Sheldon, Iowa — Former Sheldon 2nd Ward City Councilman Shawn Broesder’s resignation from his Council position became effective Wednesday, April 7th, and the remaining Council members have been looking at the machinations of filling that Council seat.
The Council had previously chosen to take the option of appointing someone to fill the remainder of Broesder’s unexpired term, which runs through the end of this year. At their meeting Wednesday afternoon, one of the agenda items was the adoption of the procedures for an appointment to the position and the setting of a public hearing on the topic. However, during the Public Forum at the beginning of the meeting, a 2nd Ward resident informed the Council that she is in the process of circulating a petition to force a special election to fill that seat. Just ten signatures are required on such a petition to force an election. She told the Council that she expected to complete obtaining signatures and to turn the signed petition into the City Office within the next week or so.
The Council discussed their options with City Attorney Micah Schreurs and ultimately opted to go ahead with adopting the procedures for appointment, as well as setting the public hearing for the next regular council meeting, pending the presentation of a petition with the required number of signatures to call for an election.
Sheldon Development Director Curt Strouth and Chamber Director Shantel Oostra laid out for the Council a brief outline of an economic stimulus plan that the SCDC is planning for this summer. They told the Council that the plan would be along the same lines as last year’s “Comeback Cash” promotion, with Sheldon Dollars sold at a discount to promote shopping locally. More details on the plan will be revealed in the coming weeks, but the pair came before the Council to request that the City contribute $70,000 toward the promotion. Mayor Greg Geels said the issue would be put on the agenda for the next Council meeting.
Sheldon Assistant Fire Chief Brad Hindt, who is also a member of the Council, along with City Manager Sam Kooiker, filled the Council in on the status of the Sheldon Fire Company’s aerial ladder truck. The ladder unit of the truck was severely damaged last month when it collided with a large tree limb. Appraisers say the cost of repairing the ladder is higher than the value of the entire 1994 truck and ladder. Hindt and Kooiker told the Council they have looked into the possibility of repairs, but found that to not be feasible. So now they’re looking into the possibility of replacing the truck, as well as investigating financing options, since the insurance payout on the old truck would fall far short of replacement cost.
