Monona city administrator will retire in December
By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times
Monona City Administrator Dan Canton will retire effective Dec. 20. He announced his intent in a letter to the city council, which was acknowledged at the July 15 regular meeting.
“I appreciate the opportunity the city gave me,” said Canton, who has served in the position for 9.5 years.
“I’m happy for him,” stated mayor Lynn “Marty” Martinson, “and I’m sad for the city.”
Martinson appreciated having early notification, so the city will have ample time to fill the opening. He, along with council members Heather Lange and Andrew Meyer, will serve on a committee to review Monona’s options and determine how to replace Canton; the committee will then report to the full council.
ATV/UTV use
The council approved the first reading of an amendment to Monona’s ordinance pertaining to operation of all-terrain vehicles and off-road utility vehicles on city streets.
The changes, which were first proposed earlier this month, would now allow people to operate ATVs and UTVs on Main and Iowa streets, which was previously prohibited.
Per the updates, however, people will no longer be allowed to use the vehicles for “business purposes,” which council members felt left too much gray area. They can still be used for:
•snow removal via attached snowplow, blade or snow blower
•gardening or lawn work
•special events authorized by the council
•accessing designated county roadways located within and through the city.”
Pool report
City clerk Barb Collins provided an update on the Monona Family Aquatic Center, noting that both attendance and concession purchases have been down this year due to cool, rainy weather at the start of the pool season. Lessons—especially private lessons—have been going well, though, and are expected to bring in at least $1,000 more than last year.