The Perry City Council met in regular session Monday.

At the meeting, City Administrator Sven Peterson reported that the Housing Needs Assessment is moving forward well with focus groups expected to move forward after the holidays.  Simmering-Cory is also still working on the blight assessment.  Peterson also mentioned that the Safety and Employee Appreciation Day went well, as did the Mid America Trails and Greenways Conference workshop that was held in Perry recently.  Mayor Jay Pattee echoed Peterson’s comments about the Safety and Employee Appreciation Day.   Councilman John Andorf reminded every to get out and vote in the city election tomorrow and Councilman Dr. Randy McCaulley thanked Councilman Phil Stone for his years of service on the Council.

Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn then shared and update with the Council on the digital communications equipment upgrades that are coming to Dallas County.  Vaughn says the project will be paid for through a bond that was recently approved by the County Board of Supervisors. He says all the digital equipment will likely be installed before the end of the current fiscal year.

A public hearing in regards to the disposal of the old middle school lot was then held.  Newbury Living has expressed they need an additional portion of that property for storm water retention in order to move forward with their housing project.  A Newbury Living spokesman said they currently have four people on the waiting list to live in the development before they have even broken ground.  Newbury is still waiting to hear from the Iowa Finance Authority in terms of an environmental clearance before they are able to start construction.

The Council then approved a resolution amending Newbury Living’s option to purchase the old middle school lot.  This extends the option until February of 2016.  A development agreement and a reciprocal easement agreement with Hamlin Bell Associates for that same project were then approved.

A sixth pay request and final retainage for the 18th Street reconstruction project was then approved by the Council, along with the 5th pay request in the amount of of $18,240 to Jensen Builders and the second change order for the apron rehabilitation project at the Perry Municipal airport.

Several public utility and and temporary construction easements were then approved as presented, in preparation for the North Street construction project for a potential housing development.

For more on last night’s meeting and things happening in the City of Perry, tune into today’s Let’s Talk Dallas County when we speak with City Administrator Sven Peterson during the 9am, noon and 5pm hours on AM 1310 KDLS, FM 99.7 and online at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.