A public hearing was held prior to the regular Mabel City Council meeting to discuss moving forward on building a commercial daycare center. Mike Bubany, a consultant from David Drown Associates, addressed the council and members of the Economic Development Authority (EDA). He provided a report that outlined the modifications after the City authorized the EDA to establish Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan for the project.
EDA determined it necessary to construct the commercial daycare itself and lease it to a daycare provider. This modification enlarges the authorized budget, bonded indebtedness and associated expense. Members of the council were asked to vote on two resolutions: the first to approve a general TIF within the development district and the second was to authorize a city tax abatement. Both were approved unanimously.
Members of the EDA were also required to vote on a resolution to modify the TIF and did so without opposition. “These actions don’t mean were starting to build,” said Bubany. “It still requires a lot of work and legal authority to get bonding. But by passing these resolutions, we’re keeping things moving forward.” Bubany said that the goal is to try to keep the costs to the perspective tenant as low as possible.
“Right now, if we’re able to build the building based on the figures we have,” Bubany said, “The tenants would have to pay about $3,500 a month to rent the building.” Mayor Jim Westby told the group that figure seemed high for anyone to pay each month. It was asked if the building had to be used for a daycare center and the answer was no, anyone could occupy it. But the building will have kitchen facilities and built to specifications for a daycare since Mabel has childcare providers interested in locating here and the city has determined the need for a daycare center.
The council took action on a matter that had been on the table for a couple of months and went ahead to approve blacktopping Cherrywood Drive. Several members of the council attended the highway department meeting last month and heard that the county will not be doing anything to the road for at least two years. Bids were obtained for the blacktopping project, but it had not been approved since there were questions about whether the county would be doing any of the work. The low bid from River City Paving in Decorah of $24,500 had been accepted in May, but new bids will need to be obtained since the 30-day bid has expired.
At last month’s meeting, the current deputy clerk, Nathan Manning, resigned effective August 31. The council approved posting the position with Councilmembers Kirsten Wyffels and Liz Folstad serving as the hiring committee. The two reported that they received 20 applicants and interviewed four. Their choice was Brock Bergey and recommended that the council accept their recommendation. Bergey was accepted unanimously and begins July 31. The position will not be under the union contract as it was previously since the council voted 3-2 on July 7 to remove the deputy clerk position from the union contract.
In other business
• Mayor Westby said legal action is being taken against a few property owners who were still in violation of ordinances. The residents have failed to clean up their properties after repeated attempts to get them to do so.
• After review of accounts payable, the council approved the allocation of $237,576 for bills to be paid this past period.
• Mark Davy of Davy Engineering finished the design and estimated the sewer project through City Park will cost nearly $55,000. Davy received a five page report from Rural Development that is helping to finance the project. Davy is to respond back to them. Jeff Rein, city employee working with City Works Director Bob Miereau on the project, said that Miereau believes that if the city does the work themselves, they could cut that amount in half. More will be discussed at the August Council meeting.
• The pump on Well 3 at the water treatment plant is up and running, but there are issues with discoloration of the water. It is being worked on and hopefully resolved soon.
• It was approved to purchase another pump for $5,623. This was in the budget and is the same cost as the last pump. It is scheduled to be installed this fall.
• Safe Step Company offered to do a free sidewalk assessment of the entire city. After discussion, it was determined that more information was needed and Jeff Rein offered to contact St. Charles to talk with them since they recently worked with the sidewalk company.
• Next city council meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 9 at 7 p.m.
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