City Council - Regular Meeting

Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I'd like to call this meeting to order.

No. Seeing that no one has signed uh the open forum, we'll go on to the consent items. I move to approve the consent items. Second. Aaron Holtz. Hi Jackson. Hi Sloan. Hi Winklman or excuse me. I on to new business. Uh item A is a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2526 budget amendment.

I move to open the public hearing. I don't think even to close it. Just close it. Oh, all right. Sorry. Well, maybe that's a little too soon. Anyway, have you heard any comments from No, no comments, but you want a little bit information on that, Henry? Yeah.

All right. My name is Henry Pullmire, finance officer for the city of Jefferson. Uh, just a couple things of of point with the amendments. So positive the revenues outweigh are greater than the expenses. We are looking at 2,860,000 for the revenues and 1,891 for the expenses. A couple of key points here is the 800,000 coming in from the internal um debt service. This is also shown on the expense side. Um and then the $2 million for the general obligation debt issuance. um that has not been budgeted, but we'll uh we'll see we'll see this upcoming budget um various things that that includes. On the expense side, there is 300,000 um that we have kind of as a um what if projects um are completed and kind of covering for the rest of this fiscal year. There was another 80,000 for engineering of the Westwood sidewalk project. Uh that's kind of one of the higher ones as well as 42,000 for the Greenwood study, 38,000 for the architecture studio melee for the library expansion and then another big one is 275 for the jetback truck. So those are kind of the key points there.

Henry, did you say what the like what the difference is this? Just just under or just over a million uh between revenues and expenses. So

cool. Thank you. You're welcome. Thanks.

I need a motion to close the public. So moved. Second. Winkle one. Abstain. Waitri. Hi. Sloan. I Jackson. I Aaron Holtz. Hi.

Item B is resolution amending the current budget for the fiscal year 25 to 26. This this actual amendment is the one-page document that was in your packet that uh is the state form for the for the budget amendment that uh Henry had described many of the components. I'll move to approve. Second. Aaron Holtz. I Wkelman. I Wait. Hi. Sloan. I Jackson. I

item C is the ordinance amending a code of ordinance of the city of Jefferson 2017 by amending a provision pertaining to water rates. This does uh propose a water rate increase um of 2%. So the uh the water sewer streets committee had had considered the uh uh retail rates does propose this as a as a 2% rate increase. So the base fee, which currently is $13.72, would go to $14. And the cost per 100 cubic foot of water, changes from $861 to $878. So just as a point of comparison, if this is 5,000 gallons or 668 cubic feet, the bill increases from 5970 to $60.89. So that'd be a dollar 111 would be the increase on on 5,000 gallons. This is an ordinance and it would be proposed just for first reading tonight.

It says 2017. Is that the last time rates changed on this thing? No, it the the rates last changed about 18 months ago. That's the that is the uh the date of the code. That's just okay. within I understand within the uh title of the ordinance

prior to that 18 months ago when was the last time the rates were increased by they had been they had been been increasing basically annually over over time over the recent past they would go up about annually um and this time it has not been annual it's been about 18 months like I said okay and what was the last rate increase if you don't mind 5 5% 5% % plus.

I need a motion to that have the first public reading. Yeah. To approve the first reading. Approve the first public reading. Okay. Good to approve the first public reading. Second. Sloan. I. Jackson. I. Aaron Holtz. Hi Wri. Hi WLman. Hi.

Item D is ordinance amending the court of ordinance of the city of Jefferson 2017 by amending provisions pertaining to collection fees for solid waste and recycling fees. Yes. So this this does apply to largely to the landfill fee. Um so within everybody's utility bill, there is a separate line item on there that is for landfill fees. Okay, that fee is simply to pay the landfill for disposal of the uh of the volcano. So, and all pays all of the tipping fees. So, Metro Waste Authority, they have increased their rates um at both of their landfills. Okay. They have a big uh large large landfill on the on the east side of De Moines and then they have this metro waste north landfill which is by Rippy which is the one that we are assigned to. That's where we take our stuff. Okay. In order to to make it so that the operating costs for each of the landfills are paying for their own way. The the fees at Metro West are going up significantly 53%. So again, a smaller landfill. They the kind of economies of scale would say the cost per ton are a little bit more there, but they um it's not a whole lot uh that that we can do about this. 53% is the proposed increase. We again we have a a line item on our customers bill that is landfill fees which is currently $3.50 per month. This would be proposed to increase to $610 per month. Again, it just covers exclusively the landfill fees that that the city incurs. While we're taking a look at at this fee, uh there is also some a few proposed changes then to some large to special items or bulk items. that this would

