The City Council of Webster City appointed six students to the newly formed Youth Advisory Commission Monday night. The council appointed middle school students Sophia Vanderpool, Aiden Feltz, and Anna Atchison along with high school students Matthew Johnston, Brianna Luke, and Katie Greenfield. The students will be involved with the commission for the terms of March 20, 2017 through June 1, 2018.

“We had some of the most rock solid candidates you could ask for this commission,” said Welch. “Picking amongst them was no easy task and I think all of us took it extremely seriously. Narrowing it down was very difficult. If your name wasn’t listed, please know it wasn’t because of caliber, it was simply because we could only pick three.”

Webster City resident Merlyn Tungesvik spoke at the council meeting regarding a property he owns at 919 Third St. Tungesvik asked the council to give him an extension as he is trying to sell the house to a third party. Tungesvik explained that given the extra time he could make the house livable again.

“The back porch has been taken off. I could put that on there and put a new roof on the thing and I think that it should be suitable housing,” said Tungesvik. “I would like to have an extension or something or other to get this done.”

“There is lot of work that would need to be done to that structure to make it into a habitable structure,” said Webster City Public Works Director Ken Wetzler. “I think it’s the council’s prerogative whether or not they want to grant him an additional 30 days. By declaring it a nuisance, we are giving him essentially 30 days more to do something with it.”

Mayor John Hawkins questioned if 30 days would be enough time to get the necessary work completed.

“I’d hope so,” said Tungesvik.

Welch brought up frustrations brought to the council’s attention by Webster City residents who don’t think there is “enough bite behind the bark” and how this case was one of many in town. Welch noted Tungesvik being issued an unsafe building notice on January 4 of this year already and that nothing had been done to the property since that notice was sent out.

“That 30-day period has already expired,” Welch said. “Now we’re here today at the council meeting and you’re asking for another 30-day extension. With all due respect Mr. Tungesvik, I don’t think that anything is going to happen in the next 30 days that hasn’t happened in the last.”

After discussion, the council approved a resolution establishing a nuisance at 919 Third St. and ordering the abatement of within 30 days.

Councilman Jim Talbot voted no on the resolution.

The council approved a request from Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Director Deb Brown to close off four downtown streets for JunqueFest. JunqueFest will run from May 25 through May 28.

Brown thanked the council for their work with the chamber over the past four years. Brown’s last day as the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Director is Friday.

“I would like to thank the city and city council for the past four years working with the chamber and myself,” said Brown. “Friday is my last day and I’m really happy that I’ve had the opportunity to work with all of you. Thank you very much.”

A public hearing was held concerning proposed plans and specifications and proposed form of contract and estimate of cost for the 2017 Water System Improvement Project.

There were no written or oral objections.

A resolution finally approving and confirming plans, specifications and form of contract and estimate of cost for the 2017 Water System Improvement Project was approved.

A resolution awarding the contract for the 2017 Water System Improvement Project to Wunsch Construction Inc., of Greene, in the amount of $296,236.90 was approved.

A resolution to accept and approve the Minor Subdivision Plat of Burgin 1, Hamilton County, was approved.

The council accepted a resolution to approve the Minor Subdivision Plat of Fair Meadow Heights, Webster City.

A resolution authorizing the removal of No Parking Signs on the north side of the 700 block of Odell Street was approved.

The council approved a resolution authorizing entering into Amendment No. 1 to the On-Call Paving Specialist agreement with Snyder and Associates, Inc., Ankeny, for engineering services in connection with the 2017 PCC Street Improvement Project.

A resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a Pole Attachment agreement with Iowa Communications Network (ICN), Des Moines, to serve fiber to 1900 Superior St. was approved.

A resolution to accept an offer of dedication from Van Diest Family, LLC to the public for a water main in an area located west of Edgewood Drive, was approved.

A resolution to accept an offer of dedication from Van Diest Medical Center to the public for street and public utility purposes in an area located north of the Van Diest Family Clinic was approved.

The council approved a resolution authorizing and approving the execution of an offer to buy real estate and acceptance between the City of Webster City and Van Diest Family, LLC.

A Town Hall Meeting will be held on Monday, March 27 at the Webster City Middle School Commons at 6 p.m. Possible items of discussion include a PowerUp YOUth presentation and nuisance ordinances.

The council also discussed the city-wide cleanup which is tentatively set for June 9 and 10.