The Perry City Council meeting was held last night involving Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh possibly meeting with Governor Kim Reynolds again about Tyson Foods.

Cavanaugh met with Governor Reynolds in March seeking advice for next steps in the coming months before the Tyson Pork Plant in Perry will shut its doors permanently at the end of June. He told the council that he just found out that the city has been recognized for an award, which Cavanaugh is expected to accept on April 15th and possibly meet with Reynolds for a second time. Perry Administrator said that employers are pretty aggressive in buying the space from Tyson.

Perry Director Lynsi Pasutti reminded the council about the job fair that’s happening tomorrow confirming that there will be 18 employers present. The job fair will be held at Hotel Pattee from 3-6pm tomorrow.

The items on the agenda that were accepted include setting a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget for April 15th at 6pm, authorized signatures on necessary forms for the community development block grant upper story housing conversion grant contract, authorized the 7015 request for the release of funds form for that grant taking the place at the property located at 1306 2nd Street, and offer aid to construction with Minburn Communications to provide infrastructure for the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements.

Other items that were approved are a pay application for the Frog Creek Restoration project in the amount of $65,984.62, a pay application for the Runway 14/32 phase two and three for $70,228.28 and $26,507.56 to Manatt’s Incorporated, approving amendment one to the downtown housing grant agreement, approving an underground electric line easement with Interstate Power and Alliant Energy, and a resolution to the Iowa Finance Authority for the 2024 down payment assistance program and providing matching funds for a total of $37,500.