institute a a new charge for oversized sectionals, large c couches or other large furniture that especially the oversized sectionals had there had never been a a uh segment for that before. The cost for that disposal would be $20. Mattresses or box springs individually then would be would be $10 and those are currently five. So it' be an increase um having loose bags on the ground. So, if your cart is full and you have additional uh items then placed on the ground, it does have an additional fee that would go along with these bags that are placed in addition to your cart. So, that would be $5 then for the bag on the ground. Okay. Also, then make some change to how we address these areas where we would stop and pick up large amounts of of of debris. And that is that um so when each time that you fill the back end of the of the truck, so let's say each time that you fill the hopper and they're going to run the compactor, okay, it the cost is proposed to be $30. It's currently $10. So with that, the u filling that entire back end is the equivalent of a two-year dumpster. And you know, so we would expect our disposal rates to be very similar to what it costs for a for the 2yard dumpster. So that's the uh the increase then to $30. Then this comes up again just with really large large pickups. Um people are cleaning houses, this type of stuff, whatever that might be. But then there is also a another statement in and the uh the water sewer streets committee would would recommend that this be added and this deals with construction waste that we would add an item on there that simply states that uh large amounts of

construction ma waste may be refused by the city. If somebody is doing enough construction work or remodeling work that that it requires a large rolloff container provided by others, we would we would strongly suggest that as opposed to having the city staff take care of that. Okay. So there is there would be a provision in this that would allow the u the city to refuse that. Okay. Again, these rates would become effective with the bill that comes out around August 1st. And this is proposed for uh for approval by the by the committee. And again, this would be an ordinance change and this would be first reading.

Have we previously charged for single bags beside the trash can? It's for for additional items out outside the can. not maybe specifically described as an additional bag. Sure. But if there was other larger items, they would they would always get charged in a minimum minimum charge on that. It's always been $5. As far as the debris for the the loose debris in the hopper, that's identical now to the 2-yard dumpster. Is it confirming that's right, Dave? It's actually the hopper is a three yard. Okay. So, but it would that is the intention. they were there to be the same. So,

it almost surprises me that it's not more cuz I know we got away from the the trash can pickup uh due to the increased risk of our staff and now moving to the automated reduces that. So, it's for it to be the same as a a dumpster dump that there is there's a provision in in the code yet that still allows us to charge personnel time in addition to that fee if if it were truly a large cleanup. Fact of the matter is we haven't done that for quite some time. Okay. And if the if the pickup were so large that we would have to incur these additional fees, we'd really encourage the the citizen to uh find somebody with a roll off and and go that way instead.

So that's the delay on the on the Scott. Well, we don't have a lot of choice with we do need to change that that landfill fee. It's it's going to come around on on 1st of July and the additional costs will be there. I move to approve the ordinance change or to do the first reading. Sorry. Second Sloan. I Jackson. Hi, Aaron Holtz. Aaron Holtz, are you there?

I Okay, thank you. Hi. There we go. Good one. Wiggle his eye. He's listening to Thank you. Thank you. Let's be real. Item E is a resolution confirming employment of John Ko as the water superintendent.

Yeah, John's here. Maybe we can have have John introduce himself and and a little little bit about himself and and uh here. Good evening everybody. My name is John Cook. I'm the uh uh new water superintendent apparently if you vote for me today. So I'm proud proud to say that I'm coming to town. I'm a Iowa native. I lived in Colorado for about 15 years though and I've learned my my way around the water industry out there. Uh so I've been in the industry about 25 years. So I've done uh water treatment, wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, all that all that entails. So um I'm excited to come here to Jefferson and see how things are and uh get things going. I'm really excited to join the community and join the city as well. So, um, we'll start June 1st, hope. So, hope to see everybody there.

