Council - Regular Meeting

In their opening ceremonies, 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. Just join me for a moment of silent prayer. Amen. All right. Agenda item number three is approval of tonight's agenda for June 15. There's no changes, so is there a motion to approve that?

Aye. Opposed?

Motion carries. Agenda item four is a time we allow for citizen comments on non-agenda items. And I know that we have... Donna Mullenberg here. She hasn't told me she's going to sing or talk. No, no. Another day. Another day. Another day, yeah. And if there's anybody else that would like to speak on non-agenda items, we allow you three minutes, as close to as possible. And if you want to come up, we'd like you to just give us your address, name and address. Thanks for coming, Donna.

My personal home address. Yeah, yes. Donna Mullenberg. 206 9th Street, Northeast.

Thank you.

Let me begin by telling you that I love Worm City. This is where I was raised and I have chosen to retire. Most of you know me and know that I am passionate about theater and have been since I was a freshman in high school 50 plus years ago and became involved in my first night show. It was there that I finally found a place where I thought that I fit in. I recently had the privilege of once again being a cast member in the Tool Festival production of Anastasia. I felt extremely proud and embarrassed at the same time. Incredibly proud of the show we put on, while at the same time embarrassed by the facility we work in. Don't get me wrong, built in 1938, I love the old town hall and what it still represents as a gathering place. But that being said, the old girl, she ain't what she used to be. The money the community has put into her in recent years to make it a more theater-like is a little more than a bandaid on a gushing wound. Each year we rent air conditioning that can't keep up and restrooms at an astounding cost and pray that it's not raining at intermission as we send our patrons outside to stand in line to use the facilities. Put in hundreds of combined hours to put down carpet to deaden the gymnasium echo, install chair risers so that people have half a chance to see what the cast has been working on tirelessly for the past four months. Then we put out chairs and stick a number on the back of each seat by hand and charge people $30 to $50 per seat. Meanwhile, backstage, the cast must coordinate and choreograph their movements because of the unbelievably close quarters. And don't even get me started on the locker rooms slash dressing rooms. Have a quick costume change, run down two flights of stairs to do so, and hope that you make it back up in time to make your entrance because, again, there is nowhere else to change because the small rooms off the stage are stocked with the limited amount of set pieces we can squeeze in through the double doors at the back of the gym. Then there is the sound system and the inherent acoustics of a gymnasium and the lights that must be hung and set each year. I also encourage you to ask any orchestra member about how they feel about the pit. And I haven't even touched on accessibility and fire code issues. Just in case you were wondering, I have been told the night show is the number one contributing source of revenue associated with the festival. As a community, when the cry goes out for another fitness center or a gymnasium, we band together, find the funds, get it done. Now before you tell me that those things benefit a larger part of the population, I would ask you to ask the 150 plus people it took to put on this year's production. Going back to the beginning of this missive, I love one city. No one is prouder of our high school and college teams than when they come home with another trophy. Never am I happier to reclaim my hometown than when introducing myself to a stranger. My only issue with my beloved hometown is their inability to look forward and embrace change because it comes with a price tag. I too am as Dutch as they come and I can pinch a penny tighter than most. But I can also see an opportunity and change, yes change, when needed. I propose we stop saying we can't and look at ways to say we can. I'm not saying move, but razz and replace the old town hall in this spot, as it really is the only place that makes sense for the festival. I would also love to see Earned City become an entertainment destination. The possibilities in the state of the art facility are limitless. I can imagine multiple community plays and musicals each year. I can see the community band playing year-round. I feel with the proper facility, we could possibly draw in big-name performers bringing visual revenue to our town. I see it as an excellent spot for middle and high school concerts, as many of them are still performed in gymnasiums. I would also like to see a venue that could hold shows for local visual artists, showcasing painters and potters, etc. I have come today to simply ask for your support and blessing to go forward with an exploratory group to do the fact-finding necessary to bring back to you suggestions on what could be, examples of what is, and estimates of what our dream would cost. I also humbly ask if the council would consider funding a grant writer to write and apply for monies that we know are out there waiting to be claimed. As we all know, the best time to do this would have been 10 to 20 years ago, as the costs of goods and services have risen. But we are not here to look back. I'm here to look forward to the next 88 years to quote a well-known movie, build it, and they will come.

