Government : City Council: New Tractor, Completion of 3rd St. Project and No Parking 2:30-5am

The City Council met on the 24th  Approving the Agenda for the meeting, following the approval of the January 10th minutes and approved the minutes from the Library board and the VPRD, they also received and filed the building inspector December Report.



iVinton



Nathan Hesson gave an update on the IVinton Committee (internet project). Updating the Council on the progress letting the council know that the bids were let for the project. Telling the council that should we move forward the project would be completed by the end of 2019. Telling the council that should a renewal for your internet provider come up, he advised them to hold off on the renewal because he thinks we will have something better.



Citizen Input

No Overnight Parking on 4th St.



The owner of Making Waves, Jolene Fisher, approached the council with concerns over parking in front of her business at 307 4th St. Parking has been filled by those living in apartments in the area leaving no access for her clients to park, Some of the clients need assistance to get into her business via a small cut out "ramp" that is in front of the business. Fisher requested at least one Handicap sign be placed there to assure access for those needing it. 



There have also been problems in the block with snow removal and garbage pick up because of the renters in the area.

Fisher asked that the city post signs prohibiting overnight parking.

Upon looking at the ordinances, it is clear that Vinton does address the parking problem in the downtown area overnight.

According to City Ordinance 69.10, there is no parking allowed from 2:30 & 5:00 a.m. on 4th St. from  C Ave. to 3rd Ave.

Due to the reconstruction of the downtown in 2000, to eliminate "sign pollution" the only place this is posted is on the handicap signs.

The city will be checking into placing a handicap sign in the 300 block of 4th street.

Snow Removal

A concern was brought before the council concerning snow removal, one neighbor pushing their snow across to the neighbor's yard, causing yard damage from the weight and melting snow.

Further complicating the issue, the neighbor had pushed it onto the sidewalk which the owner is responsible to clear and maintain as well as repair if any damage occurs.

An officer and the city administrator will make a visit to see if that can't resolve the issue.

New Tractor 

The city will also be purchasing a New Holland T5.120 tractor from Kromminga Motors, Vinton, for $90,558.00, which was $9,000 lower than other bids. 

3rd St. Project.

The Third Street project is considered complete. During the December 13th City Council meeting, the City Council voted 4-2 to waive the liquidated damages on the project and to move forward with the certificate of completion for the project. With the acceptance of the certificate of completion of the final retainage for the project can be paid and the project will be closed out.

The City Council approved both the change order and certificate of completion for the project. The City will accept the project as completed.

Community Catalyst and Building Remediation Grant Funding Request

Background

The City of Vinton applied for the Community Catalyst and Building Remediation Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. This grant is to assist the businesses that are rebuilding from the Fourth Street Fire that occurred on the evening of February 8, 2018. During the budget, the City Council set aside a match for this grant of $100,000.00. The City has been awarded the full amount of $100,000.00 from the State of Iowa. This makes the total amount $200,000.00.

Status

The City of Vinton has received its first request for disbursement for the grant. The request is from the Michael and Dowd Inc. This request would be fully covered by the grant as well as the match that has been budgeted for. City Council approval is needs due to the amount that is being requested.

Impact

With the award of the grant, the City of Vinton will have to match the amount of $100,000.00. Funds for this match have been budgeted in this current fiscal year with tax increment financing reserve funds. The area is already currently located within the downtown urban renewal district. If the City Council approves this there will be no effect on property taxes or rates to the City of Vinton.

The City Council approved the request from Michael & Dowd Inc. for the requested amount of $37,928.21.

The council also approved resolutions to transfer funds from the local option tax to the library fund and from the landfill fund to the general fund.

The council also approved a reimbursement for sidewalk by McDowell's.

The meeting was adjourned.