Golf cart/ATV ordinance to be subject of work session

City of West Liberty meeting highlights

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A public city council work session on the proposed new golf cart/ATV ordinance was set for Tuesday, April 6 beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the conference room of the West Liberty Public Library, it was decided Tuesday, April 16, at the regular meeting of the West Liberty City Council.

The meeting comes following a Feb. 2 discussion by the council on whether to adopt an ordinance for usage of All-Terrain Vehicles, UTVs and golf carts on West Liberty city streets when city council members, the city police department and a Muscatine County official weighed in on the issue.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting, but should get details from city clerk Lee Geertz regarding input at the meeting. A draft of the proposed ordinance is also available through city hall, which spells out specific rules and regulations for such vehicles from insurance responsibilities to operation hours to required equipment and more.

In other business, the board approved a slight percent increase in the maximum levy in the city’s 2021-22 fiscal year budget, which will produce $1.292 million in income off a total property taxable valuation of nearly $79.15 million.

The city also approved it’s budget of nearly $29.5 million.

Economic development

As part of the city’s economic development grant program, owners Scott Brooke and Darren Brooke were authorized two grants for work on the West Liberty Foods Market building at 105 East Third Street in downtown West Liberty.

The first grant application for $8,781, was for remodeling work on the building that included two second floor windows to two residential upstairs apartments as well as work on the first floor of the 3,795 square foot building.

Known as Brooke Ventures, LLC of West Branch, the company planned to replace the entire roof on the building before finishing the second floor apartments. The owners said the funding will allow the company to “focus on other improvements to the building such as tuck pointing brick, etc.” Work on the structure began last week.

A second application for $10,420 by the same company for remodeling of a building at 317 North Spencer Street will include renovation of a front upstairs apartment, renovation of the front portion of the lower level for commercial use and remodeling of a portion of the building no longer structurally sound. The building presently has a vacant lower level and two vacant upstairs apartments, which they plan to renovate into three apartments.

Work on the project would begin in June and the owners said there is also plans to complete exterior improvements on the building.

Mayor issues proclamation

Interim mayor Diane Beranek, on behalf of mayor Robert Hartman, signed a proclamation for the city to observe Junior Achievement Day on April 1, providing an opportunity to recognize and celebrate Junior Achievement of the Heartland for “empowering young people to own their economic success.”

In her report to the council, city clerk Lee Geertz said employees are adjusting to their new temporary digs at the WeLead/Regional Education and Cultural Center while the city hall is under construction. City police are still operating from the Waldo C. Myers City Hall building.

Geertz reported some “confusion” among residents concerning the new location and said the city will add signage and possibly a flag to the front of the building to help identify the temporary city hall. A new drop box for paying utility bills is also being added in front of the building.

Reports provided by officials

WeLead director Joe Taylor also gave a report at the meeting, pointing out he was willing to help with a grant application for continuing education on literacy and the COVID-19 crisis, working with council member Kara McFerren.

He said the organization is busy with a lot of requests and activities, from meeting with state and regional officials to local developers.

Interim city manager Elizabeth Hansen confirmed there are a lot of possible developments in the very near future that Taylor is handling.

The council also received reports from the wastewater treatment plant, which reported the installation of two new air compressors at the plant as well as other work.

In the city water department report, Dan Goodale reported a couple of trailer court water leaks, a false alarm of a water main break on Columbus Street and a hole in a storm sewer line in the parking lot of the West Liberty Foods plant.

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