— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Adri Sietstra Webster City City Councilman Matt McKinney is administered the Oath of Office by City Clerk Karyl Bonjour at Monday evening’s city council meeting. Councilman John Hawkins and Logan Welch were also administered the oath and will serve the term of Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2021.

The City Council of Webster City set the date for the upcoming public hearing on the rezoning request for a property west of Superior Street and north of Fair Meadow Drive where Kwik Star has expressed an interest to build. The public hearing will be held on Monday, Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Webster City resident Gaylord Victoria noted interest in the possibility of Kwik Star coming to Webster City, but expressed concern with communicating the specs of the proposed project to the community.

“I’m leaning toward Kwik Star. I think competition is good,” said Victoria. “I do have some concerns about the proposal: increased traffic, the detrimental effect to the road, noise and trash.”

Victoria explained difficulties with seeing proposed images of where Kwik Star would potentially build.

“Do your homework and help the city and the residents really understand this,” said Victoria, “because they really need to be behind this so that we can fully support it.”

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the request at its meeting last week, acknowledging that Kwik Star’s plans had met all of the requested criteria. The matter was then passed on to the City Council.

The Council considered and approved the report and recommendations from the Hotel/Motel Tax Board for the latest round of grant applications. The board heard presentations from nine organizations in recent weeks for a variety of projects.

“Applications were good and are going in the right direction,” said Hotel Motel Tax Board member Andy Sowle.

The total amount of grant monies approved to be awarded totals $81,944.20. A balance of $47,213.15 is now left in the H/M Tax Grant fund.

The H/M Tax Board recommended grant monies be awarded to the Webster City Community Theatre in the amount of $1,600; The Webster City Women’s Club in the amount of $7,215; Arts R Alive in Webster City in the amount of $1,835; The Briggs Woods Conference Center/Hamilton County Conservation in the amount of $50,000; Webster City Badminton Club in the amount of $500; Wilson Brewer Park Committee in the amount of $16,619.20; and the Border Brigade Archery Club in the amount of $4,175.

Members of the council extended their thanks to H/M board members for their work.

The City Council observed reports about two properties on East Second Street, considering whether they should be established as nuisance properties. The structures are located at 615 E. Second St., and 209 E. Second St.

Webster City resident and property owner Tony Harlan spoke on behalf of the 615 E. Second St. property. The building in disrepair houses wood. According to City Inspector Elise Timm, the building’s roof is unsafe.

“I feel like I’m being targeted because people think the building is ugly,” Harlan said.

Harlan stated he had bid estimates from five companies for costs on re-roofing the structure. According to Harlan, the cheapest bid was $4,500, which he could not justify spending to fix the roof. It would cost Harlan an estimated $300 to tear down the building this winter.

“I’m willing to tear it down. No problem,” said Harlan.

The council voted to establish a nuisance at 615 E. Second St., which gives Harlan 30 days to take care of the issue.

The structures at 209 E. Second St., owned by Don Bordwell are also in disrepair.

Bordwell’s son spoke at the meeting and expressed plans to do the work necessary to bring the property up to city standards.

The council voted to establish a nuisance property and amend the resolution to give Bordwell 90 days instead of 30 to fix the problems.

The potential sale of a property in Brewer Creek Estates 3rd Addition was considered. A resolution was approved authorizing the sale to David and Annette Louk.

A resolution of support and commitment of funds for Green Steam Homes of Iowa LLC of Urbandale and resolution of support and commitment of funds for Kenyon Hill Ridge LLC of Urbandale was approved.

According to a memo to the City Council, the City of Webster City is being required by Iowa Workforce Development to adopt two Resolutions of Support committing funds for two apartment complex projects, one having independent living units and the other having market rate apartment units, both by the same developer, but under different LLC’s.

The Oath of Office was administered to re-elected council members John Hawkins, Matt McKinney and Logan Welch by City Clerk Karyl Bonjour. Each individual will be serving the term Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2021.

The council set Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. for the next town hall meeting. The meeting will be held at the Webster City Middle School. The council is encouraging the public to bring items of concern they wish to discuss to the city before the meeting.

The council approved the second reading of an ordinance amending no parking zones on Bank Street. After approval of the second reading, the council motioned to waive the third reading and to pass and adopt the amendment.

Ken Wetzler, Director of Public Works, explained that after conversations with Webster City Police Chief Shiloh Mork, Webster City Superintendent Mike Sherwood, Webster City Fire Chief Chuck Stansfield and other officials, it was determined the safest parking option would be to limit parking to the south side of Bank Street from Beach Street to West Avenue and prohibited on the north side from Beach Street to West Avenue.

“In all those discussions, it was arrived at the best solution would be to allow parking on the south side of Bank Street and eliminate parking on the north side,” said Wetzler.

Benefits to this parking include a sidewalk already on the south side of the street, ease of access driving buses and other vehicles down Bank Street near the high school, and added safety for pedestrians.

The meeting ended with a closed session to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate as provided by Chapter 21.5j of the Code of Iowa.