Thank you, Donna. Anybody have any questions for her? We usually don't get into, but I'd rather really would sit down with you and if you have some ideas as to people that are willing to serve on a committee or something. There they are. Yeah.

This is a portion. Good.

Yeah. Because, and how we can move forward, I think that that, and maybe have somebody else, but it is a, it is always a worry. But, and actually the role she played this year, I told her it was my favorite role she's ever played. She's played a lot of them. Yeah. And we...

A liaison between us and you would be great. That would be good.

Thank you. Getting the fax is never a bad idea.

No, that's right. My example of what I would like to do, Canton has a brand-new facility. Who does? Canton. Canton, really? It has a brand-new facility. I would love to go up and tour it, ask them how they got it going, what it cost, and what it would cost.

Because that's a smaller community.

As a committee, we would look into something like that.

And grant writing is a good idea as well. Grant writing. And is it?

Sarah says she's a grant writer. She writes grants. And I've had other people doing some research into the fine arts grants that are available through the federal government.

I'm around, I think, the rest of summer, so.

I'll be in touch. Okay, very good. Thank you. Appreciate it. I had Andrew. Oh, you had Andrew.

Anybody else? Come on up.

Real name's Kenton Vore. Call me what you want. 417 Frankfurt Northeast. I've been meaning to do this a long time. And I could have probably talked to the council. Is there any way we can propose a stop sign at 2nd Street and Central between Kraft Central and Security National? The only reason I bring it up is I come downtown a lot for various reasons, and two situations are always occurring. I'm either getting sideswiped just because of our huge intersections, or people are stopping for no reason on Central thinking it's a four-way already. um and i think just doing a four-way on second and third just encouraging stop it doesn't really add anything to the commute and it just kind of uniforms the flow of traffic through downtown because we already have a four-way where all of our grid kind of starts so just extending that forward um yeah like i said i've been meaning to say this for a while but i Every time I almost get slideswiped, I'm like, I've got to remember to do that.

There's also an issue with the bank, the drive-thru right there. Yeah. Another piece of car.

Yeah, and everyone just kind of veering into oncoming traffic versus everything being stopped.

It's interesting that you say that because just today I was headed east and stopped at the bank. And I looked. And I could see one moped had a high flag, but the one before it, it was like in the middle of its back.

And I thought, honey, I'd hit you straight on.

So that's kind of a... You've been riding in my car, like eight feet up.

I still miss sedans. Oh, yeah. Huge intersection. So, again.

Appreciate the input. Good. Thank you, Kent. Or Faso. Exactly. Whatever. I'll tell you whatever. How about that? Okay. Anyone else have anything? Okay, good. That brings us to agenda item five, which is exhibit one in your packet, and that's approval of minutes from June 1, 2026. If you had a chance to put those over, I'd entertain a motion for approval. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Motion carries. Thank you, everybody. That takes us to agenda item four, which is time for a public hearing for the disposal of city-owned real estate. That Ryan Law, it's Exhibit 2 in the packet, and he'll give us some details. So we'll go ahead and open the public hearing. Thank you, Ryan.

We are proposing for City Council consideration a resolution to dispose of a 30 foot by 90 foot parcel of land to Northwestern College. This is a small parcel that is home to a bunch of utilities that are underground. And it is obviously to the south side of a much larger Northwestern College plot of ground. We've been working with the college and a national developer to bring a brand into Warren City. one where the developer will spend millions of dollars and make significant improvements and beautify the west end, as well as bring tax implications, as well as utilities, et cetera, will benefit for Orange City. Our need for access to the utilities underneath the ground could be easily attained through a simple utility easement. And in deeding this over to the college, it simplifies the transaction, which has been a difficult process with the developer at present. So whatever we can do to simplify this is definitely worthy of consideration.

Okay.

The only reason we ever had that ground was just for the utilities?

I'm not sure if there's some other history behind it. Sure. I just never knew the ground.

Seems like an odd little cut out piece of that.

That was probably an old building that was there, I would guess. That had some, maybe there was a utility. Yeah, maybe it was just because of a previous existing lot line that was probably just never absorbed by anything else. It's not big enough now to build anything on it. No, it's not. No, exactly.

Matt, you do have specific utilities that are underground, but a 30 by 90 utility easement is sufficient for? Certainly. That's everything.

So this is a public hearing. I don't know if anybody has any comments or questions. Yeah, go ahead.

