The Perry City Council met Monday night in regular session.

Under old business, the Council approved the site plan for Semper Fi Commercial Solutions to build a 14,000 square foot facility in the industrial park. They also approved a plat for survey for Kyle and Mindy Baxter to reconfigure lot lines as presented.

Next, the Council spent a majority of the meeting discussing fall yard waste open burn dates. The discussion included no longer having open burn dates to encourage residents to use the yard waste dump site, to increasing the municipal infractions for those who violate the criteria for open burning. Following the discussion, the Council voted 4-1 for open burning to take place between October 31st and November 20th and increasing the overall infractions for violations. The lone no vote came from Dean Berkland who thought what they decided on was a good compromise, but wanted to vote for those who had health concerns and other issues with open burning.

Next, the Council set a public hearing on October 3rd at 6pm on a proposed zoning amendment as requested by the Perry Economic Development for appropriate land to be used for future development to be changed from agriculture to light industrial. The Council also approved to accept updates to the 2016 housing needs assessment to add recent population data and new housing stock. Additionally, the Council approved a $1,000 expense to Region XII Council of Governments as part of the administrative assistance contract to be the conduit to a grant application through the Iowa Economic Development Authority for a project at 1306 Second Street, along with authorizing the mayor and/or fire chief to sign and accept a $477,238 US Department of Homeland Security grant for a new pumper truck for the fire department. The grant stipulates the city must match no more than five percent or close to $25,000. 

Finally, the Council approved the first reading of an amended ordinance to add another two percent for a total of four percent franchise fee onto the Alliant Energy bills to aid in the removal of ash trees in the city and then continue their sidewalk program. Another amended ordinance the Council approved the first reading of was to add off-road utility vehicles to adhere to the new state law.