The Jefferson City Council met Tuesday night in regular session.

The Council approved a forgivable loan application for $!50,000 and a facade grant application for $60,000 for Pub Adventures at 121-123 North Chestnut Street. Co-owner Amanda Bills reported that the first phase of the project was renovating and occupying six upper story apartments, five of which had to be low to moderate income, as part of the Community Development Block Grant Upper Story Housing Program through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Bills said the sixth and final tenant is moving in later this month and so now they can renovate the main floor into a restaurant and retail space. 

Additionally, Chris Deal gave an update on The Forge. He said the company who owns the building is Accenture and The Forge has been closed since the covid pandemic. Since then, Accenture has restructured some of the operations of their 700,000 multi-national company, with a lot moving to working remotely. Deal pointed out that Accenture would not re-open either locations of The Forge in Jefferson or Des Moines. Accenture instead paid fully through the next 2.5 years and Deal said they are actively looking for a new tenant that Accenture is allowing to happen. 

Next, the Council approved a resolution giving permission to the Bell Tower Festival Committee to use city-owned property as part of their liquor permit for the June event. They also approved three resolutions to continue to financially and philosophically support the Bell Tower Community Foundation, ElderServe and The Children’s Center. 

During the Greene County Development Corporation quarterly report, Executive Director Ken Paxton said an offer has been accepted for the new Multicultural Family Resource Center Director and the official announcement is pending finalized agreement with the Greene County School District. The Council then approved a 28E agreement with GCDC with no specific financial amount, but that the Council may designate its annual contribution at one of its meetings.