The Perry City Council met in regular session on Monday.
According to Marketing and Engagement Coordinator Chris Cohea, the council held a first reading, then waived the second reading, before doing a third reading and accepting the ordinance to amend subsection to chapter 165 to discharge regulations relating to fireworks. Cohea details that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 303 into law, which mandates cities to prohibit the use of consumer fireworks or display fireworks on any day other than July 3rd, July 4th, or December 31st in accordance with State Code Section 727.
Cohea mentioned the council held public hearings on the amendment to the current budget for fiscal year 2025 and the proposed contract documents and estimated costs for repair or improvement for the Parallel Taxiway Reconstruction. The council then approved the amendment for the revenues from $1,894,663 to $37,192,875 then the expenditures from $2,124,477 to $37,923,647. For the proposed contract documents for the Parallel Taxiway Reconstruction, the council will hold a public hearing to consider the plans, specifications, proposed form of contract, and estimated total cost at the next meeting on June 16th.
Cohea highlights that other items on the agenda that were approved included a resolution to accept the formal submission of an application to the Federal Aviation Administration for eligible funds from the Airport Improvement Program in the amount of $3,785,000, a resolution for a scope of work for the existing Runway 14/32 reconstruction to partial Parallel Taxiway A for $459,900, a resolution to set a public hearing on the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs for the downtown improvements phase one project for July 7th at 6pm inside the Clarion Room of the Security Bank Building in Perry, and a resolution to accept a temporary construction easement for phase one project on a property owned by Raccoon Valley Bank.
Cohea shares more items that were approved on the agenda featured a resolution to authorize a fireworks permit for J&M Displays Incorporated to be apart of the Perry Chamber’s 4th of July Celebration, reappoint Kendall Rathje and Rosa De Gonzalez to four-year terms to the Library Board of Trustees, and a resolution to provide written consent to permit shooting arrows within city limits on specific property, which Cohea says was approved by all members, except 2nd Ward Jeremy Mahler as his concern was that a portion of the land is in the city limits.
Cohea added that there was a modification to the resolution to accept the reduction of recapture funds for a property at 1913 Warford Street, where funding through a CDBG Housing Sustainability grant under the Iowa Economic Development Authority project was used in the amount of $24,999 with 20 percent of the amount of the loan would be forgiven each year and the original recommendation was to reduce the recapture funds to $12,500. Cohea explains the homeowner passed away prior to the first payment, and the sister took over. With this in mind, the council decided to lower the amount to $5,000 for the sister to pay.