The Jefferson City Council met Tuesday night in regular session.

During open forum, two people voiced concerns about possible changes to the Greenewood Center. Congregate Meals President Bill Allen explained the importance of keeping the kitchen area, where all of their equipment is to serve their food, and the dining area and thought that those spaces may change and/or be reduced in size. Greenewood resident Larry Fraizer had a concern about the amount of space the parking lot would be if the center is changed into a clubhouse for the golf course. City Administrator Scott Peterson said no decisions have been made and there has only been one meeting with stakeholders in the feasibility study, but they want to take everything into consideration.

Next, the Council approved to set a public hearing for May 27th at 5:30pm for the amendment to the 2025 fiscal year budget. The Council then voted 4-1 to set three additional public hearings. The first one was to expand the Urban Renewal Plan to include the former middle school, one block to the south, and an easement along Highway 4; as well as several properties along East Lincoln Way, and Greenewood Drive and the golf course. Peterson said there are several projects that are identified in these areas that were required in order to be able to expand the Urban Renewal Area to be tax increment financing eligible. 

The second public hearing was to create a Blight District within the Urban Renewal Plan that would include the former middle school building. Those two hearings were scheduled for June 10th. The final public hearing was to vacate the north-south alleyway that is under the former middle school. City Attorney David Morain stated that no document was found that said if the alleyway was vacated before the middle school was originally built. However, Morain said the Council would need to vacate it, so they no longer would be the defaulted entity that currently owns it. That public hearing was set for May 27th. Council member Chad Sloan voted not to schedule each hearing with one of his main reasons being that he disagreed with some of the projects that were listed in the new proposed areas for the expansion of the Urban Renewal Plan. 

Then, the Council voted 4-1 on a resolution to amend the grant agreement between the city and Iowa Economic Development Authority. Developer Chris Deal said the $600,000 downtown housing grant through the IEDA was the last extension that the middle school and apartment conversion project needed in order to start construction. Council member Chad Sloan was the lone no vote.

Next, the Council voted unanimously on a resolution to award a $41,000 facade grant to the Greene County Historical Society to make repairs to the storefront of the museum. They also approved the resolution to authorize a grant application with the Iowa Department of Transportation to help offset the local match for the fuel farm project at the airport. 

The Council also approved two 28E agreements with the cities of Dana and Rippey to continue to have their recycling collected by the city of Jefferson and they also approved the 27th pay estimate to Shank Constructors of $803,897 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvement project. It was mentioned that the project is substantially complete at this time. City Engineer Jim Leiding then reported that the playing surface and nets have been installed at the new pickleball court at Russell Park and it can now be used by the community.