Council - Regular Meeting

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. Join me for a moment of silent prayer. Amen. Okay. Agenda item number three is approval of tonight's agenda. I don't think there's any changes to that. So, is there a motion for approval? All those in favor signify by saying I.

I motion carries. Agenda item number four is a time that we provide each meeting for citizen comments, usually on non-aggenda items. So, I'm not sure if anybody's here to speak on that. Okay, I think I don't see anybody. So, we'll go ahead and move on to agenda item number five, which is exhibit one in your packet. And that is approval of the M minutes from January 19, 2026 and January 26, 2026. If you had time to look those over, um I would entertain a motion of approval. So move court.

Any questions? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Agenda item six is the access holdings urban renewal plan which is exhibit two. And I Kent, are you up on that one? Sure. That's what Yeah. Then I'll open the public hearing. It's up to you. Yep. I'll go ahead and open the public hearing and um we'll turn it over to the chair and if anybody's here to speak on that. So this is the the time that we advertised to have the public hearing for access renewal plan.

We started this process back first of the year. We had a consultation meeting on the 12th with nobody showed up for but it was meant for any government entity that wanted to school to come and had a P&Z meeting on the 7th that went through smoothly. So um yep now it's just the formality of uh holding the public hearing and uh recommending approving the plan and the plan is attached in your packet as exhibit is exhibit number two. It's exhibit two. Exhibit two. Yes. Any questions on the plan otherwise? And that's basically what we'll be making the resolution. Yes. To approve. Right.

That is correct. Ordinance since Yeah. want to move forward with that. This is for right. So any questions council any or anybody from the public more than welcome to come up. Not hearing or seeing anyone approach, we'll go ahead and close the public hearing. And um that takes us to uh a motion for the resolution to um to approve that. Anybody want to make a motion? Work. And it's a resolution. So we'll do roll call. I'll start with you. Andrew, yes. Mark,

yes. Brett, yes. Olivia, yes. there. Yes. Excellent. Thank you everybody. Now we have to do a first reading of the ordinance for the division of revenues under section 403.19 code of Iowa for access holdings urban renewal plan. So is there a motion to approve the first reading? All those in favor signify by saying I. I opposed.

Motion carries. Now it is um I asked Matt if there was any reason um as a council you are in a position that you could wave the second and third readings if it's not going to really affect anybody else and then we can do the ordinance but you didn't think it would there's any reason because it won't affect anybody any other hold um resident right so if that's something the council wants to do we um can have a motion to wave the second and third reading of that ordinance. I just have one question I guess about it. So it it's just the commercial portion of the building,

correct? Just the So is there any way that it could have been like both the top and the bottom or it's just always commercial since it's downtown? Yes, because the uh second floor are units are being sold. Um so yeah it is it is simply the commercial space on the on the lower level and access is uh understanding of that and fine good question that's looking good it does look really really nice there was a I don't have that agreement in front of me something about the number of jobs that they have to increase correct 14 to 20

yeah and they and and they're at 10 and they'll be continuing to but and that's something that I'll be checking on as we go. So, I think they have a few more months to be able to get to that. April, May is something like that. But you're right. And when they open up, uh, which will be in I think they'll be there in February. They'll have a few more months, but yeah, that's something that I'll be, uh, overseeing. So, yeah, city jobs, will they be in that location or are they going to be remote jobs elsewhere?

Uh, there will be. Um so currently they've even brought on where they're currently at uh by the new vet clinic they've brought on an additional 9 or 10 and they'll continue to the intent was to be on site. Um the interesting dilemma that we're going to have is there's parking going to be a parking crunch. Uh

um because yeah another 14 jobs in this area is another 14 cars. I mentioned that to him regarding uh working off-site and they are uh they will most likely be rolling uh off-site jobs um just because space parking spaces they're critical uh is is an issue. So yeah, Darren, you don't want uh access in front of yours, right? Little tighter. You need a ramp. Mhm. Yeah, especially with all the Yeah. You know, fixing up the construction that'll be done.

But good question. It's It's going to be a big boon for our that building. Mhm. Do you know how many of those um upper uh homes they or apartments they've sold or have they sold any? Uh I understand there's one that's sold um the one that's on the um it would be the south west corner. Oh yeah. So everything else though is still open. So if you're interested I know. Did any buy it? Oh, by the way. Yeah. Yeah. That would be a nice one though.

Yeah. Good to festival and look out and Yeah. Good. Thanks, Ryan. So, what does council think about waving the second and third? I'm in favor of that. You guys okay with that? Okay. So, um we had a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I oppos. Motion carries. So then we need um a motion to uh approve the ordinance 403.19. So move. All those in favor signify by saying I.

I motion carries. Okay. Now agenda item number seven is Axis Holdings urban renewal plan development agreement. Yep. and we'll go ahead and open the public hearing on that. Yes. So, this is uh the development agreement with Access Holdings for the TIFF. Uh it's a 10-year. We emailed it out to you. Yeah.

