Council approves initiatives for city improvements

By Rick Morain

Jefferson Herald

The Jefferson City Council Feb. 22 approved three agreements for city improvements with the city’s consulting engineering firm Bolton and Menk.

The first was an engineering agreement for $68,200 for replacement of a water line on Russell Street from Highway 4 west to the wastewater treatment plant. The engineering services are for the project to install 1,850 feet of eight-inch water main.

The second was a service agreement for $74,370 for public utility data collection and administration of an ArcGIS online organization. Bolton and Menk will collect data on sanitary sewer, storm water, and water main for placement on the GIS system.

The third agreement was an addendum to a professional service agreement with the firm in the amount of $2,500 for improvements to the E. Lincoln Way corridor. The plan is for the types and placement of plants along the corridor.
In other action, the council set the date of its next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 8, for a public hearing on adoption of the city’s 2022-23 budget.
The council also set two other public hearings for the March 8 meeting regarding the sale of city property on the east side of the square, at 105 and 107 N. Chestnut (the Air-Temp building). The council by resolution proposed the sale.

The 107 site would be sold to Kretzinger and Greiner Insurance for $45,000. The 105 site would be sold to Heisterkamp Properties, located immediately south of the site, for $51,000. Each property is valued at $75,000. The differences between those values and the two selling prices would be used for improvement work on the building interiors under an agreement with the city.
The council approved assignment of the development agreement with the former Jefferson Veterinary Clinic to Fairview Veterinary Clinic, new owner of the property on Highway 30 east of the Highway 4 intersection. The city in 2018 entered into a seven-year property tax reimbursement development agreement with Jefferson Veterinary Clinic. The council’s action on Tuesday provides for the city to continue to make rebate payments to the new owner.
The council approved the purchase of interior equipment for the new animal shelter. The expenditures total $35,803.53 for dog kennels and cat cages. They are a separate expense from the cost of the building, and will be funded by grants and donations.

The council heard a request from Phil Heisterkamp of the 2022 Bell Tower Festival Committee for $12,170 to pay for a two-day carnival at the festival. He said the one-time request is because 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the official founding of Jefferson, and the festival committee wants to create an extra special atmosphere.

Donations and previous years’ operating revenues usually pay for the regular costs of the festival, but they are not enough to cover the cost of a carnival. The Bell Tower Festival has not had a carnival for the past several years.
Heisterkamp also said the festival will receive 20 percent of the ticket revenue, and will turn that over to the city to pay part of the carnival’s cost.     

The council put the request on the agenda for its March 8 meeting.
At the start of the meeting, Jefferson city administrator Mike Palmer showed a plaque to be presented to retiring city employee Dave Davis, who has served in that role for nearly 35 years. Palmer recalled several memorable incidents regarding Davis’ assistance to city residents and fellow employees, noting that he went above and beyond his job description to benefit people.

    
    
    

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