The Webster City City Council approved the Hotel/Motel Tax Board’s recommendations for the 19th round of grant monies Monday night. A total of $78,687.71 in grant monies was approved.The board met last Monday, July 10 to determine the final recommendations on projects and funding levels to be presented to the council.

With the council’s approval the following groups and organizations receive the following in grant monies:

• Avenue of Flags – $4,000. The money will cover the request for the flag trailer storage and building

• The Boone Valley Izaak Walton League – $7,355 for a trap range expansion

• The City of Webster City, ISU Extension and Hamilton County Conservation – $1,212.71 for the Boone River Cleanup

• Hamilton County Exposition – $10,000 for the Grand River Rodeo

• Legacy Learning Boone Rive Valley – $5,020 in funding for partial advertising costs

• The Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce – $23,100 for a tourism marketing plan

• The Webster City Community Theatre – $3,000 for advertising

• Wilson Brewer Historic Park Committee – $25,000 in funding to help restore the log cabins located at the park

Councilman Logan Welch commented on wealth of information given to the board by the applicants and praised the board for digging deeper in their line of questioning.

“I feel the presentations were a little more hearty and applicants came prepared to tell the board really how they would use the funds,” said Welch. “Seeing the current makeup of the board, the board asked some really good probing questions to get some more information out of the applicants as well. I would like to thank the board for doing that.”

Councilman Jim Talbot brought up concerns of returning applicants requesting funding.

Hotel/Motel Tax Board Chairman Andy Sowle explained that return applicants are encouraged to become sustainable and seek additional grant funding from outside sources.

“I want to encourage anyone to apply for these grants,” Welch said. “The board will vet out the applicants and let the money go where it seems fit.”

Mayor John Hawkins expressed his gratitude to the board for their hard work and for staying within budget.

“Thanks very much. You did a very good job,” Hawkins said. “It was a tough one for you.”

“I think it’s important to have the ones that are going to continue to build the fund be supported and you guys did that,” said Brian Miller, councilman. “That’s what’s important to me. If we don’t have people we’re supporting that are building the fund through the Hotel/Motel Tax, then it’s going to go away.”

The remaining balance in the fund after the approval of monies to be awarded is $38,992.56.

Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility, LLC (Black Hills Energy) requested facilities extension agreements to extend natural gas into and within Brewer Creek 5th and 6th subdivisions. The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to enter into Facilities Extension agreements with Black Hills Energy to serve natural gas to Brewer Creek 5th and 6th subdivisions.

The city is desiring to waive the requirement that all improvements be completed prior to the approval of the final plats of Brewer Creek Estates 5th and 6th Additions. The council approved a resolution granting an exception to the subdivision regulations for the proposed Final Plats of Brewer Creek 5th and 6th Additions.

According to the council packet, the Planning and Zoning Commission met on June 12 and recommended that the council waive the requirement that all improvements be completed before approval of the Final Plats for both Brewer Creek 5th and 6th Additions. With the approval of final plats, prices can be set for the lots and can start to be sold. According to Karla Wetzler, Planning Director, with the approval of the final plats Brewer Creek 5th Addition should be priced within the next month.

“We don’t meet until tomorrow with the finance gentleman who is going to help us set the prices of the lots,” said Wetzler. “Then we’ll create a new map that has the prices right on the lot so they can come in and a get a map of the lots with the price on it.”

Brewer Creek 6th Addition is estimated to be completed two months after Brewer Creek 5th Addition is priced. Lots will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The council approved the Final Plats for both Brewer Creek Estates 5th and 6th Additions.

A request from Webster City Fire Chief Chuck Stansfield to accept a bid for concrete work at the fire station was approved. The bid accepted was from Peterson Construction in the amount of $45,514.80. According to the council packet, the concrete parking lot and front apron at the fire station has been cracking and spalling, causing the back parking lot of the station to have poor drainage issues.

According to Stansfield, after volunteer fire fighter tryouts on July 8, the department will be fully staffed after the completion of background checks.

Welch addressed the large amount of fireworks complaints seen in the police reports.

“Yes there were a lot of firework complaints,” Welch said. “I just want to make sure people are aware we see that number and we understand that people had some issues with the way we handled the firework ordinance. Please be understanding.”

There will be a Town Hall meeting on Monday, July 24 at 7 p.m. at the Webster City Middle School commons. Topics of discussion will include fireworks, nuisance properties and construction progress.

Councilman Matt McKinney and City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez were absent from the meeting.