The Jefferson city council met Tuesday and discussed but did not come to a decision of how to handle an upcoming council vacancy due to council member Matt Gordon winning the election for mayor.
City attorney Bob Schwarzkopf advised two possibilities for filling Gordon’s council seat: appointment of a temporary council member or calling for a special election. In either event, Gordon must resign his council position within a time-frame before assuming the role of mayor on Jan. 1.
During the reports portion of the meeting council member Harry Ahrenholtz on a meeting he attended concerning the Early Learning Center. He reported it will take $1.7 million to bring the Early Learning Center to code compared to $2.9 million to build a new building next to the old building.
Ahrenholtz added the old building could then be torn down for playground space.”
The current building has a maximum capacity of 94 children, with 87 children currently attending. One artist’s conception of a new building would increase the maximum capacity to 145 children served.
Ahrenholtz estimated a new building could be self-sustaining in three years.
During the agenda items, resolutions were unanimously passed approving annual appropriation for rebate payments under agreements with Lincoln Ridge Estates Development ($42,000); Jefferson Hotel Group Development, Cobblestone ($101,200); Michael and Miranda Wahl Development ($43,000); and Jefferson Veterinary Clinic Development ($17,500).
Resolutions were also unanimously approved concerning supplemental easements and plat of survey for property in Greene County Development Corp Business Park No. 1, located on the west side of Elm St on Highway 4 north.
The council authorized Alliant Energy to place an additional light in the recycling area at the southwest corner of Perry and N. Cedar Sts. Cost is $21 a month. The council is also looking at options for a camera there and another dumpster for cardboard.
City administrator Mike Palmer reported Jefferson is working toward designation as a National Main Street Community. He also spoke of a recent grant of $75,000 awarded to Jefferson Matters: Main Street from the Iowa Economic Development Authority for a restaurant/tap room in the former hardware store on the northeast corner of the square. The restaurant will be called Public House.
Palmer described a meeting of the US 30 Coalition that discussed planning for upgrades or changes to Highway 30 across Iowa. Palmer advised “keeping US 30 as a 4 lane, not a Super 2.” A Super 2 highway is a two-lane highway that includes partial controlled access, occasional passing lanes and hard shoulders.
