Sheldon, Iowa — After many weeks of discussion, proposals, thoughts and ideas, one of the three problem properties the City of Sheldon wants taken care of has been resolved. After there were no comments at a public hearing during Wednesday’s council meeting, the council voted to approve a contract with Kent and Janet Lohrenz to take over and clean up the property at 428 West Park Street, also referred to as the can redemption center.
After that, the council moved on to opening bids for the former Sheldon Motel Property and the property at 1023 Garfield Avenue. Both Tim Pottebaum of Log Cabin Enterprises and Kerwin and Kathy Sterler submitted proposals that involve both locations. The council voted to refer the Sterler bid to the City Manager and City Attorney to work out details, after which there will need to be a public hearing which is required for the sale of any City-owned property. The Sterlers plan to make improvements to the house at the Sunset Motel location, demolish the other buildings, and expand their mobile home park with up to six new units. With regard to the Garfield Avenue property, they plan to remove the present structure and move a house in from outside city limits. They will also make other improvements to the property.
The council also approved the resignations of Assistant Pavilion General Manager Heather Jacobs and Police Officer Jett Korver. It was reported that interviews with the Police Chief finalists, as well as candidates for police officer will be held later this month.
At the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting, Mayor Greg Geels and Dan Poppema of Poppema-Sikma Construction expressed their thanks to city employee Dave Andringa. Andringa was plowing snow on North 3rd Avenue on the morning of January 18th, when he saw Bob Poppema lying on a parking lot. It’s estimated that Poppema had fallen about ninety minutes earlier. Andringa attended to Poppema while they waited for an ambulance. It was stated that, without Andringa’s vigilance Poppema would “not be here tonight.” According to Poppema, who attended the council meeting, “this has slowed me down a little.”
