West Branch council adopts urban renewal amendment and sets hearings on sewer loan and tax levy

Mayor Roger Laughlin and the West Branch City Council approved several items at a brief Feb. 17 meeting, including adoption of Amendment No. 9 to the Amended and Restated Urban Renewal Plan and scheduling multiple public hearings on forthcoming financing and tax matters.

The council opened a public hearing on Amendment No. 9 to the Urban Renewal Plan at 7:34 p.m.; with no public comment the mayor closed the hearing at 7:35 p.m. Councilmember Colton Miller moved to adopt Resolution 2026-13 and Councilmember Tom Dean seconded; the motion passed unanimously (AYES: Miller, Dean, Noel, Horihan, Sexton). Resolution 2026-13 officially adopts Amendment No. 9 to the Amended and Restated Urban Renewal Plan for the West Branch Urban Renewal Area.

The council also approved Resolution 2026-14 to set a date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a Sewer Revenue Loan and Disbursement Agreement to borrow an amount not to exceed $719,000. The motion (Miller/Sexton) passed unanimously. The resolution schedules the public process; the council did not approve borrowing at this meeting.

On historic-preservation work tied to a University of Iowa project, a U of I student explained that an ordinance change would be required for West Branch to enter a Certification Agreement with the Iowa State Historic Preservation Officer, which would allow the city to pursue certain grants and recognition. The council approved Resolution 2026-15 to set a public hearing on the proposed Certification Agreement (motion Dean/Miller; unanimous).

Finally, the council approved Resolution 2026-16 to set April 6, 2026 as the public hearing date for the city's max proposed property-tax levy rate for fiscal year 2027 (motion Miller/Dean; unanimous).

No formal public opposition or questions were recorded during the hearings on Feb. 17. The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.