I have two questions. Do I need to answer? No, it's fine. I can just say it because it's super simple. My question is with the development going forward, I guess, in the resolution and giving, is there a time horizon where there is property tax collected on the parcel eventually? Like, not at first. I know we want to encourage people to come in. I'm not going to argue that. But eventually, is there property tax revenue generated from the piece that we are giving away?

In other words, potentially a sunset to this deeding over if the development doesn't go forward, then it remains?

No, no, no. I'm saying we give it to them, right? is the new development, SANS, whatever we do to encourage them to come in, eventually property taxes will be collected on the land we're giving away?

Yeah, we haven't proposed, or I should say Northwestern College hasn't proposed that there be a sunset or a timeline that they have to establish development, at least not that I'm privy to.

No, no. And the reason I ask that is just the thought of giving away land to someone who develops some stuff is hard. But if there's a property tax implication where we're getting something eventually, change the equation completely, but just giving it away and then it's just going to sit, just a little harder pill to swallow because the land... It'll be property. It'll be property.

Yeah. Good question. Anything else? That's good.

I'm just talking for the year, guys.

The year. Other questions or... Anything else, Ryan? So you're just looking for this resolution to ratify and authorize the disposal of that property, right? Anybody have any other comments before we close the public hearing? Thank you, Ryan. I'll go ahead and close the public hearing, and then we need a motion for a resolution to ratify and I don't know what that is.

Transfer?

The sale price is $1?

Yeah, I think that's the official language.

It sounds like you're blowing it up or something.

And this may go to Ken's point, but historically if it's going to better somebody's yard or whatever, do the assessed value on it. But when it's going to be something that's going to bring property tax into Orange City and be a benefit to the community, we'll do it at a lower reduced cost. So, you know.

And we don't really see any other use for that. There isn't any. You can't build anything on it.

You can't do anything with it. But that sometimes happens with people's yards. And you say, well, yeah, if it's going to better your yard, yeah, we're going to charge you for it, you know.

I would add to that because that's an excellent point. The lot is actually currently, it's not much smaller. It's smaller than the developer has requested. That piece has complicated the whole transaction. They can fit their design on this lot, but they absolutely have to have everything they can up to the concrete. And so just for clarity, this is a, it's just a tenuous situation trying to simplify and grease skids and get them to actually move forward with this development. I think that the town will be excited about.

I do have one question. What is the benefit of the city giving this to the college and having the college negotiate this versus it being a city transaction in the city taking the whole property over. Yes, I just don't understand that part. Yeah. It's not gonna be for the college purpose, but for .

Yeah, and because it's for economic development purposes, and really it's just simply a utility tract. The college is simply asking to unify the piece of property to move forward with a developer for ease of discussions and contract negotiations.

Wouldn't it be more sensitive to the city to do that and take the piece? The whole thing?

Well, we're talking about a small 30 by 90 piece when the college owns the vast majority.

Like for the city to take over the big piece?

For the city to purchase that from the college.

I just don't understand why the college piece is in there if it's a piece that's going to be for city retail purposes.

Well, the college had been working from the very beginning with the developer. So whether or not the city works with them or the college, it's probably easier for the college to say, we'll absorb this small tract of land and negotiate versus sell to the city and then the city has to negotiate. So it's...

The way I understand it too, Ryan, is it doesn't matter from a tax ramifications for us. No, it's the same. We would have to... Long-term taxes are the same. We'd have to buy the property and then it would end up being in the exact same position.

Yeah, there are no tax losses by having the college... It would just be our loss of buying the property.

I just thought it was unique that a private college was doing a negotiation for a national franchise. That's the part I thought was strange.

That is going on, though, more and more around the nation.

Well, it's interesting because that's a great point. It is. The three other properties that we tried to work with to get this brand into Orange City failed. And so I went to the college and requested that this parcel be open for consideration. which previously was not a part of their 10-year plan, but the name brand brings uniqueness, and so they've opened it up for development. So whether or not the city makes this happen or the college makes it happen, I would say what we're doing is we're doing whatever we can to make this happen by greasing some skids, making it much more palatable for the college to be able to sell to the national brand. So does that make sense? And whether or not the college makes the deal or the city makes the deal, the property taxes are all the same.

