Sheldon, Iowa — At their regular meeting Wednesday, the Sheldon City Council voted to look for a full time person to help ease the staffing problem being experienced by the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team. When council members discussed the situation they often repeated their appreciation for the service SCAT is providing to the community. And Council member Pete Hamill emphasized that the City should continue their conversation on this topic on a long term basis. Zach Sawyer said he was not sure if hiring a full time person was solving anything. Other members questioned the role that the new ambulance company coming to Sheldon would play in the equation. Hamill commented that the City would have no control over the other company, so should continue with the SCAT discussion. Randy Fonkert brought up the question of what qualifications they should expect from the new employee. They had mentioned hiring an EMT/Paramedic, but Jeff Freeman told the council that they probably should also consider nursing qualifications since a nurse can administer medications and IV’s. Cindy Freeman added that a RN might fill the position, but added that there are many variables as to who can qualify.
City Manager Scott Wynja stated that he would work with SCAT members to decide on what qualifications should be expected. After the discussion the council members all voted in favor of seeking someone to fill the position.
The Council then turned their attention to the recommendation that ambulance members be paid one dollar per hour for the time they are on call. This is in addition to the pay they receive while on an actual ambulance run. Zach Sawyer wanted to wait with this decision, saying if they start this, “where does it stop”. Hamill again mentioned that this will be an on-going discussion and they should “see how it goes”. The proposal was passed on a vote of three to two with Sawyer and Fonkert voting ‘no’.
New developments in the City were also a topic of Wednesday’s Council meeting. Development director Curt Strouth reported that the development committee has reached an agreement to sell Ryan Kats about two acres in Runger’s 4th Addition. He said Kats has plans of putting up multiple storage unit complexes similar to his storage units north of Neal Chase Lumber. Construction will begin on the first unit within 12 months. The land will be sold for $31,864.00 with a ten year $80,000 minimum assessment agreement. This project will generate approximately $2,450.00 of new commercial property tax per year on the first building.
Strouth also reported that the Development Committee has reached an agreement to sell Fred’s Plumbing and Heating the south two hundred feet of Lot 3 in the Crossroads Industrial Park. Fred’s has plans to break ground on a new facility this spring which will be approximately ten thousand square feet and bring six to eight new jobs to Sheldon in the first year. The land will be sold for one dollar in return for a ten year four hundred thousand dollar minimum assessment agreement and contract with the City of Sheldon. Strouth said the project will generate approximately $12,240.00 in new commercial property tax per year and the payback on this development deal will be just over 3.5 years.