Yeah. Very good. There there is a a working agreement included in the in the council packet that

that stipulates uh the uh the hiring. Um, but uh also lays out some some uh job duties and that type of stuff. So, uh John comes to us from from the city of Musketine where he had been the uh wastewater superintendent there. Okay. Just understanding that that John has uh you know has grade four wastewater license and in previous years had lensure for for water and this was out of Colorado as a grade four operator in Colorado. Okay. Needs to get his licensing in place here here in Iowa and is working at that uh to to accomplish that which just uh as far as no additional on the job training required just needs to pass the test in order to get up to the level. So understanding that during that interim time while while John is working on that and getting those those tests passed, we still do need to utilize people service for our compliance. Um but just really really looking forward to this. I think we have some some unique opportunities with with John very very wellqualified person and and uh very excited about it.

And John, it's my understanding that you've previously held these examinations and you've tutored those in the past. So, your likelihood of passing is quite good. I I certainly hope so. Yeah. I mean, like I say, I've taken lots of tests for all these for all these different certifications. So, yeah, I'm not I'm not worried about that. DNR is ready to let me test as soon as soon as I pass one, I can sign up to take the next one. So, with the years that I have, they they really don't care about about waiting for anything like that. So, yeah. Excellent. Thank you. Yep. And hopefully I can teach some other guys, too. That's that's kind of my goal. I I used to teach this stuff. So hopefully we can get everybody certified up a little bit better. We're grateful to have you. Yep. We welcome you to the community. Thank you.

Yeah. I I I think this is really fortunate. Musketine's loss is our gain for sure. Absolutely. Move to approve. Second. Winkle. Hi. Wetrick. Hi. Sloan. I Jackson. I Aaron Holtz. Hi. Item F is resolution approving increase to see department heads salaries

with the with the hiring of John. You know, just as we got into that struggled with with the notion of of hiring a water superintendent, we find out that our salary is significantly below market and and have had to raise the salary then for for John to to entice a really good candidate. So the the salary that we just hired, John, that's $90,000. So what uh as we look at our other department heads then, you know, it certainly would be be proposed that we we want to um increase salaries with with those folks then too. And it's, you know, not just that that the current employees do a good job. What you find out is that again, they're we're well under market. But so the the uh proposal here again, John was just hired at 90,000 and Danny Morenville is our our wastewater superintendent is a grade three operator also that we would be a grade three water plant. He's grade grade three sewer operator also. Danny would be proposed at $90,000. Dave Peoples is our street superintendent. Um not does not have those the certifications that are required with his position. Um, but still looking at that as a leadership position with with an an increase in pay and the proposed increase then is $85,000 for for salary. And then Dave Morland being the the public works director oversees the other the other superintendent and brings any of the administrative aspects to the to the position also. So, um, the proposed salary then for Dave be 102,000. We had some some discussions about exactly what that that rate would be and uh landed at 102 partly because that's also the same salary then and what the uh chief of police would be earning. So just comparable across department head positions there too. So uh it is a resolution that's proposed for approval.

I move to approve. Second. Sloan. I Jackson. I Erin Holtz. Hi. Wait. Hi. Woman. Hi. Item G is approving hiring of Caleb Alamina as a sanitation worker. Yep. So, Caleb is proposed as a as sanitation worker. is uh hired at the hourly wage of of 2550. Caleb's first day on the job was yesterday. We need a motion to approve. I'll do motion. Needed motion. Correct. Did I get a second?

Second. Okay. Sloan. I Aaron Holtz. Hi. Jackson. Hi. Wait. Hi. Winn. I

item H consider approval of pay estimate number one to Ivora Energy LLC of $138,769 cents for the airport fuel farm project. Yes. So this is for work uh through the uh month of April. Um mainly doing with uh completing the grading and subbase or subgrade work uh installation of sub base uh much of the uh pavement and the uh tank pad and then uh a little bit of the electrical work. Um all that stuff is done is sitting there waiting. Uh tanks and equipment are scheduled to be delivered on the 19th. So hopefully here shortly we'll see some more activity out there. Um we would recommend payment of the 138,769.

Move to approve. Second. Wkelman. Iron Holtz. Hi Sloan. Hi Jackson. Hi We resolution authorizing submission of application for Iowa Department of Transportation airport funding and certifying eligibility requirements.

