Durant city council members approved a permit for the annual display of Fourth of July fireworks at the May 29 city council meeting. The fireworks are scheduled for dusk on the Fourth of July at the Durant High School football field, with a rain date of July 5.
Housing committee task force
updates council on applicants
Community development consultant Mark Brockway updated council on applicants for the housing rehab project. He said that seven applications had come in to take advantage of $60,000 worth of funds granted to the city from the Housing Trust Fund in order to assist low-income homeowners with exterior improvements.
Council members assigned to the housing committee task force discussed hardships of some homeowners and how those could be barriers to receiving improvements. Each homeowner is required to put in 10 percent, or up to $1,000, toward the improvement in order to qualify for funds. Task members said some homeowners asked if they could provide “sweat equity” in lieu of the fee.
“We can’t give them all exceptions,” said council member Diane Quiram. Council discussed how to decide who would get the fee waived. Council members were reminded they had decided to charge homeowners a fee. The charge helps to offset the cost to the city, as the grant requires the city to match a portion of the funds. Council member Brian Utter said that as resident and neighbor, he would like to see the houses get upgrades. No decision was made at the meeting.
Brockway said with seven good, qualified applicants, the city, “Can do some pretty major improvements to the properties.”
Community Center generator
purchase discussed
For the second time, council members discussed the purchase of a generator for the Durant Community Center. Since the last meeting, a fourth bid came in from the Electric Doctor at a cost of $19,683 for a diesel generator or $18,062 for a natural gas generator, both with a startup cost, if required, of $1,200.
The Durant Community Center serves as the emergency shelter for the city, “You’re going to use this as a shelter, you’ve got to have some kind of power,” said city clerk Deana Cavin. Currently there is not one on-site, which could be problematic in cases of emergencies. Mayor Scott Spengler said that natural gas would be a good option as it doesn’t go bad and there is natural gas by where the generator would be installed.
Council members chose to table the purchase as Cavin continues to look for grants to help offset costs.
Engineer report
Council motioned to approve resolution 2018-26, a resolution approving contract and performance and/or payment bonds for the Seventh Street water main replacement project, pending the city receiving the contract.
Crews should be on-site by June 18, “It’s later than we were hoping,” said MSA senior project engineer Kevin Bailey. With a substantial completion date of July 20, Bailey said crews were planning on working six days a week for much of the project.
Public Works Department
Council approved the purchase of a sensor to be used at the wastewater treatment facility at a cost of $2,720. The sensor will send a message to the staff’s computer, alerting them to when they need to press sludge, which will cut down on the staff member’s time. “They do have money to pay for that,” explained Cavin.
Council also approved a quote from LL Pelling Co. for the amount of $20,190.40 for seal coat work over several streets and areas throughout the city. Crews should be in town this fall to perform the work.
Closed session results in no action
At the end of the meeting, council entered closed session under Iowa Code 2.5 (j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property. The minutes and the audio recording of a session closed under this paragraph shall be available for public examination when the transaction discussed is complete.
According to Cavin, “Council reconvened into open session at 7:21 p.m. No action was taken on the consideration of property purchase at this time. Mayor Spengler and two council members yet to be determined will set a future meeting for initial proposal with property owner.”
Miscellany
In other action, council:
* Opened the meeting with approval of the agenda, approval of city bills and approval of minutes from the May 14 meeting.
* Approved the renewal of cigarette permits for Jeff’s Market and Casey’s General Store. Police chief Orville Randolph noted, “Both businesses are making strong attempts for compliance” and recommended the renewal.
* Randolph also advised that some residents had been given warning letters for mowing and that all residents are expected to keep their yards maintained.
* Approved resolution 2018-28 approving a final amendment to the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30.
* Council members discussed the purchase of new chairs for council chambers but made no decisions.
Council members Utter, Quiram, Kevin Mundt, Dan Sterner, Dave Schulz and mayor Spengler were present. All action taken was unanimous unless otherwise noted. The next regular meeting is June 11 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
