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Keokuk council approves contracts, grants and ARPA reallocations; fills Third Ward seat by appointment
Summary
At its Dec. 19 meeting Keokuk City Council approved a suite of routine resolutions including a grant-administration contract for Brownfields cleanup (amended payment figure), CivicPlus municipal-code services, a Catalyst remediation scope amendment, ARPA reallocations for demolition and streets, multiple housing rehabilitation obligations, and approved procedures to fill a council vacancy by appointment.
Keokuk City Council on Dec. 19 approved a package of resolutions and routine items, including grant-administration services for the EPA Brownfields grants, municipal-code maintenance services, grant scope amendments, ARPA reallocations for demolition and street projects, and multiple housing-rehabilitation obligations.
Key outcomes approved by the council (voice votes unless noted):
- Grant-administration contract with the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission for EPA Brownfields work at 365 Carbide Lane; council amended the resolution to correct an internal figure from $16,900 to $160,900 and approved the contract.
- Continued municipal-code supplement services with CivicPlus LLC; staff noted an $854 initial increase to the service fees.
- Amendment to the scope of work for a Community Catalyst remediation grant submitted on behalf of The ATTH Group Inc. for 100 Main Street; staff said the Iowa Economic Development Authority accepted the amendment. The development agreement will be revised to include a waiver of building permit fees and a five-year, 90% tax rebate as previously discussed.
- Reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover demolition projects, street repairs and other eligible projects; staff said the action reimburses the general fund for demolition expenditures and returns street-eligible funds to the city's pool for future work.
- Obligations of Home Rehabilitation Block Grant pilot funds: the city accepted $600,000 federal award to rehabilitate eight properties (23 HRB GPPP 001), with a 25% city match. Council also approved obligating $50,000 to Robert William Properties LLC to rehabilitate 120 North 9th Street.
- Approval of the annual urban renewal report for fiscal year 2023—24 and setting budget-review session dates in January 2025.
- Acceptance of Third Ward Councilperson Rosalyn Garcia's resignation (effective Dec. 19, 2025) and approval to fill the Third Ward seat by appointment; staff said the appointee will serve until the seat appears on the Nov. 2025 ballot.
Most items were routine and passed by voice vote; the meeting included limited discussion on the fiscal and programmatic impacts of the housing and ARPA allocations. Staff answered council questions about permit-waiver costs, tax-abatement amounts and the status of specific rehabilitation projects.