Anything else? Then I'll go ahead and close the public hearing. You already did. Did I do that? Oh, and then he started talking. Yeah. I might slap my hand next time. You need to open it back up. No, we're not opening it back up. We're fine here. So now we need the resolution to do that. Moved. Okay, and it is a resolution, so we'll do roll call. Andrew? Yes. Mark?

Yes.

yes excellent all right then agenda item seven is exhibit three in your package and it's time for another public hearing on that for a vacation of utility easements along what is that parking street yes and I think Matt's going to

Yeah, so as we reviewed last week, these are three side yard utility easements that were put in place on the original plat. They were not needed during the time of building out the utilities, and as such, the lots were divided up and duplexes were built over top of those. So it was missed in the past by city staff and had been reviewed, I believe, by other folks doing the transfer of properties. It did get caught in an entitled opinion. And so this process would have had to happen when these lots were divided up a number of years ago for the duplexes. So we're just cleaning things up and basically vacating those easements. And we do not need any additional easement along the side yards that have been established since.

Any questions on that? Good to clean things up. If not, I'll go ahead and close that public hearing. Then we need a resolution to approve. I like this language, too. Vacation of utilities. So is there a motion for that resolution? And roll call again because it's a resolution. Mark? Yes. Thank you. And agenda 8 is exhibit 4 in your packet. It's a resolution setting salaries for the 26-27 fiscal year. We're going to consider this. I'll give you a little background on it. Included in the resolution is a 4% cost of living increase, which has been previously established in the collective bargaining unit contract. And July 1 will begin the third of our three years of the current contract. So we had negotiated with the union and had gotten a three-year contract. And now after this, we will have to see where negotiations start again. Past practice with the 4% is also to include that to all non-union employees as well. The library staff salaries and increases have been determined by the library board. So that's on exhibit four. So we were thankful at the time to get a three-year. I'm not sure where that will all end up. But for now, we just need a resolution. Is that correct, Matt? Yeah, that's right.

Approve that. I think you covered it there, too. OK. Any questions?

Yeah. We'll see forward this fall. The union process to vote, and then they'll come to us, and we have a personnel committee, and then we have bargaining, and it's really gone pretty well the last few years. Darren's been on that with me, and who else was? Darrell. Darrell? For the three years ago? Yeah. Steve. Okay. All right. So I just need a motion for that resolution. So moved. Support. And once again, resolution. So I'll start with you, Brett. Yes. Olivia. Yes. Darren. Yes. Andrew. Yes. And Mark. Yes. Excellent. Agenda item nine is we've received nine regional tobacco permit renewal applications, brew oil, Casey's, Conoco, Dollar Fresh, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Fetchmark Foods, Fairway, and Quick Star. So we need to approve that permit, and it's on an annual basis, and the fee is $75 for application. I think everything's in order. Yes, it is. So we just need a motion to approve that. Support. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.

Opposed?

So then item 10 is a renewal application for a special Class C retail alcohol license from Waldstrom Meat Market for a gazolic, and everything is in order, correct? Okay, so is there a motion for that? So moved. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye. Opposed?

Motion carries. Okay, agenda 11 for discussion is hotel motel tax distribution. I'll let Matt kind of start us off there.

Yeah, this was requested to be on the agenda for this meeting. CITY STAFF, WE'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND HISTORY WORK ON THAT. I WAS ABLE TO GET A LITTLE HISTORY ON WHEN THIS WAS A STATEMENT. DECISION WAS MADE IN 2010-ISH. THE HOTEL MOTEL TAX IS 7% AND 3% IS RETURNED TO THE HOTELS. TODAY THAT AMOUNTS TO ROUGHLY $80,000 PLUS OR MINUS TO THE SHARE BETWEEN THE HAMPTON INN AND THE DUTCH INN, AND THAT'S, YEAH, THAT'S BEEN RETURNED TO THEM OVER THE YEARS. SO, YEAH, THAT IS, THAT'S BEEN A BENEFIT THAT THE BOTH HOTELS HAVE BEEN COLLECTING. THE OTHER 4% COMES TO THE CITY TO provide funding for community betterment projects and has been a valuable asset there and provided some really nice nice funding for the city so um yeah that's a little bit of history kind of open it up for discussion as you wish if there's other questions um yeah i think we're best to answer them so are we limited to what we can take in

in hotel-to-hotel tax, because there is, okay.

Seven percent is the maximum. Yeah. Most every city in the state takes seven percent, except for a few. Okay. Take maybe five percent. All right.