This would propose that we would apply for a u a grant through the state of Iowa DOT for this airport project also. Okay. So the the notion there is that the the new fuel farm is is built further to the west and off of the existing pavement. So there's some new pavement there, but then the the current fuel farm itself would be removed. Okay. So city staff is going to be undertaking the demolition and removal of that. Okay. The grade of the of the concrete around that area of course is drained. So graded so that everything slopes away from the existing the existing fuel farm, but the slope on that concrete is is higher than recommended for uh for airplanes. So, you know, you get a lot of tilt in in the airplanes as you're driving over these these un uneven uh lands. So, um the idea here would be to apply for some funding from the Iowa DOT to assist with the removal and then reinstallation of of concrete there that's at proper grade. Okay. This would be a 75% grant. Total project cost is estimated 420. The grant would be 315 with the local share at $105,000. Uh we applied for this last year and we did not get the get the funding. So, uh would like to give it a try again and and we'll we'll see where we go from there. If if uh we're successful with it, of course, we we'd get a contract in here right away to get things to create. And if not, we we'll talk through some different options um including whether we'd have our staff do some of it ourselves again. So,

did they tell us why we didn't receive the grant last year? No, I don't remember there was any specific details at all. It, you know, when when you look at it, it it is it's the laying of some of some new of some new concrete. That's basically it. You know, it's not a very glamorous uh project, but it does need to be done. I'll move to approve. Second. Liter. I Jackson. I Wkelman. Hi. Sloan. Hi. Erin Holtz. I.

Item J is a GCDC update. Yes. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, two items on the agenda today for GCDC. One is our quarterly report. I apologize for the lateness. Uh, the last item on our discussion here is the reason for one of the delays and the other delay was I came back from Washington DC. And I had something I did not want to share with the rest of you. So, I apologize for not being here in April. Um, first off, just to review our quarterly for Q3 for uh, uh, GCDC. Uh our new website is up and running. Uh we have investors being submitted online now and then also site selectors as well. It is a completely revamped website that has connecting throughout the region. So all of you here in Green County are connected to both Hamilton County, Boone County and Story County when it comes to economic development portals. So if someone comes on a site portal here, they can follow it to those regions. But also too, if they're looking for something in Story County, they can flow right into a Green County for something similar and and the site selector there. So the cross traffic is really going to be beneficial to economic development uh attraction there. Uh 2025 work uh Iowa workforce development leadership report is done. We are having IWD come to GCDC uh later this month, next week in fact to present their findings to us and the good and the bad of the laborership report. This is data that we use for workforce attraction, housing, um new vendors, new new employers, attracting new people to our region. It shows everything across the board, but it does show record involvement in uh responses from our local people and businesses. That is something that we did in partnership with Jefferson Matters. That is a very positive thing. Iowa Workforce Health is very appreciative of that increase in responses so they have better quality data for us. Anyone is welcome to come to our board meeting in May to see that leadership report and if you have any questions, please let me know. The final report will be posted to GCDC's website after we have our board meeting later

next week. uh East Business Park update the commercial flex base incubator site. I am happy to report we have our first business startup located in there. It's a body fender rehab project. Um it's a local guy that is starting up his own business on a on a case by case, so one at a time, but it is the next step out of his garage to this site. So this is something that is exactly what we were targeting with this business project. Um, I hope to meet them face to face, get some pictures, put them on social media, and then also as well, the the offer to tour the facility is wide open as well to council and mayor if they ever wish to take me up on it. Uh, lowest sight selector vendor change. The area or the alliance has changed vendors when it comes to our site selectors. Uh, we are having issues on responses and times and updates to all our portals across the region and all four counties. So, we're changing vendors. This is a free service that is part of our contract. It is not any additional charge. It's something we are going to do and we are going to update that shortly as well with some aerials and some other sites as well. This is something we can do in partnership with local property owners. If you have a local commercial property that you have as a personal investment or personal attraction that you wish to develop, GCDC was willing to partner with you to put that up on our a local uh location website service, if you will. the the contact info will have to flow through me as us as the vendor a contract but then we can partner with you to find someone to use that site for commercial development that is at no charge so that is something we are doing along with our GCDC sites and other future development sites as well green county awards in April I'm happy to report that GCDC received two awards one for $100,000 for special projects this is our traditional economic development funding that we request every year uh grow green has funded us at a full $100,000 that we we requested that is for um small business grants, site selectors, road improvements, uh the traffic study that we partnered with you last year on. All that is economic development and all this is funding that we put towards those projects. So, that is a great

