Templeton Council adopts urban renewal amendment, obligates TIF funds and approves interfund transfers

The Templeton City Council on Nov. 4 adopted an amendment to the Templeton Urban Renewal Plan and approved several budget and tax-increment-financing (TIF) actions that the city clerk must certify to the Carroll County Auditor by Dec. 1, 2024.

The council adopted Resolution 1421-24 approving the Urban Renewal Plan amendment after a public hearing that produced no oral or written objections. Mayor Ken Behrens opened and closed the hearing; Council Member Tasha Goecke moved adoption and Joe Irlbeck seconded. The motion carried with all members voting aye.

Why it matters: the council also approved two separate resolutions obligating TIF funds for annual rebate payments tied to development agreements with Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC — $74,557 associated with the company’s Dec. 5, 2022 agreement and $94,925 tied to an Aug. 6, 2018 agreement — a combined obligation of $169,482 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. The clerk was directed to certify the obligated amounts to the Carroll County Auditor and include them in the city’s FY2025–26 budget.

The council adopted Resolution 1418-24 authorizing interfund transfers for FY2025. The approved transfers draw on the TIF Fund to cover: $33,000 to the General Fund to repay an internal loan for Main Street improvements; $50,312 to the General Fund to repay an internal loan for W 4th Street streetscape work; $1,730 to the Debt Service Fund to pay interest on Public Works Building GO Bond #3053 due Dec. 1, 2024; and $4,076.32 to the Debt Service Fund to pay interest on the Water Improvement Note, Series 2023B due Dec. 1, 2024. Those transfers total $89,118.32.

Other council actions and administrative items included:

• Building permits — On motions, the council denied a building permit for 623 W 4th St (motion by Dave Ramsey, second by Joe Irlbeck) and approved a permit for 407 6th Ave (motion by Mark Bauer, second by Cory Drees). Both motions carried.

• Liquor license — The council approved renewal of the liquor license for The Still (motion by Dave Ramsey, second by Mark Bauer).

• Urban renewal reporting and TIF certification — The council approved the FY2024 Urban Renewal Report and the FY2024 TIF Indebtedness Certification Report (motions by Cory Drees and Dave Ramsey); both motions carried. The clerk was instructed to include certified amounts in the FY2025–26 budget and to file the certification with the Carroll County Auditor no later than Dec. 1, 2024.

• Consent agenda and financials — The council approved the consent agenda, which included meeting minutes, an internal review of financial records, balance sheet and budget vs. actual reports, claims, and the Sept. 2024 treasurer’s report. The documents presented showed $72,908.34 in revenue and $32,116.81 in expenditures for the reporting period and total cash and investments of $767,765.47.

• Lot A, North Ridge Addition — Council agreed to accept a deposit for Lot A conditioned on future plans for residential construction and directed the clerk to notify interested parties.

Maintenance and closing: staff reported the concession stand was winterized, filters were changed at the Templeton Center and tree trimming had begun. Mayor Behrens asked Ethan Irlbeck to inspect manholes before winter. The council adjourned at 7:52 p.m. on a motion by Joe Irlbeck, seconded by Tasha Goecke.

Votes at a glance: all recorded motions and resolutions noted in the meeting minutes passed by unanimous voice vote of the five council members present (Joe Irlbeck, Tasha Goecke, Dave Ramsey, Cory Drees and Mark Bauer). The City Clerk, Nicci Kathol, is the certifying official for the required filings with the Carroll County Auditor.