The Panora City Council met in regular session Monday.

The meeting began with action regarding the substantial increase in the Panorama School District’s electricity bill. The District previously wasn’t charged the demand rate in their monthly bill until July, and at the previous Council meeting Panorama Business Manager Dominique Bryant spoke about her concern over the bill’s 77% increase over the first quarter of the current fiscal year. At the District’s request, the Council decided to phase in the demand rate cost by 33% over the next three years.

Next, representatives from the Panora Public Library Board discussed the addition of a music garden on the downtown square, for children to play installed instruments at their leisure. The Council took no action following the discussion. The Council then approved the 2019 employee health insurance plan, which shows a 7% reduction in rates. They also approved obligating funds from the Urban Renewal Tax Revenue Fund for tax increment financing obligations in the next fiscal year, and approved a tax abatement of three years with a 50% and 25% property tax payment for the fourth and fifth years from Mayor Patrick Parker for a house he rebuilt after a fire at 311 Southwest 3rd Street. The meeting concluded with approval on a quote from Holbrook Construction for a water line replacement along Highway 44, and discussion of maintenance items in the downtown square.