Summer is a ‘go’

Chamber of Commerce director Ellen Gerharz announced the chamber is planning to move forward with festivities for the Fourth of July during the public forum at the 22 minute Creston City Council meeting Tuesday via Zoom.

“I wanted to share the good news, the Fourth of July (celebration) is going forward this year,” Gerharz said.

Because the Fourth falls on a Sunday, the parade will be held at 1 p.m. instead of the traditional 10 a.m., Gerharz said. More details will be released as they are known.

Council member Matt Levine, who also sits on the Park and Rec Board, said that board is moving forward with summer activities as well, including planning to open the pool.

Parks and Recreation Director Mark Huff is planning to open camp ground restrooms for the summer, council member Terry Freeman said.

Sewer ordinance

Waste Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Jim Bristow asked the council to OK moving forward to change the sewer contracts with industrial customers to add a cut off date if their bill is not paid. He said the current ordinance and contracts have “no teeth” to penalize customers who do not pay.

The waste water department has a customer that is more than $11,000 behind on its payments. Bristow said that customer is up-to-date on its water bill because Waterworks has a policy in place to cut off service for non-payment.

City administrator Mike Taylor suggested 30 days as the point for cut off. Bristow will work with the city’s engineering contacts and City Attorney Marc Elcock to create new contracts and write a proposal for the ordinance.

In other city business:

• resolutions were adopted regarding the use of revenues from the proposed electric and gas franchise fees unanimously with no discussion.

• after public hearings with no written or oral comment from the public, the first readings of the proposed ordinance repealing ordinances 3 and 4 and granting Interstate Power and Light a franchise to sell gas and electric in Creston unanimously with no discussion.

• after a public hearing with written or oral comment from the public, the fiscal year 2022 city budget was adopted unanimously with no discussion.

• a public hearing was set for April 6 regarding filing a grant application for a police patrol vehicle unanimously with no discussion.

• an award was accepted and an agreement was approved for a Community Development Block Grant for the Creston City Waterworks sewer treatment improvements unanimously with no discussion.

• the Creston Community High School junior class’s request for a street closure on North Maple Street from West Montgomery to West Mills streets 3 to 5 p.m. April 10 for class photos was approved unanimously with no discussion..

• a change order to the uptown facade project for $12,871 due to changes made at Create Creston and A&G Restaurant was approved.

• a resolution to make a grant application through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act through the FAA for the Creston airport was approved unanimously with no discussion.