thing. And then this year is something new. They also uh awarded GCDC $100,000 for housing initiative. This is countywide. We are working with the corridors on both the 144 and the 25, but also as well, Grow Green made it imperative that we appropriately use the funding across all of Green County. So, the corridors will be a partner with JCDC on it, but the funding is also allocated to the city of Jefferson for your housing initiatives. So, that is something that we're going to be working forward to here in 26 and early 27 as well. Uh, I I would I'm sorry, you and I strategic visioning that is been going to start up here this summer. That is going to be a community meeting. Um, I will offer cookies. I will offer refreshments. Please come and give me your feedback. And then we're going to do uh online virtual meetings with both agricultural, private sector, and nonprofits across Green County. That is something that we're going to start here and then have closed up before the fall with harvest. So that way we can have a total vision as part of our comp and uh strategic visioning. If you remember, this was something that was started last year with Michelle uh that was put on hold when uh GCDC reorked and then ended up partnering with area and the alliance. So, this is what we're starting up again here in this year and hope to have completed by the end of this year. Uh, build your own business. Uh, March event grade as I previously reported, but also as well June event is coming up hard and fast on Tuesday, June 16th, 5:30 to 7:00 at the courtyard. We're calling nuts and bolts of the small business. First, our first session in March was introductions. Jefferson Matters, the city of Jefferson, GCDC, SBDC. Basically, here are your partners and this is what we can offer to you to work with you free of charge and the services available. Now, we get into the nuts and bolts of it. Finances, taxes, things like that. It's great that you want to start up a business, but we also want to make sure you're fully aware of the requirements, but you still have partners here that we can help you with and walk you through the process. Uh GCDC will be partnering and sponsoring that event in June at the courtyard. So, we offer pizza. It's a free event. Please come. We have swag. And also as

well um if you have any questions afterwards all our contact info is available. So all the partners that speak or work at the panel are available to follow up afterwards oneonone if you have questions. Uh Shadran uh am working with the new owners there at their facility. They are looking to expand. They are increasing new business. Um also too going through old inventory. They're looking to expand their business model in Jefferson. So that is something that's very nice to have and they are looking to stay at their current location uh building improvements etc. But they are I am talking to the new owners and it is going to be a familyrun business. So that is something that very well uh needed in our area as well. And then business retention and expansion visits just had another one today at Louis Drifus. Uh these are something that's ongoing throughout the year. We're going to have these reported and set up. I'll share the data with Jefferson Matters as well as we come online. But uh Louis Drifus has one open position on their current employee list. That is astounding to have that quality workforce and also that only one position open for employment. It just shows what we need. We need to connect with our employers, connect with our people, and then connect with our uh our workforce to say if you have needs or you want to switch jobs, we plug them into the right areas. So, those will be ongoing for the rest of 2026 as well. Um, and now the last item on the agenda for tonight, Iowa DOT discussions. If you remember last time I was in front of you, I did not want to speak a lot about the Iowa DO Department of Transportation. Uh, I am wanting to talk about them all night now. So, I'm happy to stay up here as long as you want. Uh, the maps in front of you show the the crux of the situation we came into last year, several months ago with the business prospect. The business prospect in question wanted to locate in the Highway 30 corridor within the city of Jefferson. Um, we submitted a traffic study request. We worked with the business prospect to split the cost with GCDC themselves and the city of Jefferson uh contributed $3,000 to to finish up the project. And we submitted that to the Department of Transportation which then informed us that their