Uh if you printed it off, um page 13 talks about the jobs and it's a 10-year TIF that we're entering into here. And um page 15 talks about when it'll go into effect. So like the first TIF dollars that they will receive is the fall of 27. So okay, Tyler has signed that agreement and just going through this process of public hearing, right? Yeah. But if you have any other questions, let us know. Anybody public hearing need to have any concerns or questions?

Council. Okay. Then we'll go ahead and close the public hearing and we need a resolution to approve and authorize the execution of a development agreement um between the city and access support. And this again is a um roll call because it's a resolution. I'll start with you Mark. Yes. Brett. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Great. Thanks, guys. Okay. It is public hearing day today. Now we're going to do um agenda item number eight is a public hearing on the matter of adoption of plan specifications form of contract and estimate of cost for the construction of the seventh street reconstruction and resurfacing project. This is exhibit three in your packet and we'll go ahead and open up that public hearing. Matt, are you going to Sure. Take that one.

Yeah, I appreciate it. Oh yeah, exhibit three. Apologize about the confidential that printed out there. But um that's the the bid tabulation or the bid summary of u the six biders that came in there. Mark is here from Beck Engineering too and congratulate him on not being a low bid. So good good estimating there Mark. But um so we were happy to see the um the bids come in under what we were anticipating there. As a reminder, we're getting a uh uh funding from the federal uh government through the DOT uh for about 850,000. And so we're also uh having some funds contributed by the county for a portion of this um some of the center 22 ft. They're they're splitting some of that cost for about 400,000 roughly. So I think we're construction wise it comes out to about 550 for us. uh plus engineering cost. So, um so that that's really a little summary of the the project there. Um excuse me. Jason has been working on um sending out letters to to the property owners and then for those folks that are on the concrete portion, we're going to be having a uhformational meeting just what that impact will be for them and and u during construction. So, um, so yeah, just keeping the the neighbors in informed there and and, uh, yeah, that that project will be starting here. Is there late start date of May sometime?

Yeah, it's April 20th is the late start date, but we can see them getting started early. Okay. So, so yeah, so that's kind of the low down there. If you have any questions, Mark can answer that. um recommend uh yeah having a public hearing and then awarding the contract there to DOS construction. They uh they actually um did the 14th Street project um basically where Vision is looking at going right now. Um that section between St. Paul and

Spencer. Yeah. So familiar with Orange City. I think they partner with some of the local excavators um as a subcontractor. So be good

any another public hearing. So is there anybody that has any questions or comments from the crowd in the or the council? Not we'll go ahead and close the public hearing and then I think this is just a motion um to adopt the plan specifications form of contract and estimate of cost. Okay, there support. Okay, all those in favor signify by saying I I carries and we need another motion to award the bid.

Is that correct that the loss construction? All those in favor signify by saying yes. All right, that takes us to agenda item nine, LOAP guidelines, which is exhibit 4. And that

going to introduce it and if you have any questions, Dan is here, too. Um, we've got to work with um Dan, some of his officers, Kent, so feel free to chime in with anything there. But as you uh recall, we um basically sent our intent to the state that we were going to be participating in the LOAT program with the state of Iowa and uh that is a match of up to $500 per personnel and uh there's a there's a limit on the funding. So it could easily be that that 500 gets trumped down prorated depending on the number of uh fire departments that apply for that. So, so we've made our intent known. Now, we have uh guidelines that we use basically internally as far as who's eligible. And so, the fire department's done a pretty good job of laying out the point schedule, um how long they have to be on the department, what the um what the vesting period is, and then when they uh uh you know, if they get off the department, what what happens to those funds and that that sort of setup there. So,

I think it's fair to say, Dan, if you're moderately active, you will qualify. Yeah. If you attend meetings and go to calls,

think that that everybody that's currently on that's past that two-year mark or actually that first year. So, um if you're past, let's say you come on in February, you're going to have to wait till the following February to be able to be eligible. That's that's kind of like some of these retirement programs or whatever. And that's not us. That's just how those programs work, right? But other than that, everybody that's currently on active on the department, there's nobody that's eliminated or nobody that's eligible for. But we also have some criteria there that we want to, you know, the idea behind the LOAP profile. They want to honor people that are serving. And so if they're not serving, we have to have a point type basis. And that's part of their they want a guideline and some type of point type system where where they can monitor as well. So that's that's what questions. Council, do they have to have any specific certifications in order to

No, no, they don't. This is a non But we what we did is we said for people that have certification, we give them bonus points for doing that. So, um because they've invested in the department, they've done that that extra work, they get bonus points carried forward. So, again, if somebody doesn't have certification, it's going to take that more training. But even with more training, nobody, you know, nobody's even close to not being eligible. So, college students, college students,

uh, college students are not because again, they're only they're not going to be here for that that long a time. So, they they have to be there that that two years, per se. So, we we have a large influx, which is great with college. We've got a lot of college kids that want to go on and become professional firefighters, and it it helps. You had a couple, right? Did you say didn't you tell me that we Well, we currently have nine full-time across the United States, but right now we have five college students that are participating as as our members, and we've got a sixth one we're going to interview, but nine that are serving around the past that are full-time across the United States. That's cool.

