Sheldon, Iowa — It’s going to take at least one more meeting before a re-development agreement for the Sunset Motel Property in Sheldon and the lot at 1023 Garfield Avenue can be completed with Kerwin and Kathy Sterler. At Wednesday’s meeting several areas of concern surfaced that will have to be worked out with the attorneys. Kerwin Sterler told the council that they needed to get much of the work done in March, because contractors will all be busy after that. It is possible that the council will hold a brief open session on the topic this Saturday when a closed session for police chief candidates interviews is scheduled.
In other business, the council approved a resolution establishing a Fire Department Depreciation Fund that will provide funds for future department use. The basic funding will come from an increase in the fire protection payments received from townships served by the Sheldon Fire Department. Money from capital improvement grants may also be added to the fund.
The council also heard a draft report on the city’s audit from Tom Hinrichsen of the Winther Stave and Company. Hinrichsen, who usually oversees the audit of Sheldon’s finances explained that work was held up for several months because of a disability and then surgery.
In his draft, he noted that the city ‘had a good year’. City Manager Sam Kooiker voiced his concern that the Winther Stave firm had not met the deadline agreed to in their contract, noting that even though Hinrichsen was not able to work on the audit, other members could have done the work.
The closed session that was scheduled to discuss labor relations was not held at Wednesday’s meeting. Kooiker reported that negotiations are going well and they hope to have a contract by the May 4th council meeting.
