At the city council meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 20, former Mayor Katie McCullough asked members from the West Liberty Volunteer Fire Department if they were planning to resign Oct. 1.
“I’m hoping that because we’re seeing progress and moving that resignation is not what you’re thinking as long as things continue to move forward,” McCullough told members from the West Liberty Volunteer Fire Department in attendance at the meeting. “I would like to have a real discussion about what needs to happen so we can continue this work and continue to have a fire department.”
Eric Christensen, task force member and fire department member, said the fire department needed to know if the city was interested in continuing to pursue the 28E agency.
“I think we do need to probably to set an additional timeline so it’s not out forever,” Christensen said. “But you know like you said I think the work the task force has done is very good. We have some items to figure out yet but I think it’s moving at a good pace.”
The fire department needed commitment and agreement from the city council that they were going to move forward, Christensen added.
McCullough asked City Clerk Lee Geertz if a motion was needed to continue working with the fire department.
Geertz said a motion to continue the task force because the task force is moving where the discussion is going.
“You would need a motion and a second for approval of continuing the task force and the continuing of focusing on the 28E (agency) agreement,” Geertz said.
McCullough asked Geertz if the motion was needed that night or at the first meeting in October. Geertz said that night.
Councilmember Omar Martinez asked Geertz if they needed two separate motions or all in one. Geertz told him it would be fine to put it all in one.
Councilmember Cara McFerren made the motion. Martinez seconded it. The motion was approved unanimously.
Other items covered at the city council meeting included:
• Approving liquor licenses for Savor by Chef D, New York Dollar and Catramex Inc.;
• Approving the West Liberty sewer report for September 2022;
• Approving the resolution to appoint Joshua Schiltz Costa to city council until Dec. 31, 2023;
• Approving a resolution of payment for the economic development grant for Kacee Bell’s property located at Dutton Park;
• Times for Trick-O-Treat. Trick-O-Treat will be held Monday, Oct. 31, from 5 – 6 p.m. on the Heritage Foundation Trail and 6 – 7:30 p.m. for the city.
The next city council meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the West Liberty Community Center.