Sheldon, Iowa — The Sheldon City Council voted their final approval of the City’s 2017-18 budget after no comments were heard during a public hearing Wednesday. In other business, the council decided to move the ordinance on the Crossroads Pavilion Board to its’ final reading at the next regular council meeting. Board members are already getting organized, having scheduled a meeting March 6th at 6 p.m. At that meeting, the Crossroads Pavilion Board will elect officers, set a meeting schedule and discuss the bylaws and regulations outlined in the proposed ordinance.
The Sheldon City Council set April 5th as the date to discuss a proposed loan agreement and issuance of general obligation refunding capital loan notes in the amount of one million, one hundred thousand dollars. City Manager Sean Hutchison explained that the money will be used to pay off a note from 2011, and refinance another 2011 note. The notes from 2011 had an erratic payment schedule which will be corrected with this action. It will also result in a savings of $34,000 in interest.
In other action, the council approved an agreement with DGR Engineering of Rock Rapids for the purpose of conducting a water and sewer rate study at a cost of $16,500. The purpose of the study is to help determine the water and sewer rates necessary to maintain the current system and plan for the future. The City Manager also remarked that the rate structure must be addressed. He said that residential customers are now paying more per gallon of water than commercial users.
For many years the need for multi-family residential housing has been a concern in Sheldon. To address this, the City has offered a ten-year tax abatement for any housing structure of three units or more in the Trilogy Addition. Since that program has been successful, the SCDC’S Economic Development Committee has asked for a similar plan to be developed for Sheldon Crossing. At Wednesday’s meeting it was the general consensus of the council that the city move forward with development of such a plan.
And, Sheldon Library Board President, Jessica Brink, reported to the council that they have hired Nicole Morgan, who currently serves as the Oskaloosa Public Library Director, as the new Sheldon Library Director. She is expected to begin her work in Sheldon March 20th .