That's interesting, isn't it?

Through a few conversations, there has not or there was not a signed agreement anywhere as far as a contract or a... I didn't find one that... Not that we could find, yeah.

Council decision during the time that the investor group is getting together. Yeah, no contract or no sunset on that, on that incentive. So there was a TIF participation on that where basically the hotel got a TIF to funding every year and that is going to be ending i believe this year is the last last payment on that so um so that's happening at the same um you know what that is and that'd just be to the hampton right i mean yes that's just a man that was part of the international incentive any idea that one sorry i think it was a roughly 80 return that is no more so

property taxes are $168,000, so each time we're paying $80,000. It's gone up. Obviously, the amount that we pay has gone up quite a bit, but I would say we used to Roughly, I'm sorry, scratch on that now. We got about 40 to 45 back after each payment.

We do continue to get requests for the community betterment projects. They do somewhat come in waves, like with RAGBRAI coming into town. We had quite a few. Tulip Festival will oftentimes get quite a few. So I know that that money could be used well throughout the community for more community betterment projects.

So how many do you... Do you get, do you know?

I mean, probably in a year, 10 to 15 requests. Okay.

And then there's a board, of course, that decides how much and where.

We standardize that practice some, but we do, yeah, we continue with new projects. Recently we've worked on the Veterans Memorial and getting lighting and those type of things. So, yeah, I know we could use that well.

Mm-hmm.

Is this motel-hotel tax the only thing that forms betterment? I mean, as far as, so the 4% that you get, you don't budget anything else for betterment projects. It's just all what comes out of motel-hotel tax.

Or if you choose to donate on your utility bill. Sure.

So the vast majority is probably this. Almost all of it.

discussion with that 3% that equals about 80,000 a year I feel like the city could use that and some good ways to that could eventually help with tourism and then drive more people to end up using the hotels in the area anyways. So that would be my hope with the money is that we could take it and use it either for betterment that could use it for tourism type things or events to subsidize those to help drive things more towards the hotels to increase their occupancy rate. Yeah, that would be my hope for that money if the city were to, I guess, keep it all.

Do we currently do anything with, like, Airbnbs? Is there a function for that?

They pay the tax. They just don't get anything back.

Okay, okay. So we still are collecting 7% on Airbnb. I've never stayed in an Airbnb in town, so I...

I think it's challenging to debate between taking the money and using the money, but also I feel like I'm de-incentivizing the investors in a way because they came up with $2 million to get the Hampton here, which I think is a huge plus for Orange City. I don't want to de-incentivize people from saying, I want to invest back in town. You know, should we look at a sunset to this at some point in time? Possibly, but I guess for me right now, you know, with them coming off the TIF, I think it's the wrong time to be also looking at pulling more funding.

That's a good point. I was surprised talking to the number of investors that I did that nobody really seemed to get all that upset about it. I was expecting more blowback or feedback on that, and I didn't get a consensus of all the investors, but there was a few that I did talk to. It was not as negative as I thought it was going to be. I only talked to two.

I've talked to a few. They're very professional about it. They know that their investments in our community are huge and we wouldn't get it without. So I think it's kind of complicated that I think we need to take some time maybe, do a little more research, get more input from

They've been getting this money for 13 years now, and there's no, like we said, no end date to it. And what happens if, you know, when the next hotel comes in, they include it, or is it just these two hotels? Because I don't think Orange City's done it, just two hotels.

I hope not. I hope not, yeah. That's what it is. Yeah. Yeah.

I was hoping to get some money.

original agreement came between city council and investor group or Hampton corporate.

I mean, I guess who... Yeah, that's, I mean, the history of Adonis.

