City to change banking to CSB
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The Mount Ayr city council approved the second reading of the proposed rental housing ordinance and a named a new financial institution at their regular meeting Wednesday, November 20.
The council jumped straight into business at hand as no one from the public attended the meeting to speak during the public forum.
Rental Housing Ordinance
The council approved the second reading of the rental housing ordinance, with one council member questioning whether they wanted to waive the third reading. City Administrator Brent Wise advised the council not to waive the third reading.
“You can, but I wouldn’t,” stated Wise.
Financial Institution
Niccole Swank presented an overview of the RFP responses from City State Bank, First Interstate Bank and US Bank. She provided a spreadsheet that compared the costs of the services provided by each bank. It was noted that PCSB did not submit RFP responses, as they are limited in insuring government funds.
After reviewing the documents provided by each of the banks, Swank and Brent Wise recommended switching the City’s accounts from US Bank to City State Bank.
After a short discussion, Poore motioned to support their recommendation to approve Resolution 2024-868, and dissolve accounts at current financial depository. Wik seconded the motion and council members unanimously agreed.
Additionally, the council approved resolution 2024-869 to approve new financial depository City State Bank.
Sesquicentennial Planning
Council members discussed needing clarification on how expenses and revenue are expected to be handled, ultimately deciding to table the agreement with the sesquicentennial planning committee until more information is received.
The Sesquicentennial agreement will be re-presented for vote again at the December 18 council meeting.
Other business
In other regular business, the council approved:
- Resolution 2024-867 Authorizing Internal Advance for Funding of Urban Renewal Project (Blight Alleviation Demolition and Site Preparation Project);
- Resolution 2024-866 Street Financial Report;
- Resolution 2024-871 Annual Finance Report;
- Resolution 2024-870 for Urban Renewal;
- A new GWorks Agreement as GWorks will no longer support the old system the city is currently using beginning January 2026.
Administrator Update
Administrator Wise met with Gregg from V&K Engineering Firm and went over storm water projects that need to be done on Tyler Street and Jackson Street. The engineer will be at the December meeting to go over plans.
Dennis Dugan presented the results of the recycling survey with council members. A total of 1,120 surveys were sent out and 184 were received back.
The council will review comments and information in greater detail. No changes were made to current services at this meeting.
Wise presented new employee health insurance plan options and costs for council members to review and will have a representative present via Zoom call at the December 18 meeting. Wise and Swank will meet with all employees prior to the next meeting to assess what their needs and requests are.
The new street sweeper has been purchased and it was picked up last week. Everything is working well and city employees have had it out a few times using it.
Wise provided a pool update, stating that project is still going well and staying on the projected timeline. Contractors will be finishing up the first part of December with what they can and then will return in the spring to complete the project.
Wise informed the council that he is currently working on a grant project for storm water and will be teaming up with some partners such as 4-H clubs and some other groups for this.
Wise, Swank and Matthew Hudson met on Tuesday via Zoom call with Federal Grant representatives about Hudson’s current grant project.
Hudson and Wise met to apply for extension on completion of project.
Wise reported the Madison Street project has been going well, even with a few issues, but still looks to finish on projected completion date. Wise is meeting with the contractor and engineer this week to go over some details.
Wise is working with FEMA on some storm damage that was not covered when insurance claim went in, and is hoping to try to get extra coverage on these items from FEMA funds. FEMA representatives have been here almost every week since end of October and will be back on November 26.
The housing committee met Monday night with Ringgold County Development team and local contractors to brainstorm on ideas to create new housing options in Mount Ayr. Wise and Greene spoke and feel that more options need to be explored to possibly look into rehab of current homes and not just new builds.
Henle spoke from a contractor’s view that right now the economy is so uncertain and investing in a new build is a high risk he felt contractors aren’t sure they can take at this time.
A work session was set for 6 p.m. on Monday, December 16 at City Hall, ahead of the next council meeting on Wednesday, December 18.
