Sheldon, Iowa — During their Wednesday noon meeting, the Sheldon City Council adopted an ordinance that will result in a three percent rate increase for Sheldon’s Sewer and water services. They also heard an SCDC plan to help provide housing in Sheldon. Development Director Curt Strouth told the Council that the SCDC has done extensive research into the idea of a spec house project with the first one to be built on Lot 11 in the Sunshine addition. The plan is to put it out for bids by local contractors. He said the SCDC hopes that the spec houses they build would be in the 170 to 209 thousand dollar range. The question was raised whether those houses would be in competition with spec houses that might be built by contractors. Strouth said that when a contractor builds a spec house they always assume some financial risk. In this case that risk would be assumed by the SCDC.
In other business, City Manager Scott Wynja told the Council that the City has received several applications for the proposed full-time paramedic position. However, he said there was some question on the part this person would play with the Ambulance Team and who they would report to. It was generally agreed that the paramedic would be approved by the Mayor and Council, with the day to day operation to be overseen by the City Manager.
And the Council received a report on the naming contest for the new Events Center. Wynja reported that the City has received 63 different suggested names. The design committee had planned to put the top three up for a vote by the public. However, they could not agree on three names, so the public will have their choice of four names for the new facility. They are “The Crossroads Regional Event Center”, “1860 Regional Events Center”, “The Water’s Edge Regional Events Center”, and “Water’s Edge Pavilion”. The public is invited to vote for the name of their choice by going to the City’s website, sheldoniowa.com. The website is open for voting through July 31st. The name receiving the most votes will be the name for the facility.
