The remodeling of the Waldo C. Myers Municipal Building is likely to result in a temporary move of the City Hall to downtown West Liberty, it was learned Tuesday evening, Dec. 15, at the second meeting of the month for the West Liberty City Council.
Interim city manager Elizabeth Hansen said the city needs to begin talks with WeLead about utilizing space for approximately five months in the Regional Education and Learning Center where the organization is housed with the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce to provide temporary space for city employees while a remodeling project of the city hall/police department takes place next year.
She said the city is finalizing remodeling plans for the building with city engineer Leo Foley of Veenstra & Kimm Engineering firm and city officials, expecting to make a presentation to the city council in late January that will unveil a timeline and design that will include moving the police department to the south of the building where administrative offices now exist.
In his report, Foley called the city hall remodeling project “one of the top priorities,” hoping to be able to meet a Feb. 11 bid meeting for the anticipated $200,000-plus project.
Lots of business
The news was just one of many actions and discussions learned about at the Dec. 15 meeting as the city council approved an expansion of a downtown business, set a date for a public hearing on a proposed Capital Improvement Plan, promoted a city employee to create a dual role as a Communications Director and other learned about other projects moving forward.
The council approved a small expansion plan for the Alcalpulco Bakery at 311 Calhoun Street after the business, which has been in the community for the past 20 years, made a request for a permanent use of the city’s right a way behind the building.
Maria and Benji Gonzales, owners of the building, made the request that was initially tabled by the council in order to get more accurate information.
City building/zoning inspector Terry Goerdt gave his stamp of approval on the project before the city voted 5-0 to approve the commercial business placing a walk-in freezer that is now located inside the store to a deck on the back of the building.
The move would allow more space inside the store to expand retail space, producing more sales tax revenue for the city.
Set CIP public hearing
The council set Tuesday, Jan. 19, to host a public hearing on the city’s capital improvement plan, expanded to 2021-29 to include $21.66 million in street work and city updates.
The funding is outlined to include $3.128 million from Tax Increment Financing (14 percent), approximately $3,2 million in property taxes (14 percent), $8.7 million in municipal utility revenues, (40 percent), $4.638 million (22 percent) from SRF (State Revolving Fund), along with $1.58 million (seven percent) from LOST (Local Option Sales Tax), a Library Trust fund of $335,500 and a Ryan Memorial Trust grant of $30,000.
A total of 78 percent of that money or $16,787,302 is earmarked for infrastructure reinvestment, storm sewer and transportation projects while 10 percent or $2.3 million is planned for public safety and city hall improvements, eight percent or $1.8 million in electric utility improvements, two percent or $461,000 in improvements to the West Liberty Public Library and one percent or $12,000 for parks, trails and facilities in the city.
This next year, 2021-22, will include $784,457 in capital improvements including $658,457 for infrastructure reinvestment, storm sewer and street projects while $60,000 is earmarked for parks, trails and facilities, another $54,000 for electric utility improvements as well as $12,000 for library improvements.
Heath promoted
City parks department director Nick Heath was provided a promotion Dec. 15 as he was appointed as the city’s communications director. The role is in addition to his duties with the park department, which includes management of the city’s Oak Ridge cemetery. Heath has been learning about communication technologies for the past year.
His new role with the city will include taking care of the city network, managing all the devices within the city and troubleshoot issues for employees, training employees on new systems/software, installing hardware, implement GIS system and more.
Heath said on the communications side of things, he will be getting information updated on website, social media and creating policies for communication, social media, computer usage and more.
Other business
City council member Cara McFerren unveiled that the city applied and received approximately $89.400 of a Federal Cares Act relief grant provided through the state. The funding was available because of interuptions in economic development due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the derecho wind storm on Aug. 10, both causing the city additional expenses. Hansen called obtaining the grant “exciting” news.
The council also went through various city department leaders, the biggest news coming from library director Allie Paarsmith, who reported some additional plumbing problems in the building following the installation of a new HVAC system. She said although the new system is providing more efficiency, it created some additional problems.
In his report, Foley also reported good news about the city’s Well #2, which has been undergoing testing, noting samples taken from the well are “better than expected” and he’s hoping the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will approve putting the well back into use.
Hansen reported the city is “on track” in the annual budget process, setting up final meetings with city clerk Lee Geertz and department directors to review line-item details, with a goal of making a presentation to the council on Feb. 2.
The interim city manager also said she met with DeePak Giri regarding the development of rental property on the southwest edge of the community. Although the city has already approved the site plan, it is being amended. The city also talked about the development off Shore Street creating a second access and areas for emergency and solid waste material vehicles to operate safely in the neighborhood.
Park Director Nick Heath also reported that donation brick for the new Kimberly Park playground that opened this past summer were placed in the area of the playground, praising the community for their support. In the last meeting of the year, Mayor Robert Hartman thanked the council members and all city staff members for their efforts this year and “making West Liberty a better place to live.”
He said the Coronavirus created some “bumps in the road” but said the city learned things they will use in “the long run.”
The mayor wished all to stay healthy in the future and through the holiday season, practicing social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and not gathering in large groups.