The Stuart City Council met last night for its May session.
To begin the meeting, the Council unanimously approved of permits for Ruby’s Pub and Johnie’s Tap pertaining to the outdoor sale of liquor, beer and wine at Stuart’s Good Egg Days next month.
Next, Laurie Gilbert with the Region XII Council of Governments addressed the Council to give an update regarding Stuart’s Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation program. Gilbert says eight homes are currently part of the program, but the grant still has almost $130,000 available in its balance. For any Stuart homeowners interested in receiving assistance through the program, Gilbert estimates the cost per rehab project to be about $34,000, which would be given through the state’s grant.
Stuart joined the program in 2012, and with the state requiring that such rehab projects be completed within five years, Gilbert says now is the time “to throw up the red flag” when it comes to pursuing possible addresses that might be interested in joining the program.
After the Council then approved a small budget amendment for the current fiscal year, Stuart Fire Chief Mike Renslow gave an update pertaining to the activity in his department.
Renslow said April was a slow month for Stuart Fire. He also discussed some third quarter goals for his unit. Renslow hopes to conduct a training house burn in the weeks ahead that would dispose of an older, decaying home in Stuart and also allow for a unique training opportunity for his department.
The home is going through an asbestos inspection in the days ahead before any official word is released about a possible training burn.
The Council then unanimously approved a pay estimate to Roy Sargent of almost $80,000 for work done on the Rock Island Depot Restoration Project. Also approved were three change orders and a tax credit and development agreement with SEED relating to the depot project.
Next, the Council tabled the pay estimate to Priority Excavating of almost $35,000 for work done on the Wambold Project. The Council tabled the item at the request of Veenstra & Kimm Engineer Forrest Aldrich.
Finally, the Council briefly discussed demolishing the town’s old bus barn. Councilman Bryan Belden will be drafting proposals in the weeks ahead to see how the City will ultimately incur the expected $40,000 cost it will be to bring the building down.
Stuart City Council will next convene on Monday, June 9th, at 6:30pm in City Hall.