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Albia City Council appoints Don Benson, approves bridge loan, property sale and pool pump purchase
Summary
At its Aug. 21 meeting, the Albia City Council appointed Don Benson to a vacant seat, approved a JP Morgan loan resolution for the South Clinton Bridge, authorized disposal of 422 South Main with a $15,000 minimum bid and set a Sept. 18 public hearing, and approved $68,858 to replace three pool pumps.
The Albia City Council met Aug. 21 and took several administrative and capital decisions, including filling a council vacancy and approving funding and equipment purchases.
The council appointed Don Benson to a vacant council seat after considering three applicants, William Day, Don Benson and Brad Evinger. A hand show of the five council members present produced four expressions of support with Councilmember Kathy Mobley abstaining; Brandon Williams moved to appoint Benson and Merle Regenold seconded. The motion carried 4-0 with Mobley abstaining for conflict of interest. The mayor administered the oath and Benson took his council seat.
The council approved a resolution and loan agreement with JP Morgan to finance the South Clinton Bridge project. The motion carried 6-0, with Councilmembers Chris Yarkosky, Kathy Mobley, Brandon Williams, Don Benson, Merle Regenold and Scott Kelly voting aye.
City officials discussed sale of city-owned property at 422 South Main. After debate the council voted to dispose of the property with a minimum bid set at $15,000 and to advertise the sale; that motion carried 6-0. The council also set a public hearing on the proposed disposal for Sept. 18, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., a motion that passed 6-0.
Sanitation Commissioner Eric Miller told the council the pool’s pumps were reaching the end of their service life and presented a quote from Acco for $68,858 to replace and install three pumps. Williams moved and Mobley seconded to approve the purchase; the motion carried 6-0.
Bids were opened for surplus equipment. One bid of $500 from Steve Kline was accepted for a jet machine. For a tractor/mower the council accepted a $4,251 bid from Chris Sheldon; the equipment bid approvals passed 6-0.
Laura Teno of Albia Chamber Main Street introduced Hillary Bettis as the new owner of the former Illingworth Jewelry building. Bettis plans to rehabilitate the property into a ground-floor business space and three upstairs apartments and intends to apply for a $100,000 Challenge Grant; the council voted 6-0 to provide a letter of support for the grant application.
Councilmembers offered brief comments (Mobley noted a successful pool season). Street Commissioner Scott Reed reported several public-works items, including completed parking painting, bridge work at the city park, plans to pour the deck on the South Clinton Bridge and contact with Progressive Rail about crossing repairs. Reed said the department hired Joseph Pistek for a vacancy and intends to hire a part-time mowing worker. City Clerk Linda Heller said the next regular meeting will be moved to Tuesday, Sept. 5, because of the holiday.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Note on transcript naming: the meeting transcript inconsistently names the presiding official as both "Mayor Richard" and "Mayor Clark." To avoid potential misidentification this story refers to that official by title (Mayor) rather than by a personal name.
