Sheldon, Iowa — The Sheldon City Council has voted to put consideration of an increase in the Hotel/Motel Tax on the ballot for the November 3rd election. This will call for an increase of the current five percent rate to the maximum allowed by the state which is seven percent. The money generated by this tax can be used for a wide range of purposes, including the construction and maintenance of recreation and convention facilities, as well as the promotion and encouragement of tourist and convention business in the City of Sheldon and surrounding areas.
Members of the Sheldon Fire Department were present at Wednesday’s meeting to ask for permission to use land west of the current city shed and east of the Waste Water Treatment facility for a training and storage area. They would like to build a forty by sixty foot building which would house two antique fire trucks as well as storage for seldom used items and training materials. The department plans to pay for the building through fund raisers. City employees would construct the facility. This was approved by the Council.
The Sheldon Golf course also came to the meeting with a request. They asked for about 150 feet of chain link fence which would be installed on the north side of the driving range. The city has chain link fence which was originally around the borrow pit area and is not being used, so the Council agreed to give it to the golf course. Fencing from that source has also been used by RiseFest.
And, Public Works Director Todd Uhl brought the Council up to date on several projects going on in the community. He said the storm sewer work in the Runger Addition is completed with good progress being made on the water main despite the wet conditions. He also reported that Knife River Construction plans to start work on the street projects and hope to have their work completed by September 12th.
Council member Brad Hindt reported that the City’s new fire truck is scheduled to arrive soon and Sheldon’s old Engine Number One is being sold to the Matlock fire department for four thousand dollars.
