The Perry City Council met in regular session last night.
The nearly three hour meeting included a lot of discussion not only from the council members but several citizens who voiced their opinions on a variety of topics.
Around 10 residents voiced their opinions and concerns over three main topics including changes to the animal protection and control ordinance, the hiring of a new police officer and an influx in skate and long boarders on city streets.
When it came to taking action on agenda items, the Council approved the first reading of the animal protection and control ordinance after making amendments to delete a specific list of potentially vicious breeds of dogs and making some language changes.
Next, after a public hearing, the Council approved entering a loan agreement in the amount of $96,000 to purchase a new end loader. They also approved a $750 contribution to the cost of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s downtown assessment next month, approved an agreement with the Water Works department for reimbursement for City Administrator Butch Niebuhr’s work as the interim Superintendent at a cost of $5,000 per month which will go to the City’s general fund and set a public hearing date of September 18th in regards to the 18th and North Street sanitary sewer project.
Finally, after much discussion, the Council unanimously agreed to allow both the police and parks and recreation departments to move forward with hiring of one person each. Because a hiring freeze was put into effect in March, all City departments currently have to get the council’s approval prior to starting a hiring process. Finances were the main concern when it came to whether or not the City should take on two new personnel. The Council decided that public safety was an important part of the City and wanted to prevent possibly being down two or more officers in the future. As for the recreation department, information was provided that proves having a recreation director is profitable as the programs he/she starts and maintains more than pay for the salary of that position. After the unanimous vote, the police department will now look to fill the 13th officer position and the parks and recreation department is in search of a new recreation director.
For more on these and other items covered at last night’s City Council meeting, tune into today’s Profile Interview where Erick Zamora speaks with City Administrator Butch Niebuhr about the meeting and other happenings in Perry.
If you miss the interview, catch the replay tomorrow morning at 6:30am here on AM 1310 KDLS.