A public hearing date was set Monday night during the regular City Council session for the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and cost estimates for the 2020 sewer rehabilitation and repair project.

April 19 was set as the date for the hearing. Ken Wetzler, public works director, said the project will repair and rehabilitate one storm sewer and spot repairs on four sanitary sewer problems. Those repairs will take place along Lincoln Drive near the north end of the street, along Apple Avenue near the intersection with Willow Street, at the intersection of East Dubuque Street and Park Avenue (storm sewer repair), at the intersection of Union Street and Cedar Street and along Superior Street near the intersection of Pleasant Street.

Wetzler said the city would publish a notice of hearing and bid letting, with the opening of bids to be conducted April 8 at 3 p.m. The contract would then be awarded following the public hearing on April 18, with the expected project completion on Aug. 18, 2021. Total cost was estimated at $206,516.75, Wetzler said.

Lindsay Henderson, community vitality director, gave a presentation on the Boone Forks Regional marketing.

Boone Forks is a tri-county initiative between Hamilton, Boone and Webster counties promoting the outdoor recreational amenities.

“We’re recognized as one Iowa Great Places as the tri-county region, which makes us eligible for grants to continue to improve upon those amenities,” Henderson said.

Henderson said progress had been made in the past year with a grant from the Iowa Parks Foundation. The three county organization was able to hire a marketing firm to develop a new website and to begin the marketing process. Henderson showed the council a part of the website, booneforksiowa.org, which features potential tourist itineraries, events, activities, shopping and dining opportunities, interactive maps, as well as motels and cabins rentals.

Henderson said Brian Lammers, Hamilton County Conservation director, along with his counterparts in Boone and Webster counties have taken the lead on the project. The Chamber of Commerce and economic development in Webster City, Fort Dodge and Boone have also been involved in putting the website together.

“Our plan is to apply for a Great Places grant hopefully next year that will add some more signage and some water trail improvements,” she said.

“I think the pandemic has made this even more important,” she said. “We have a lot to offer and a lot to do right here in these rural areas that have these outdoor amenities. The really are one of the keys to thriving and bringing people to the area.”

The city also provides some annual funding for the region, Henderson said, totaling about $1,300 for administrative costs.

The second reading of a proposed rezoning of a property owned by Hamilton County was approved Monday night. Hamilton County had requested that 21 acres east of Briggs Woods Road and west of Millards Lane be rezoned from A-1, which is agricultural, to M-1, light industrial. According to a council memo, the county plans to construct a new storage structure for winter sand and salt. Storage buildings are not allowed in A-1 districts unless they are associated with farming, according to the memo. The M-1 districts allow for storage.

The council also waived the third reading of the proposed ordinance and passed the ordinance.

A quit claim deed from Hamilton County was accepted for a piece of property just south of Overpass Drive. Ken Wetzler said the property was needed for sloping and grading for the 2021 Second St. Reconstruction project.

“The county was gracious enough and quit claimed deeded this to the city at no charge,” Wetzler said.

The Amended Leave Policy during the COVID-19 emergency was extended until June 30, 2021, as the city works through the vaccination program.

Mayor John Hawkins gave the oath of office to Dan Watkins, a new officer with the Webster City Police Department.

At the close of the meeting, the council went into close session as provided by Chapter 21.5 (j) and (i) to discuss the purchase or sale of real estate, and to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered.