The Jefferson City Council met Tuesday night in regular session.

During open forum, resident Jim Nelson questioned why he was being charged for services such as garbage and water if he wasn’t using them during the winter months when he is at a residence in Texas. City Administrator Mike Palmer said he could have his meter disconnected for $85 and then re-connected for $85.

The Council then approved an amendment to the current fiscal year budget as presented, following the public hearing. The adjustments would drop the city’s ending fund balance from $10,170,872 to $9,204,877. Additionally, the Council approved selling 100 East State Street to Why Not Us and entering into an economic development agreement, following a public hearing on the topic. The purchase price was $40,000 and the remaining amount from the development agreement of $110,000 will be used on renovations and be forgiven over ten years.

The Council also approved the second reading to rezone property at East Clark and East Reed streets from single family residential to multi family residential, as well as the second reading and waived the third reading to rezone property at 504 and 506 East Clark Street from light industrial to multi family residential. The Council then approved the first reading to amend an ordinance to increase water rates by three-percent and sewer rates by 5.5-percent. 

Following a presentation by the Jefferson Library Board of Trustees, the Council approved a funding request of no more than $40,000 for a feasibility study on possible expansion, building new or renovating a current building for the library. Payment would come from the City’s automatic allocation from Wild Rose Casino and Resort of 0.5-percent of the adjusted gross revenue. The meeting ended with the Council hearing a quarterly report from Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community.