The Jefferson city council at its Jan. 27 meeting set Feb. 10 as the date of a public hearing on the question of allowing hunting withing the city limits.
Dan Pauley owns 70 acres on the southwest corner of town, across the river from Daubendiek Park. Twenty acres of the parcel are inside the city limits. Pauley would like to enroll the entire parcel in the Iowa Habitat and Access program, opening it up to hunting by the public.
City ordinances now prohibit the discharge of firearms. The ordinance could be changed to specify only that parcel.
Police chief Mark Clouse said it’s his impression the program would include target shooting. However, according to the IDNR website, the IHAC program is specific to hunting only.
At the request of the council’s police committee, Pauley has spoken to neighboring landowners, none of whom object.
City council member Darren Jackson said he’s already heard from another property owner who would like to enroll his land in the program so he could hunt on it. “The location of it (Pauley’s land) is so far from the city center it would be preferable to other locations,” city attorney David Morain answered.
Morain also said the change in the ordinance would be specific to only that property.
Council member Luke Winkelman said he did geofencing of the property and found that the border of Pauley’s property is 700 yards from the closest inhabited building. The DNR requires only a 250-yard separation distance.
The council also set a public hearing for Feb. 10 on easements to allow solar panels to be placed on city-owned property by Red Lion Renewables. Terry Dvorak of Red Lion made a presentation to the council in December. Two other companies then contacted the city about similar projects. City administrator Scott Peterson said two of the three proposals were “solid,” but after the finance committee took a close look at them, its recommendation is to enter into a contract with Red Lion.
Estimated savings in the first year is $27,000. Estimated savings over the 30-year life of the project is about $3 million, depending on how much Alliant Energy increases its rates. The only out-of-pocket expense to the city is the administrative time on the contract.
The council directed city staff and the city attorney to work on a contract with Red Lion Renewables.
The council approved an inspection of the interior and exterior of the water tower by Bolten & Menk at a cost of $6,500.
Painting the interior and exterior of water tower is in the city’s capital improvements plan for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2027. Project cost is estimated at $1 million; the city has $500,000 in a fund earmarked for the project.
Peterson said photos of the dry part of the interior show it needs attention. The proposed study would show if the project needs to be done as scheduled or if it can be delayed three or four years. Even if the painting can be postponed, the interior needs to be cleaned, he said.
Leiding said a coating was applied to the exterior in the 1990s that is failing and needs to be removed. He said the metal may be degrading, but that’s not known for certain.
The council approved the purchase of an aerial lift from Mid-Country Machine at a cost of $40,500. The purchase was planned for in the public works budget. The purchase came in under budget. The excess funds, along with other funds in the sewer budget, will go to the purchase of a forestry attachment for a skid loader.
The council gave its approval to the city applying for a Catalyst grant to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for work on the building at 111 S. Chestnut St. Council member Matt Wetrich explained the city would be the applicant, serving as a pass through to building owner. There would be two businesses on the street level and two or three apartments on the second story.
Wetrich abstained from the vote because, he said, if the project is funded he would be working with the owners in his capacity as Jefferson Matters director.
The council approved engineering costs not to exceed $16,000 for Bolten & Menk related to replacing the surface of the alley directly north of Doc’s Stadium. The alley was closed several years ago to provide outdoor seating for the bar & grill.
Jackson said he’s been told there was at one time a coal chase under the alley to get coal to the courthouse. Peterson said there’s no indication of that, but there was a much smaller utility conduit under the alley.
Council member Chad Sloan said he’s also heard there is a large tunnel under the alley. expressed reservations about the project, saying he’s been told during discussions over 30 years there’s tunnel under the alley that was used to shuttle coal to the courthouse. “I really think there’s something there. This could be a big sour egg… I think we should drill a big hole and see what’s under there… Before we spend all this money, we need to know what’s there,” he said.
Leiding said there doesn’t appear to be anything sinking. If something collapses during construction, “it would have to be dealt with.” However, the vote to approve the engineering contract was unanimous. If the full project is done, it would be bid with the Westwood sidewalk project. It would be paid for with the same general obligation bond that will eventually be paid with TIF revenue.
