Sheldon, Iowa — The Sheldon City Council spent a good deal of time talking about contracts with the local garbage haulers during Wednesday’s meeting.
One of the two garbage haulers had signed the new contract prior to Wednesday’s meeting while the other did not, expressing concerns about the fuel surcharge applying to rates, due to rising diesel fuel prices. City Manager Sam Kooiker says he has checked with several other communities, and most of them start the surcharge when diesel prices exceed $4.00 per gallon. Sheldon’s surcharge schedule in the contract kicks in when prices exceed $3.00 per gallon. However, the top surcharge rate kicks in when diesel prices reach $5.00 per gallon and the hauler voiced his concern that prices may continue to climb well above that level. It was decided that the City will consider ongoing circumstances and may have to adjust the surcharge should prices continue to rise. In addition, the new contract calls for the downtown recycle container, which is located on the Community Building parking lot, will be permanently removed on January 3rd of 2024. The new contract with the garbage haulers will extend for five years.
In other action, the Council approved a resolution creating a City Emergency Services Review Task Force. Earlier, the City had determined a need for a comprehensive review of the City’s Emergency Services, including services delivered, organization, capital improvements, service area and funding. The Task Force will be comprised of one representative of each of the four city emergency services departments: Sheldon EMA; Sheldon Fire Department; Sheldon Police Department; and Sheldon Community Ambulance Team, along with three citizens appointed by members of the City Council. O’Brien County will have a non-voting liaison with the eight-member task force.
The Council set August 2nd for the opening of bids for the Rec Trails Crossroads Project, with a hearing scheduled for August 3rd. City Manager Sam Kooiker says they’ll be putting out bid requests within the next several days. The City has been approved for a $100,000 grant from the Wellmark Foundation, along with an additional $100,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation fund through the DNR that will be used for financing the project.
The Council ended their meeting in closed session to discuss a potential real estate purchase. No action came out of that closed session.