Any other questions or comments? So, you're just looking for a motion to approve the guidelines. Okay. Is there a motion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I motion. Agenda item number 10 is um 2,560,000 GO bonds loan notes. So, are you doing that, Mr. Kent? I know. That's kind of speaks your language here. geo bond. Yep. This is one of the final steps. Yes. Yeah.

So, this is uh we have a purchase agreement from DAD Davidson. Um Janet's got that. We're uh looking at this is in regards to the fire truck and we are doing the refunding portion which is about 800,000. Okay. So, the true interest cost came in this morning when we had a phone call with DA Davidson. And the true interest cost is 3.29%. It's over 10 years. And uh first payment on the interest will be December 1 of 26. We kind of went through this a little bit um

with through the budget process in regards to debt service. um they're going to be it's it's a level what we call uh level financing over those 10 years. It's about 200 a little over $200,000 per year principal and interest. Uh in regards to the refunding, it's about $800,000. There's three years left on the 2019 A bonds and we were able to save about just a little over $18,000 for those three years. So we I'm recommending that we pull the trigger and do that refunding and save that. Um and that those were at 4% and then they came in at 2.77. So So yeah, this is the last part. We're just asking uh you guys for a um resolution to take agreement on on the purchase agreement and then final step will be at the next meeting and that's actual issuance of it and then we'll close like first part of March have the money. that you were happy with that percent.

Yeah, it was good. Yeah. Yep. We like it when kids, but appreciate it. Thank you very much. Yeah. Thanks, Kent. So, is there a motion to approve that resolution? And once again, that's a um resolution. So, we'll do roll call and I'll start with you. Brett? Yes. Olivia? Yes. Yes. Andrew? Yes. Mark? Yes. Excellent. Thank you. Agenda item 11, gas work position.

Yeah. So, um, as you recall, we've had this position open for a number of months. Uh, been doing some interviewing the last, uh, week or two here between, uh, Shane and and Jason's been, uh, involved in that as well. And we recommend hiring Shane Scholar. Uh, he's from from town here. Uh, currently works for Borne Sons and, um, has had some other experience as well. So, we recommend hiring him for the gas position. So, excellent. Excited to start. And he'll start when do we know? Two weeks? Right. About two weeks. Got it. Okay. Okay. Is there a motion to approve uh Shane Scholar?

All those in favor signify by saying I oppos. Motion carries. Good job. Um agenda item number 12. We have a renewal application for a special class C retail alcohol license from Holland Plaza Theater, Crow Grow Theater. And everything's in order, Janet. So, we just need a motion to approve that. So, move. All those in favor signify by saying yes. Yes. Oppos. Motion carries. Administrative reports.

Yeah. Um, so we Jason was here last week, but I'd like to welcome him to the to the group and and uh been doing some training and he's been certainly involved in in what we have going on. So, um, welcome him. And then also Ty Taylor started today in our water department. So, he uh uh excited to be be in town as well. So, u along those same lines, we're um continue to interview for the other gas position we have opening here soon and um for the police officer Jim. I've lost count. I think we have about 15 applications or something. So, um very pleased with what have coming in. So, um

so yeah, we feel pretty good about that. Um, just a reminder, it's hard to believe that uh the we are Curtis has been sending out rental inspection letters. It's uh the end of the first 5 years. So, in case you hear any feedback on that, it went pretty quickly there. Uh the the first time we had uh the first segment, the first 5 years, we provided a little bit of a a rebate on that to get people to sign up. So, this time it's um full price. So, if you hear any anything about that. I forget what the the rebate was um on that. But, uh just just so you're aware that's that's happening. Nice to see progress on the RPerry project um the RTI building. That's that's good to see that work continuing to happen during the winter here. And um last week we closed on the Vision property um on 14th Street and and St. Paul. So, I think they'll be starting out theirs too at some point. So, that's all I had.

Good. Um, I'm hoping to roll out the cemetery software to the public hopefully this week. Um, they'll have available a burial search and a lot selector. So, I I'll share the information with you guys too. So, is that like an app then or is it It's on the Well, there will be an app eventually. I don't have that ready on our website. It'll be on our website. Yes. And different links to go to for that. Yep. Great. Awesome. Thank you for your work on that. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. That's been a lot of Yeah. work. So, good.

Hopefully, it'll make your job earlier earlier easier as time goes on. Maybe earlier. Great. Thanks, David. Ryan, no. Jim, oh Kent, anything for you, Jason? Anything for sure. Dan, Jenny, good to see one day total festival. How many? 101. What? Okay. Okay. Get going on that fit in your Dutch costume routine. Right. Exactly what I was. Council Andrew, do you have anything? Library. got their ebook bike. Oh, did they? So, they had it sitting out in the at the lobby area over the

Good library. I don't know if it's still out there this week, but looks pretty cool. Yeah. So, do you have to take turns riding it or whatever? I don't think I'll be riding it. Especially if you have to do it in your wooden shoes or something. Brett, do you have anything? Nothing. Olivia, you need help fitting your Dutch costumes? You just let me know. I don't have anything there. N I don't have anything either. So, uh, thanks everybody. And is there a motion to adjurnn? All in favor signify by saying I I opposed. Motion carries.