The Stuart City Council met in a special session Monday.

The Council began the meeting with a work session for the proposed 2018-2019 fiscal year budget. City Administrator Ashraf Ashour pointed out certain aspects of the budget. Most significantly, the City is on track to lower property taxes from 18% to 17% for the next fiscal year. The Council has a goal of getting those taxes down to 16% by the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The Council also discussed budget adjustments to the library, sanitary, and parks departments. There was no action taken and a public hearing on the budget is currently scheduled for March 15th.

The Council then discussed a city planning program through the University of Iowa’s Institute of Public Affairs. The program would cost approximately $1300 to distribute surveys to every Stuart resident regarding improvements in City services and practices. Council Member Bryan Belden proposed a comprehensive collaboration effort with the institute, Region XII Council of Governments, and Veenstra and Kimm.

Economic Development Director Kristen Renslow then updated the Council on grant opportunities and other city planning projects. During the discussion, Renslow informed the Council that Project Restore has applied for the Community Catalyst Building Remediation Grant through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Renslow explains the foundation’s vision if awarded the grant. “They are interested in acquiring the old hotel and completing the restoration. They would like to see possibly a historic boutique hotel. The lower level would be a restaurant and lounge area and the upper level would have hotel suites.”

The pre-application decisions for the grant program should be disclosed within the next week or two.