The Perry City Council met in regular session last night.

At the meeting City Administrator Butch Niebuhr shared that the Neighborhood Stabilization Program is finishing up in the City.  He says two more properties will be demolished as part of the project and if any additional funds remain there’s another property set up to be demolished as well.  Niebuhr also mentioned the City possibly looking into a downpayment assistance program in the future.  A Region XII representative will share information on that at a future meeting.  The solar panel and city lighting projects also continue to move forward.  Niebuhr says the solar panel installation is still set to be finished by Thanksgiving and the city has yet to decide on financing for the light replacement project which is estimated at around $600,000.  Finally, Niebuhr said he was approached by the granddaughter of the owners of 12464 Jewel Avenue asking if the city would be interested in purchasing the roughly two acre property for the cemetery expansion.  He says the land swap might actually be more beneficial for the adjacent farmer instead and he may look into bringing this option up to him.  The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has also finished up the bank stabilization project and Niebuhr says they will likely present a final report to the Council in early 2014.

Mayor Jay Pattee then spoke about the re-opening of the Hotel Pattee and encouraged everyone in attendance to get out and vote tomorrow.

Councilwoman Jenny Eklund then reminded everyone about Art on the Prairie this coming weekend in Perry.  She says every year she’s amazed by how the event gets bigger and better.  She then mentioned that the Iowa Architecture Association will be coming to town to check out the Hotel, La Poste and other older buildings in town on December 5th.

Councilman Phil Stone then added that the Iowan magazine has featured Perry in their latest issue with mentions of the Hotel Pattee and Mary Rose Nichols.

During the open forum, Newbury Living presented to the council about their corporate overview and a proposal to redevelop a square block where the old middle school was located.  Newbury Living is a property management company that up until recently managed the Spring Valley Assisted Living in Perry.  Newbury hopes to build an affordable senior living facility, utilizing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. They hope to build two, two story structures with roughly 30-40 two bedroom apartments.  They hope to put in a tax credit application yet this year, with the awards being announced in March, construction starting next fall and construction taking about a year to complete.  Newbury asks the council to set a hearing to initiate the property sale process and rezoning process.  Later in the meeting, the council set a public hearing in regards to disposal of the north half block of the block for this proposed project.  It will take place during the first meeting in December on December 2nd.

Next Matt Ferrier updated the council on the McCreary Community Center parking lot rehabilitation project.  The Jensen Builders project manager explained that they are roughly a week and a half, to two weeks behind due to the recent rain.  He stated that they are having communication issues with the subcontractor to find out what the delay is.  They’re still hoping to have the project, with the exception of the grass seed placement, finished this fall.  The contract says that though there are two phases to the project, the whole parking lot needs to be accessible this winter so if Jensen is unable to finish the second phase before the weather interferes they will work on the other portion in the spring and get it completed before the end of May deadline.

Next the council further discussed the City employee living requirements.  The council decided to leave the requirements as is for the time being and allow the personnel committee to review them and make a decision in the future.

Pay request number two for the 28th Street construction project in the amount of $165, 546 was then approved, along with a $50,696 pay request for the McCreary Community Center parking lot rehabilitation project.

A Urban Renewal Loan application from Perry Perk LLC was then approved in the amount of $8,617 to be paid back over five years at an interest rate of 3%.  The funds will be used to purchase coffee equipment and an oven.

Finally, the council approved all three reading of an amendment to the legal description of the city’s Urban Renewal Area to clear up a duplication, ultimately approving the amendment.

We’ll have more on last  night’s meeting on today’s Let’s Talk Dallas County program when we speak with City Administrator Butch Niebuhr on AM 1310 KDLS during the 9am, noon and 5pm hours.

CLICK HERE  to take a look at Newbury Living’s proposed plans.