Sheldon, Iowa — At their meeting last week, the Sheldon City Council held the second public hearing on the proposed franchise ordinances with MidAmerican Energy. An equipment malfunction adversely affected the microphone and recording system in the City Council Chamber, and as a result, City Manager Sam Kooiker tells KIWA that there will be another public hearing at next week’s meeting.
At last week’s meeting, Kooiker says several citizens spoke out against the proposed electrical and gas utility franchise agreements.
He says if the franchise agreements, including the proposed franchise fees fail to pass during this fall’s election, the City still has the option of adopting franchise agreements that do not include franchise fee provisions. We asked Kooiker how the City would benefit from franchise agreements with no franchise fee.
He says that, in reality, the proposed franchise agreements and the franchise fees are separate issues.
Kooiker urges citizens to talk to their city councilperson, the mayor, or to Kooiker himself, and provide them with your input on the issue.
The issue will be taken up again at the next meeting of the Sheldon City Council, which will be held Wednesday, August 21st.
