council meeting on Tuesday April 19 included multiple public hearings. The first was for the issuance of hospital revenue notes for the benefit of Iowa Specialty Hospital – Clarion in an amount not to exceed $2,360,000. The hospital in Clarion will be adding multiple labor and delivery rooms and shifting some office spaces. No comments were made during the hearing and the subsequent resolution approving the matter passed. ISH will repay the loan themselves, not at a cost to the taxpayers.
Another hearing was conducted and resolution passed pertaining to an Urban Renewal Loan Agreement. This will allow the city to borrow money for the early learning center construction and Aspen Drive, the road to be built at White Fox Landing. A third hearing was held to approve a development agreement with Gold-Eagle Cooperative. The agreement will allow the city to capture tax increment payments, again to be used for the early learning center.
Resolutions were passed to submit a Surface Transportation Block Grant and establish matching funds for possible work to be done within the city limits to County K. This would require a 20% contribution from the city. City Administrator Clint Middleton said this is early in the process and the application does not guarantee the project will happen.
In his report, Public Works Director Jon DeVries explained the need for a second pilot study for the planned water treatment facility. The pressure filter manufactures are requiring an extra pilot plant study to be performed to determine what type of high pressure filter media and size of tank will be needed to remove iron from the city’s raw water supply. DeVries added that this will cost the city. The pilot will be in operation for about two weeks at the cost of $25,000. He said, “this is a new request from the manufacturers of the filter media because of several recent projects that have caused problems for them not having the proper type of media.”
In other council business, they announced that Timbukbru would be receiving a $5000 Hotel/Motel tax grant to build a sand volleyball court. That was the only application submitted.
A discussion was also held regarding the council’s meeting time. The decision was made to move the meetings to 5 p.m. (still on the first and third Tuesday of the month). The meeting on May 3 will still be at 4:30 pm. The council will sign a resolution at that time to change subsequent meeting times.