Right. I guess my biggest fear is we're making a decision with nobody around the table that made the decision 12 or 13 years ago, right? Although I understand, I also don't want to, I mean, because my understanding is these investors have not got any of their money back out of it, right? I think if they were making money on this deal, I'd say, you know, now, again, it opens up the door for what businesses do you subsidize or not subsidize? Where's the city's role in that? i think that gets tricky but one city council obviously thought that it was important enough now do i wish that there would have been some things in writing and a date or you know some more guidelines i absolutely do but i think for us to say yep we'll take that money and leave them with a hit you know we got to keep in mind you know we're getting i'm going to guess 85 000 roughly that's going to hit our tax rolls right that was going to back to them that we're now going to get. So if we're taking that 85 plus another 80, we can obviously do things with that. One hits the general fund, one hits the betterment fund. I just think, I don't know, both in one year, I would have a hard time doing it. And I think I'd rather, I mean, I appreciate, Brock, you being here, but I think this move that obviously set this deal up with the city, You know, can we get some representation back from the investor group to come, you know what I mean, have the conversation? I get it. At the end of the day, it's the city council. If there's nothing in writing, we can change it. But we also have 20 community members that phoned it up $2 million at $100,000 a share that, you know, if we want another performing arts center, my guess is we're going to talk to some of those people. Okay. And if we go back, you know, if we pull this out from under them and we say, hey, we're going to put up a theater. Do you guys mind donating? I don't think, to me, I don't think that leaves a very good taste in their mouth. But I think you discourage community investment and involvement. That's one guy's thought. I mean, to have double the amount of money to give away and to put, I mean, last year it was band uniforms. You know, they're all great things. I just think. We've got to be careful with how we pull the funding from this group, I think.

Do we have any other places in the state that we see hotel-motel tax being used differently than the original 10?

We'll research on that.

Those are things that we should maybe look into, you know, get all the pieces of the puzzle together.

There had to be, because otherwise how legally would they come up with this idea and take a tax and send it back to somebody, right?

I mean, there had to be examples somewhere.

Was OCDC involved with that at that time, or who would have been? I mean, Daryl was obviously.

Probably some members of OCDC, but I don't know that OCDC as an organization would have been.

Ryan, you? It's not. It is strictly an investor group.

I can do some asks.

Yeah. I'm not opposed to it changing or finding, getting something in writing, right? Whether it's changing it all together, putting a sunset on it, whatever it needs to be. But I think without having those conversations first, I'd just be careful with pulling the...

I don't have enough information tonight without to do it, so...

So some additional information on other uses in the state and yeah, some of it gets returned to the hotels or other uses.

I'd like to even know how it's going to affect the hotel.

Right.

discussion and it is good to bring that you know to the table but I think I mean we won't let it just sweep under the rug I think we just need to keep investigating what information information like go back to the council that was on then sure less was Steve, maybe Earl would have been. Just thinking of Rod. Part of that would be good. But it is. I would have liked to have seen something in writing. It's kind of odd nowadays that you don't have everything documented. Any other moments or discussion, just keep it on the table. Keep researching it and find what we ought to move forward. Appreciate you being here, Brock. I know I said to him earlier, do you want to say anything? He said no. But it's just good to have his presence here. We're glad that you're here and we're glad of what you do at the Hampton, that's for sure. And you had a good week because of Rice Fest, so that's good. See how we need to, I'm sure the motels all around were busy, so that's good. Okay, can we move on? Okay. Agenda item 12 is park rec assistant position.

Yeah, so we recently had Jaron Pau move on to OC Sanitation and opened up the Park and Rec Assistant in the Parks Department. Coincidentally, at the same time, we had hired Carter Albers as part-time help for the summer. Carter recently graduated from Northwestern with a degree in sports management, and he's been doing great. work with Noah the last week and a half or so that he's been on staff, and we recommend hiring him full-time to fill that park and rec assistant. So he's familiar with the community, and his background is great, and he's jumping right in with the other occupants. That's where Noah and Carter are right now. So they're working it. So I recommend hiring him.

All right, so we need a motion to approve the hiring of Carter Albers. Oh, that was quick. He's very popular. Very popular. I bet the kids love him.

I did see it in person. Judd's two coaches, Nani and one other, were gone. So then he filled in and, yeah. Good, yeah.

They didn't throw you out or anything? No. I don't coach. I just sit in the outfield and watch. We had a motion and we have a second? Second. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING YES. YES. EXCELLENT. OPPOSED? SO ADMINISTRATIVE PARTS REPORTS. MATT?

YEAH. LOOKING AHEAD A LITTLE BIT TO SAVE THE DATE, THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATION.

I'm going to find the drillers. You don't have to grill.

I'll stand by the ice cream freezer. You can have one. You can have two. July 22? July 22, yes.

going to be starting co-enforcement officer interviews here this week. So I hope to move forward with that here sooner than later. So I appreciate everybody who's been picking up the slack, and particularly Janet and Jason have been doing a lot of the work, and Ryan going in where needed there too.

