The Perry City Council met in regular session last night.

At the meeting the council received a brief update on RAGBRAI plans, heard that the comprehensive plan is off to a good start and learned that administration is considering possibly setting up a wiffle ball stadium in an empty lot.

Two public hearings were held, the first on the fiscal year 2014 budget.  No members of the public expressed any comments during the hearing and the budget was ultimately approved unanimously.

The second public hearing was in regards to a development agreement with Perry Economic Development about the Perry’s movie theater.  Two businessmen from Stuart have stepped forward to purchase the theater with plans to reopen next month.  The city has entered an agreement with the group to help with the cost by using Tax Increment Financing monies.  Neal Crawford and Eric Tiernan have operated the Stuart Fremont Theatre since 2009 and say they’re excited to bring Hollywood entertainment back to Perry as soon as possible.  The council then moved funds from the sewer operations fund to the Tax Increment Fund to enter the theater development agreement with PG3 LLC.

The Council then approved a resolution authorizing sale of police canine Dakota.  Deputy Willy Garrett from the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office made a bid of $3,000 for purchase of the dog.  Initially the price was set at $4,500 but Joni Reeves from Perry Citizens Against Crime said they couldn’t compete with other sources and decided the $3,000 bid was appropriate.  Reeves says Dakota will live with the deputy in his home and they’re excited to welcome her into the family.

The Council then approved an amendment to the development agreement with Tri-County Cash Lumber Mart that allows the new owner to make four even payments over four years instead of paying the loan in full on July 1^st.

Dates were then set for the sale of bonds and acceptance of a preliminary official statement on March 18^th and a public hearing was set for the same day for disposal of abandoned property – also known as bicycles and other items obtained by the Perry Police Department.  After publication, citizens will then have 90 days to respond if the abandoned property is theirs.

In new business, the council approved forgiveness of an owner occupied housing rehab forgivable loan due to death, set spring clean up dates for April 22^nd through April 24^th, yard waste burning dates of March 17^th through May 18^th from 10am until sundown and yard waste pick up dates of March 20^th through November 20^th.

Kim Herrera and Tina Kenney were then appointed to the Park and Recreation Advisory board, Benjamin Schloss was appointed to the Perry Volunteer Fire Department – which fills the department’s roster with 40 members.

The a grant agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources was then approved to purchase new equipment for the fire department and a service agreement with Public Financial Management was approved for preparation of the City’s annual disclosure report.

The first reading of three ordinance amendments were also approved, including changes to the city’s compliance officer description to remove confusion and duplication of a title and adding the word “blight” to the dangerous buildings definition. All three will go through three readings before being fully approved.