The Jefferson city council at its regular meeting Feb. 23 approved a resolution of intent to authorize up to $400,000 in a general obligation bond for a portion of the cost of constructing a new animal shelter. The bonds will be sold at the same time as those approved last month.
Two council members and the mayor reported hearing comments a person who supports the construction of a new shelter but doesn’t think the city should pay a portion. They surmised the same person had talked with all of them. No members of the public spoke or submitted written comments for the required public hearing prior to approving the resolution.
While the city is in the planning stages of a state-required upgrade at the wastewater treatment facility on W. Russell St, the council approved a service agreement with Bolton and Menk for a review of the water treatment facility on N. Cedar St.
Bolton and Menk staff will review and summarize previous well construction and water supply data; review and collect information on historical water usage and projected future demand; review the water treatment facility; review water storage; review water quality data and treatment goals; review a project schedule; and collect data of historical water usage, well records, pumping records, and water quality data.
The final report could eventually be sent to funding agencies if a project is undertaken, city engineer Jim Leiding of Bolton and Menk told the council.
“The plan is to get the ball rolling and start looking at things, trying to stay ahead of things,” Leiding said.
According to council member Harry Ahrenholtz, “the plant is getting to the age where we need a more comprehensive study of where we are and looking at the long term.”
The water plant went into operation in 1995. “It’s right at the end of its design life,” Leiding said.
Cost of the study is $43,200.
The council approved hiring Nick Johnson of Lidderdale as a police patrol officer at a starting annual wage of $47,321. He has a background in firefighting and emergency medical services and is currently a Carroll County jailer.
He replaces officer John Young, the third JPD officer to leave the department for the Waukee police department.
In another personnel matter, the council approved hiring Micah Destival as golf course manager with a 10-month contract of $34,400. That’s an increase of $1,200 over his 2020 contract.
Greene County Development Corporation director Ken Paxton provided his quarterly update, a precursor to receiving a quarterly disbursement of funding from the city.
Paxton told the council that a group of Jefferson business owners asked GCDC for help in learning to use social media to promote their businesses. He said a three-prong program will “help all of our businesses in Greene County, but our small businesses and even our home businesses.”
The first prong is a series of training sessions hosted by Region XII Council of Governments. Two have been held and three more will be held. They’re available to all businesses.
He said a local group of about dozen retailers has formed Retail Revamped to work together. GCDC is pursing a grant that will fund more specific training in social media for local businesses. That will include classes by Chatterkick, classes at the Iowa Central Career Academy at Greene County High School.
Another part of the grant would fund iPads and software for Career Academy students to work with specific businesses in ad development and using social media to promote the business. The goal is to help businesses become “more efficient and more productive on social media,” Paxton said.
He added that the students would be working directly with business owners seeing how their businesses operate which, according to Paxton, would be a win-win situation.
Paxton reported that developer Andy Rowland, whose Rowland Construction built the multi-family housing on N. Olive St east of St Joseph Catholic Church, plans to build a four-plex on N. Cedar St, a block east of the existing units. He is also moving forward with plans to build a four-plex in Scranton.
He also said the last part of financing for repurposing the former Ace Hardware store at the northeast corner of the courthouse square as The Public House is in place and work on the building will begin soon. He noted he’s worked toward having a “business class restaurant” in Jefferson for 10 years, and The Public House will fill that wish.
During an update from Jefferson Matters: A Chamber and Main Street Community, council members learned the inaugural Bike Ride Across Greene County (BRAGC) is slated for Saturday, May 8. The route is from Jefferson to Paton using County Road E-53 and Highway 144, and then returning to Jefferson on County Road P-33 and E-53.
More information is available at jeffersonmatters.org
