The Jefferson City Council met Tuesday night in regular session.

The meeting began with three public hearings. The first was on the plans and specifications for a water main improvement project on Russell Street from Highway 4 to the west side of the wastewater treatment plant. The second hearing was on the plans and specifications for the city hall entrance improvement project, which includes a new sidewalk and curb in front of the city hall, along with a new pedestrian ramp and front steps. The third hearing was from an update on the upper story apartment project at 200 East State Street, as part of the process for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The Council then approved all three resolutions following each of the hearings.

Next, the Council approved a resolution for an airport improvement funding grant for $152,730 for engineering services for a 100-by-100 foot hangar. The funds are part of the airport’s allotment of money from its entitlement funds. The Council then approved a letter of support for a workforce housing tax incentive application with the IEDA and Andy Rowland of Rowland Construction to build eight single family homes near the water tower. Additionally, the Council approved a plat of survey at 904 West Washington Street to split off 20 feet west of the property to the adjacent landowner to build a garage, along with waiving the review of another plat of survey for property at 1295 Orchard Avenue that is within two miles of the city limits. 

The Council approved a five year copier lease agreement with Access, an annual renewal with ICE Technologies for computer backup assist support, hiring Ryan Monthei as a water service worker with a salary of $41,704, and the city administrator’s contract was renewed with a four-percent increase in salary. Finally, the Council approved the first reading to amend an ordinance to allow for vicious or illegal animals to be microchipped for better identification if the animal is found to be back in city limits within the three year time period. The Council also approved another first reading to amend an ordinance so that the fire department could charge a service fee when they respond to large structure fires, as per the request of its insurance carrier.