April 10, 2024 (Wright County, Iowa) – The Clarion City Council met for two meetings last Tuesday evening. Mayor Rod Heiden presided over both sessions with all the council members in attendance. The first meeting was the annual Public Hearing for Property Tax Levy. After the required 15-minute waiting period to hear public input, the meeting was adjourned, with the regular meeting following promptly.
The Council approved the consent agenda without discussion. Approval for a building permit for Santiago's deck and the road closure for Howieson's car show was received, along with the approval of checks and the previous meeting minutes.
The regular council meeting saw an exchange between Shawn Devoid and council members. Devoid raised concerns about the litter accumulation across Clarion. She stated there seems to be a lot of trash on the south side of Clarion, near the railroad tracks.
Devoid, citing safety concerns for her pets and obvious sanitation reasons, presented an action plan aimed at addressing the trash issue. This plan included proposals for improved equipment collection, such as larger recycling bins or doing away with using only trash bags. Additionally, Devoid suggested educational initiatives, such as sending out flyers stating plainly how to leave the trash on the curb, as well as penalties or fines for non-compliance that a nuisance officer or police officer could issue.
Council members discussed Devoid’s proposals openly, brainstorming strategies for the implementation of Devoid’s ideas. City Administrator Clint Middleton assured Devoid of the council’s commitment to addressing the issue promptly.
The council moved on to other agenda items. Notably approving the payment to Peterson Construction regarding the Water Treatment Plant. The treatment facility should be fully operational by June 2025. “It’s starting to look like a water plant, for sure,” Nick Frederiksen, Engineer for the Water Treatment Project, stated in his update to the council. Council member Dan Hennigar agreed, “It’s looking good.” The council will tour the facility after the April meeting.
The next Clarion City Council meeting will be held on April 23, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. This is due to the requirements of holding a public hearing for the full budget. As always, the public is welcome to attend and provide feedback.
