The Perry City Council met in regular session on Monday.

Tom Burkgren, who is on Perry’s Hospitality Incorporated Team, which is Hotel Pattee’s management, gave an update on how the structure is doing. He said that the hotel was losing money over the past two years with external factors that were out of anyone’s control. He mentioned that inflation was hurting the restaurant in early 2024, but is slowly coming back around. 

Burkgren commented that a lot of the expenses come from repairs and maintenance. Perry 1st Ward Joe Shelly thanked Burkgren for his hard work, emphasizing that he frequents the Hotel Pattee often. 2nd Ward Jeremy Mahler echoed Shelly’s sentiments by stating that the staff is exceptionally fantastic at their jobs. Friends of the Hotel Pattee member Matt McDevitt indicated that the goal is to break even or get ahead of financial profitability by the end of 2026.

Next, the council set a date for a public hearing on designation of the expanded Perry Urban Renewal Area for JBS USA, A.D.R. Axles, and M & R Properties for August 18th at 6pm inside the Clarion Room of the Security Bank Building in Perry.

Items on the agenda that was approved included a resolution for the termination of an agreement for professional services with ACCU Jet, as Public Works Director Josh Wuebker noted that they are no longer providing sewer maintenance services due to unforeseen circumstances, then the council authorized the solicitation of a request for qualification for a new sewer cleaning and inspections contractor, and a resolution to readdress a parcel at Perry’s Industrial Park after there were discrepancies found relating to finding a spot for JBS USA and A.D.R. Axles’ incoming buildings.

The council then held the second and third readings for an ordinance to amend chapter 165 on zoning regulations to change a zone from the Agricultural District to the Heavy Industrial District. The council then approved both readings for final adoption.