At their regular meeting on October 12, 2016, the Canton City Council approved a loan for the Canton Historical Society.
President of the Canton Historical Society (CHS), Kathy Haynes, was present at the meeting to ask for a loan to allow the CHS to continue with the Depot restoration project. She pointed out that a flyer was sent out with the city bills to inform the community about the current and future costs for the project and to ask for donations.
Haynes noted that about $30,000 has already been spent on raising the building and the foundation. CHS currently owes $3,600 to James Gunderson for his work on the foundation and they still need to get the doors and windows in place to close up the building for the winter.
Future plans for the Depot include cleaning up the junk and “glob of cement” on the property, restoring the outside and inside of the building and redoing the roof. At this time, CHS has about $1,000 in its Depot fund and is doing some fund-raising. They are selling tickets for a quilt raffle, reaching out to alumni and they have also received some gifts and donations. Haynes added that they have been working toward getting the Depot on the historical register, which would make them eligible for more grants.
Mayor Donivee Johnson replied that the council had previously discussed the possibility of giving CHS a loan from the bike trail fund and felt comfortable with loaning $5,000. Council member Charlie Warner asked Haynes what CHS would be comfortable with for payback terms. She said a lot would depend on grants and donations and they are still waiting for some figures on the cost of the next steps.
Mayor Johnson asked if anyone remembered what the purpose was for the money in the bike trail fund or why it was raised in the first place. Through some discussion, the mayor and the council remembered that the money had been raised for the city to buy the land necessary to bring the trail to town. It had been at the time when the bike trail had recently come to Harmony and seemed likely to continue through Canton. At the time, a city had to buy the land and then would be reimbursed by the state. No one present was sure if that had changed over time or not. Warner agreed to follow up with Vicki Tribon, who has made headway toward connecting the trail in Harmony with other communities, to see if there is a need for the city to keep the funds and he will report back to the council.
With over $10,000 in the bike trail fund, the council agreed that a $5,000 loan to CHS would still leave funds available if the bike trail project were to resurface. Mayor Johnson suggested a longer timeframe for repayment because CHS will need to use the money they raise to continue the project rather than to make loan payments. Councilmember Carl Ernst made a motion to loan $5,000 to CHS, with five years to repay and an option to renew for another five years if necessary. Mayor Johnson added that the loan would be interest free, but the building would need to be collateral and CHS officers would need to sign a promissory note. Haynes agreed and thanked the council.
Other business
Public Works Manager Jon Nordsving reported that he and city employee Jim Davis had installed the new fire hydrant at the intersection of West Street and Prairie Avenue, but the next day they discovered it was leaking. They dug it up again and had to replace a leaking coupler. Nordsving noted that they should be able to get some money back for the bad part.
Nordsving also informed the council that the bus shed is in need of repair. It needs a new roof, could use new tin and he would like to add doors. He had not gotten any estimates yet, but wanted to let the council know it was on the horizon. He also informed the council that the S-10 pick-up is having transmission trouble and doesn’t want to start, so they will need to think about replacing it in the near future.
Nordsving went on to advise the council that the generator had failed the prior week. He said that there was clearly damage from mice and he will need to call a generator company. He added that some companies do maintenance contracts and he will look into the cost.
The council unanimously voted to opt out of the new law for Temporary Family Health Care Dwellings. The law, which went into effect on September 1, 2016, creates a new process for landowners to place mobile residential dwellings on their property to serve as temporary housing for a family member with mental or physical impairments.
The council will offer cash prizes for the Christmas Lighting Contest again this year. The prizes are $100, $75 and $50 and will be awarded on Santa Day, December 10.
The next regular meeting of the Canton City Council is on Wednesday, November 9 at 7 p.m. at Canton City Hall.
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