easements dating back to the 1950s when Highway 30 was first placed there precluded any additional access points off Highway 30. Simply put, there was no additional access to be gained off Highway 30 for future development of the Highway 30 corridor. What you have is what you got. The casino is an outlier, but this is an administrative rule change has happened since the casino went up and there was no no appeal process. Nothing else to to our ability to fix it. Um, the next step came back to figuring out the business prospect on options. The business prospect regrettably stepped away from the city and the community, not by choice. They still want to locate here, but they said that there's no options with their business model of being not located and having access off the 30 corridor. So what happened is is that we then pivoted went back to the DOT asking for the map that you have in front of you to the Ames Regional Economic Alliance and we asked for the mapping of the easements and the access points currently in force along the Highway 30 corridor within the city of Jefferson and then I full credit to our city officials and our local elected officials at the state house. We then went to work on finding ways to get access. Um, and I'm happy to report that our meeting today with the DOT was very productive and we now have in principle three access points now available to the city of Jefferson for future de devel development along the Highway 30 corridor. We're going to have an access point across from the Red Hotel right there on Highway 30 on the east side. We're going to have an access point across from the casino entryway on Highway 4 to the north and then off Grimmel opposite Grimmel to the north side, west of the casino as well. We now have three touch points to future development along the north side of the city of Jefferson within Green County, which is a huge thing. There are steps to move forward with it. There are steps that we need to proceed with. Um, of course, the DOT, they're request they're requesting some additional study work. Um GCDC is willing to partner with the city on that and work through that process, but we do have an agreement in

principle after our meeting today to have three access points for future development in the city of Jefferson. This seemed to reattract that business interest once they heard this too. Um our meeting today ended at 8:30. I had an email out to the business prospect by 9:30. We had a response by 10:15 that they want to meet. So we are now talking to the business prospect again. Well, that seems promising to say the least.

Very promising. And um I I think uh city staff heard me when I saw the response on the email side down the hall from city from the city offices. But that's that's me personally. Uh again, full credit to to you, city staff, and the elected officials stepping up. This would not have been possible without their efforts on the community side working with the DOT to get to this resolution side of it. Um, I appreciate administer Anderson, uh, Peterson, sorry, uh, going with me to, um, meet with Representatives Norman and, uh, um, Senator Green. And while I think we all can find it frustrating how sometimes things move slow at the city level, city government level, sometimes it's even more frustrating at the state level. But I was really impressed that with their assistance on it. Within a matter of days, we had uh conferences with upper levels of uh of administration at the DOT uh with a common goal of let's do see what we can to make this work. And uh and I I really appreciate how how they did whatever they could to uh work in Jefferson's best interest. I mean, I gave a hat tip to the DOT. They wanted to preserve whatever future endeavors they might possibly want to do. However, uh there was this conflict between their possible uh future plans and our present economic uh opportunity. And I'm really happy that we were able to come to a common goal or a common solution on this and uh work in in both our both our best interests. So, you know, hats to both.

Absolutely agree. and the fact that the DOT is working with us to get this with the safety points uh in writing on a on a future agreement. So, we will have all three points in writing on the land use plan with the DOT in the future. So, until the city of Jefferson grows out to those points, those points are still access. So, just because we won't be able to use say the other two points right away doesn't mean that we won't have access to them in the future for our future growth that we got planned in that area. Can you talk a little bit about that, Greg, about what a future agreement might look like between us and the between the city and and the DOT to assure those points are there?

Yeah, so the DOT has a process now where they work with communities um going through something similar like we just did here in Jefferson. It's a it's it's basically a planning agreement between the city of Jefferson directly with the Iowa Department of Transportation. It's something in principle on the three direct points. It's an agreement that both have on file and then future reference for this project going forward. Remember, we did not know about the easements from 1950s until we had moved forward with the traffic study. And then even the traffic study didn't pick it up because it was listed on the deeds directly from that far back. So, it wasn't until we engaged the DOT and the DOT responded in in response that they listed the the easements as an as an issue that we had a hurdle to overcome. That will not be the case anymore. We will have it listed on the city files, the DOT files, and any future agreements. And then this also sets it up for future economic development rise uh economic certified sites etc that we use in these areas.

Fantastic. I mean that I was hopeful but not overly hopeful but it went from bleak to uh very optimistic in a hurry. It's almost whiplash.

Yeah. I tell you, the whole thing was was a matter of just a few weeks and and to to come up with the the initial contact and and have some decisions and really a 180 on on what the decision was made with within a few weeks is is is amazing. And you know, that initial the contact with with Senator Green, but I think especially Representative Nordman really pulled a lot of weight on this one and just deserves a lot of uh a lot of recognition and praise for that. Mhm.

