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City council approves fiscal year budget

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By Shelia Tomkins

The Guttenberg city council, meeting in regular session on March 14, approved the budget for the coming fiscal year and okayed a $500,000 grant application for water system improvements. Mayor Fred Schaub led council members Jane Parker, Steve Bahls, Michelle Geuder, Austin Greve and Mandy Ludovissy through the evening's agenda. City Manager Denise Schneider was also at the council table. 

There were no comments received at the public hearing prior for the budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1. The council unanimously adopted the budget, which provides for an estimated tax levy rate of 15.07757 per $1,000 valuation on regular property.  This is a decrease over last year's levy of 15.400. The new budget estimates total revenues at $31,966,109.

Grant applications

The council okayed an application for $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) funds to help fund a major water system improvement project that will be conducted in phases; the first phase will be to replace aging cast iron lines from Koerner to Broadway Streets. Diana Johnson from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, the organization that is facilitating the grant application, spoke to the council prior to approval of the application and read a needs assessment statement, which the council okayed.

The council set April 11 for a public hearing on a CBDG food assistance program application. The city would be eligible to apply for a daycare grant if a survey shows there are enough low to moderate income residents to qualify, and the council approved conducting a survey.

Other business

Following up on action taken at a previous meeting, the council approved the sale of a piece of city property on North Bluff Street adjacent to a new dental office being constructed by Dr. Alicia Walke. 

The council okayed sending out requests for price quotes  for removing sediment from Limbeck Pond. The city was awarded a grant to help pay for the project.      

The local Umbrella Arts organization has informed the council of plans to pursue an outdoor musical instrument project that will feature unique instruments such as drums, chimes, etc., in public spaces. The project would be funded through donations from individuals, organizations, businesses, memorials and grants; the city manager will write the grant applications. The location of the various instruments has yet to be decided.

Tina Brown of the Post Prom Committee received council permission to close the street in front of Clayton Ridge High School for the prom grand march on the evening April 30.

Mike Hefel, a riverfront leaseholder and owner of the Fish Shack business in downtown Guttenberg, spoke to the council about moving the property line of his lease due to maintenance concerns and also installing a permanent lease marker on someplace other than on a building. He currently has a 25-year lease which ends in 2027, and he spoke in favor of continuing on a 25-year basis rather than short-term leases which he said would affect the value of his business. He also discussed the possibility of adding a second story to his business.

Rich Kann of BAR Holding LLC was on hand to continue discussion on a request that the city pay for sewer service at a new campground being developed on North Fifth Street. Kann presented the cost of the sewer and compared it to the potential Tax Increment Financing (TIF) return on the property. Kann offered that BAR was willing to pay the upfront costs and have the city reimburse those costs when TIF revenues were generated. After discussion the council voted in favor of reimbursing BAR Holding by means of a 10-year  rebate agreement. 

Three local businesses — Henny Penny’s Retail & Rentals, Generations Salon and Hometown Designs — were approved for business accelerator grants of $2,000 each, with $1,000 coming from GEIDC and $1,000 from the city.

Xplore Guttenberg, LLC  was granted a license to place rental electric- or motor-powered vehicles and bicycles at two locations. 

Tim Ahlers of Guttenberg Municipal Hospital spoke to the council about plans to refinance current hospital loans, which he said would save the hospital an estimated $4.5 million over the term of the loan. The council moved forward with the request.

The council also moved forward on a decision made at last month’s meeting to give the Clayton County E911 board  a perpetual easement to put up a small building on Acre Street to house emergency response equipment.

City employee Hunter Bolsinger was authorized to attend certified pool operators training. 

The council was informed that American Tower Corporation has acquired the rights to the lease agreement for the NEIT cell tower located in Guttenberg.

The council took no action on a request to change the name of Cincinnati Street adjacent to Lakeside Ballroom to “1927 Memory Lane” in recognition of Lakeside’s 75th anniversary coming up this year. The E911 director, Sam Rumph, who was on hand, explained that it is difficult to change long-established formal addresses. It was suggested an informal sign could be used. 

The city has received a notice of an price increase for more than $14,000 for equipment for a dump truck currently on order, the company citing an increase in the cost of materials. 

The council decided to make an offer of $15,000 to the Guttenberg Economic and Industrial Development commission for a lot south of the municipal building for use as a parking lot.

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