So at least with the amount of applicants, that's good.

to have some applicants there and the next couple meetings we've had a few new faces around around the city so a couple months ago we had several show up for the meeting so we'll try to do that again when we schedule that with some new newer employees as well so one thing that we will be looking at the code side of things and planning and zoning. Curt had initially started this with myself and Brad Young as modifying our rental inspection process and providing perhaps a self-inspection option. We've had some folks that have been reluctant to have inspections and so still wanting to ensure that the Safety requirements are being met for for the rental units and apartments, but Just trying to find a good way to ensure that that is happening and quality quality Facilities that way so that will have to go through PNZ first, but we are considering considering an option for that so And Jason is not here tonight, but 7th Street The north will continue on hopefully by later this week. They'll be returning to town to continue work and keep going. And the Madison Place and the Puddle Jumper Edition will be starting here. If it hasn't already, it will be starting soon. So construction updates.

Any questions for Matt? That was it? Yeah. I guess I didn't mean to cut you off. Janet?

Do you have anything?

No, I don't.

Jim? No. Right. Touch base on a fantastic question from a couple of councils ago regarding multi-unit incentive. And just wanted to give a brief update. The majority of NWID members who have reported, I've reached out to IEDA and the state. I want to pull together a little bit more robust report specifically to look at our incentive, multi-unit incentive package versus other communities, not just in northwestern Iowa, but some of the greater parts of Iowa as well. I think it's going to be fascinating. We are From what I've gathered so far, we're on the higher end of the incentive, but it also has worked. We've got a number of multiunits that are being developed, but is it time to reconsider now that we've got considerable development? So sometime in July I should be able to have a report to just give. I've had a few of you ask me about that, and I just wanted to put that out there that in July we should have a better report for you.

We are going for final inspection on the tower here soon, so before the end of the month, and we're hoping soon after that we have delivery. Where do you have to go for that? Lyon, South Dakota. A little over an hour and a half away from there. Northwest Sioux Falls. And then our truck, we have the agreement with Salix, transition, so we're anxious to have it here. Good, good, thanks. I do need to mention, on truck replacement, we have chosen a truck committee for future trucking down the road, but we did choose a committee to do that.

Thanks, Dan. Council. Andrew, did you have anything?

I'm not sure who to congratulate, but the windmill park looks great after all those flowers went in. It does. I don't want to say it's better than two of us. No, yeah, yeah. It just looks really nice. I'm not sure if we've had a council meeting since those all went in, but from a distance.

Noah does a lot of that, doesn't he? Yeah, another half he wears, so. Yeah. Yeah, that's good.

Kudos to him. Good, good. Mark? I was going to say something similar, but Noah, he's running around like crazy with all the summer rec programs he's got going on month of June and the pool and all that. So if you see him, give him a pat on the back. Yeah. and park maintenance, too, on top of that. And that library, too, they've been busy now, too, with summer out, or school out, so kids are going in there and summer reading programs.

I haven't seen that. Has the bike been out? I was thinking about that. I think it has.

Has it? Yeah, it's been out and about.

Does it go to your house?

No, I think it was at the, every Monday. I think it was at the farmer's market last week.

Oh, was it? Okay. That's a good visual for people. Yeah. Great. Great. That's all I have. OK.

In line with the downtown, got a text this week that somebody really appreciated the music playing outside on the speakers. Yeah, I heard that. So that was a nice comment. And then along with that, they said they're seeing a lot of traffic going past the old Blue Mountain to the park out there and puddle jumper and so forth. So they said, are you guys still thinking about putting a sidewalk in there?

Yeah.

I said, it's on our plan. We've been talking about it. Sometime maybe you or Noah could give an update on it.

Yeah, you bet.

We actually, that is in the TIF area, so we need to get that in sooner than later. So we were kind of waiting on how to navigate through the hotel in the Blue Mountain area. So we are actually hoping to bid that here this summer yet and either get it completed fall or early next spring. So that particular one will be going in. Yeah, that's right.

That's all I have. As we are looking at a visual arts exploratory group, I would be happy to be a lead on those pieces. And just wanted to say thank you to Jaron, too, for his service here. He's done a great job and a great team.

Just congrats to Brett and Shelbaugh on increasing the Orange City population. Congrats on that.

I have a smart council, so they've covered everything, so that's great. I just need a motion to adjourn.