Yeah. So, our next steps are to meet with the business prospect on Friday on a video call. Um, find out what the current status of any potential project or request is there. What's changed in the past several months? Uh, the next steps would be to finalize those changes, if they're still viable with the DOT. Then we start the safety, the safety plan process, the agreement on the three access points in writing to have that principal agreement, and then we start moving forward in a parallel. And that's something key too that DOT mentioned. They are very cognizant of our our timeline and and the delays. And to uh Council Member Wkelman's point, they are willing to work with us and do it parallel. So we don't have to wait on the three access points in writing. We can work through the permitting process on this on this project first so we can keep doing it side by side.

Wow. Any questions? Thank you. Yep. I want to thank you for your patience and thank you for your help in this and look forward to my next quarterly where I'll have more good news. I'm just telling you now. So, thank you. Thank you, Greg. On to the reports. Jim, are you uh grant pardon me? We should Let's take Have a vote on on vote on their quarterly payment. GC on their quarterly payment. Yes. Motion. I move to approve. Second. Wkelman. Hi Aaron Holtz. Hi Jackson.

Hi Sloan. Hi Waitri. Hi. Okay. Now on to reports. Jim. Uh graded to district 57. Uh we are talking to a couple of property owners to see if we can do some exploratory on their properties on a on a line. See if we can get some more verication and do a little more televising. And then looking to submit the report for the next meeting on the 26th. Um, High School East shared use path. Uh, still waiting on grant response on that one. Uh, Westwood sidewalk. We're finalizing the plans to be able to put them on file at the next meeting on the 26th. Um,

Jim, with that Westwood, someone talked to me this morning at Sparkies and I gave them really wrong information. So, just to I thought it was right, but it was wrong. So, just to clarify, that has to be bid on yet. Yes, that that is we'll put the plans on file on the 26th, which basically means it's out for bids, and then the bid letting date is July 1st. And completion date isn't until possibly next fall of

I think substantial completion right now. I think I have it set for like in July of 27 and then final is September of 27. So, my apologies to that citizen. I don't know if I'll see him again soon, but I know everyone watches the this of course very people great numbers. Yes. So, yes. Um,

sorry. We'll be talking to some of the property owners for some temporary easements uh for uh some minor grading and some driveway uh we have to replace portions of driveways to make the grades work. Uh get those going and finalizing the quantities and cost opinion for the 26th. Uh doc stadium alley is uh basically on the same schedule that will be an alternate to the Westwood project. Um, so we're finalizing designs and working on the the uh quantities and such on that one as well. Uh, tower inspection, I'm still waiting to get a date scheduled for that one. Trying to get our guys uh lined up when we can get them down here and get that done. Uh, the water department uh risk and resilience assessment and the emergency response plan. Uh we have started reviewing the past uh risk and resilience assessment uh to verify the changes needed and working on that. That one is due uh June 30th. Uh the emergency response plan will be started at a later date. That one's not due until the end of December. And uh that is it unless there's no other questions.

Roxan, no report. David, no report. Scott,

just a couple things in chat. We might may enhance upon either one of these for our rural housing readiness assessment. Um, we're getting to the to the end of the grant grant period on that. And there is 25,000 $20,000 worth of of grant funds that's matched with with $5,000 locally. We're working with region 12 to facilitate another housing rehab project. So, that's where these funds would be going. the funds would be paid to region 12 with the stipulation that the funds are reinvested back into a project in Jefferson. So that uh we approved the the payment of that tonight. Other thing is uh KCG project about seeing that KCG apartment complex uh kickoff. You may see some action as as early as this week out there as far as some preliminary construction. Look for a a formal groundbreaking type of a ceremony in June. Thank you, Jason.

Chad, planning and zoning commission met April 20th. We'd received an application from Megan Waters for an zoning amendment request at 11:06 South Elm. Um they had in uh they had requested a zoning change there um for potential kind of inpatient recovery for Midwest Wellness there and the commission um there their recommendation was to not reszone that parcel. Um there needs to be council action on that recommendation from planning zoning. Megan Waters had asked to postpone that and we've done that I think twice now. Um, so I think the mayor had a recommendation that we would postpone it. No more than 30 days. So within the next 30 days, we the council will take action on that recommendation.

