Approves settlement of 10-year forgivable loan for business that closed four years early
The Jefferson city council at its July 22 meeting accepted a petition with 65 signatures from Jed Magee requesting the speed limit on S. Elm St past Greene County Middle School be reduced to 35 mph. The speed limit is now 45, and many northbound drivers have only then begun to slow from the 55 limit coming into town.
Magee said traffic has increased and trucks have gotten larger since the speed limit was put in place. The middle school has added a playground and soccer field adjacent to S. Elm St as well. He reminded the council that the speed limit in residential neighborhoods is 35. “Speed limits are for safety reasons,” Magee said. “There’s nothing more important than keeping our kids safe.”
As Magee spoke during the open forum rather than an agenda item, mayor Craig Berry accepted the petition but there was no council discussion.
The council approved a settlement for $60,000 of 10-year forgivable loan to Ray and Rosie Tucker for renovation of the Kendall Building at 111 E. Lincoln Way. The original loan amount was $150,000. The Tuckers operated Sensibly Chic on the street level and lived on the second floor. They retired from business and have sold the building to an investor. The outstanding loan amount was $67,500.
The council approved resolutions approving grants totaling $581,000 for airport fuel farm. The first – $300,000 – is from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The second – $281,000 – is from the FAA’s Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act program for small businesses and air traffic facilities.
The project will add the availability of jet fuel to the Jefferson municipal airport.
Michelle Book updated the council on progress implementing the decision of the Greene County Development Corporation’s board to become part of the Ames Area Economic Alliance (AREA). The AREA board will vote to accept GCDC at its July 25 meeting.
AREA staffer Greg Piklapp will serve Greene County, officing at the Forge in downtown Jefferson two days a week. The Multi-Cultural Family Resource Center, which has operated as part of GCDC since it’s inception a year ago, will become a separate, independent organization with its own board.
Longtime GCDC office assistant and bookkeeper Jason Cerveny resigned recently. Book said she is interviewing bookkeepers for the position. Community development consultant Bill Menner will pick up where Book left off on Vision 2030 after Book concludes her work in Greene County at the end of August. (Book was hired by GCDC to assist in the Vision 2030 planning process shortly before the departure of GCDC director Ken Paxton at the end of May. Vision 2030 was tabled and Book agreed to assist GCDC in determining next steps.)
City engineer Jim Leiding reported a stakeholders meeting will be held July 24 regarding future development of the Greenewood Center area. Members of the Greenewood Center board, the city council’s housing committee will receive information about possible next steps from the Bolten & Menk staff. From that, one of the options presented will be fleshed out. The meeting is not a public meeting, according to Peterson. Leiding also reported a public informational meeting about the Westood Drive – Lincoln Way sidewalk project will be held in September.
