The Guthrie Center City Council met in regular session Monday.

The Council passed the second readings on ordinances to approve new regulations for fences, garages, and accessory buildings. The new ordinances would require residents to obtain a permit before any of the aforementioned items are installed. The ordinances only affect newly installed buildings and fences, and buildings 1,000 square feet or larger. The Council will review the third and final reading of each ordinance at the next Council meeting.

The Council then heard three presentations from organizations interested in applying for a grant through the Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program. The million dollar grant program can give up to $100,000 per project to be used for building repair or expansion costs that would somehow make a significant economic impact to the community. Cities must apply for the project, and must make some financial contribution or contribute “in-kind” resources to the project to be considered. Mayor Pro-Temp Dennis Patrick gives an example of “in-kind” resources. “If you had an architect that donated their time to do a project then that could be put down as in-kind.”

The three projects up for consideration include: an expansion plan for DICA’s industrial headquarters to allow for more machinery and training space, Main Street Guthrie Center’s renovation of the Williams Building to benefit prospective small business owners, and renovations to rooms at the Midway Motel to attract more tourists and extended stay residents to town. The Council will decide which project to sponsor at the next meeting as the pre-application deadline is January 28th. The Council moved to tentatively contribute 25 percent of the selected project’s requested funds, not to exceed $25,000.