Public Hearing for Dollar General at next Council meeting

LIME SPRINGS - At the April 4 meeting, City Council members set a public hearing for annexing and zoning property south of Upper Iowa Beef on May 2.

• In other business, Fire Chief Scott Osmundson reported the department has not had any fire calls in the last few months, “But we continue to train every month.”

He added the generator is on back order and should arrive in July. “If the weather clears up, we will be laying concrete in the back, which will be a pad for the generator.”

• Library Board Chairman Eddie Miller updated council on library activities. Including National Library Week, April 23-29, with a book drawing. Preschool field trips to the library will be taking place on April 25, and Bingo night is April 29.

Patrons served for February in town were 141 and country was 138.

• Laney Frazier reported on the Park & Rec Department. 

The big project coming up is lining pipes that run under the concrete and replace pipes outside the pool. It will cost around $59,000. The board has already received $15,000 from Howard County Community Foundation, with another $20,000 with fund-raisers.

Public Works Director Tyler Smith noted the chemicals for the pool have been ordered. “It is getting harder and harder to get the granular chemicals.”

The work will have to wait until after the pool closes. The board is also planning on painting the pool after it closes.

Frazier said they have been told the pool should be acid-washed before painting. “We used to do it when we were younger. Our clothes had holes in them and our shoes were gone.”

In the parks area, the board is looking to move the flag pole and light pole at the ball field. “We want to incorporate Steve Kraft’s sign into the design,” she said.

• Smith reported there was less snow in the last month. He has had issues with the west well and the electrical panel blowing fuses. Dave Sobolik tested them and fixed the panel. There had not been an issue for the previous week-and-a-half.

Mehmert laid rock on S. Miller St., which had been closed. In addition, Jones St. also needs rock.

Smith received one building permit — for a 100 ft. fence that is being custom-made and is seven feet tall.

Nick Burke tore down the house on Willard St. that burned. Council discussed sewer and water for the property. He has also been hired to tear down the burnt house on W. Grant St.

“Once the weather shapes up, they will start working on the streets. All the concrete will be coming out of Croell’s.”

They are starting in Chester and finishing up the approaches. Then Jackson St. will be worked on. Croell will also start filling some of the cut holes, made by water main breaks, in the various streets.

Council voted to pay off the tractor rather than lease it for another five years. The cost to pay it off is $58,669. With interest rates increasing, in five years, the total payoff would have been 73,598.

•A discussion was held on weather support and service animals needed to be registered. No decision was made.

• The contract for Hawkeye Sanitation was approved. The company made updates to the contract. They will also see about giving seniors a bigger discount.

• A budget amendment was approved. It included decreasing pool income by $15,300 and increasing expenses by $13,133; decreasing park income by $4,700 and expenses by $5,000; and increase Community Center expenses by $10,000, due to rescheduling lighting and concrete projects. In addition, it reflected the $1,345,200 received for capital projects and $750,000 spent on capital projects.

The next meeting will be held on May 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center.