How much does planning and zoning inform us then? Do they just is it just the approval or denial or do they give a Yeah, I we can provide as as much or as little information as you guys would want to, but basically it would just be the you know they have reviewed the information. Well, I mean until it actually gets on the agenda, I guess we don't really have to go into it, but Right. So, the action is you know um they recommended the recommendation is to not sure make a zoning. I just wondered if it ever gets to a point.

You know, I have to just tell you my my intention there, Darren. It is when it comes to the city council that virtually all or all of any of the supporting documents that that went to the planning and zoning commission will come. I mean, I would assume be in the council packet whenever that Okay, perfect. Whenever that is on the agenda. Sure.

All right. And then Yes. So we originally the the housing committee had identified a potential project for this uh this rural housing readiness assessment grant and upon further um inspections I don't think that that property was going to be a good fit for region 12. So unfortunately so that we would would pay them for a future project in Jefferson that we will identify sometime. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Harry, do you have any comments? No, other than and I I have no additional report here. Thank you,

Matt. Uh, just want to make a note that last Thursday in De Mo, the Main Street, Iowa Development Awards happened. Jefferson was recognized in a very variety of ways, won a few awards, things like that. And one I wanted to to mention just from the city side of things. It's um should be noted that the the total building renovation award for the Centennial building is something that the city should be really proud of. uh was very forward thinking to be involved in that project the way the city was in rallying you know bunch of citizens to to buy into that project and uh people around the state other communities state leaders all the way up to the state house all recognize the work being done here and that project is a really good example of the collaboration uh at all levels that we do in the community here and really proud we had 30 folks from the community there to be a part of that and some city staff and some elected officials and just want to express appreciation for that and um just people should be very proud of of those things that the city's doing. So that's it.

Luke and I will echo what Matt said about last Thursday night. uh the the work that the team at Jefferson Matters has done over the last several years uh has impressed people from all over the state and as well as multiple nations for that that one attraction. So it's um some really truly impressive work uh that you've done with the resources that you have and and thank you for what you do to put us on the maps. Nice job. Um other and again I'll just reiterate uh the meetings that we had with the DOT today uh went um was really excited with the outcome really really excited for the economic and career development opportunities and that this community has uh ahead of it and that's that's it for my reports. library board of trustees met last night. Um relatively short meeting. What they really are excited about is um kicking off in earnest the fundraising portion of the new library project. They've already um been doing definitely some fundraising, but they're getting more organized and things like that. One of the big uh milestones would be to reach uh $2 million of this five million because that makes it eligible for various grants and stuff like that. Um they have discovered an old alumni book of every graduate from Jefferson's Scranton from 1882 to 2013. So if you graduated in between those years, you might be getting a phone call. Just just one other thing just to put this in the back of your mind then it's library related is if we when we if and when we ever get into a to a project

very likely that the library relocates at least in part and and fun and runs at a different location. So one of one of the things that that they were really examining is where where other potential locations may be. We may very well look at this at this upper story of city hall as as a place to have a a smaller temporary version of the library. By and by doing that, by using some existing space that we have, we can save on some cost that way. So certainly have some inconvenience, but just keep that in the back of your mind.

Especially this would free up the, you know, the building that they don't have to worry about working around things and stuff like that. Um, it would legitimately be a year where we might have to meet downstairs if that's what some if that's what the council this would be considered the non-fiction section.

There you go. Okay. Uh, I just got a couple of things. Uh, first one is thank you to uh the markettomarket pink gorilla event crew who came in last Saturday morning. Uh there were approximately 250 teams that left Jefferson and ran to De Moine. Uh with an attendance, we probably had an attendance here of about 2500 people. Uh started at uh 5:00 and they were over with by 8:30 and they were cleaned up and gone by what quarter after 9 or so. So it's a really good crew. This year was their 13th year that they've run from here. They started 15 years ago but co nailed them twice for the run. So it was it was very good to see them again and do a little chitchatting with them. Uh the other thing is Jefferson has been named a Tree City USA again this year. This is the 28th year that we have done this and I will be signing a proclamation uh about this. So, and that's all I've got. So, we're done.