Gladbrook City Council By Marcy Knaack

Monday evening the Gladbrook City Council met and held a public hearing to authorize taking out a SRF (State Revolving Fund) note not to exceed $850,000 for the water improvement project. A special meeting will be held Wednesday, September 28, 7 p.m. to approve the loan documents. Engineer Mike Bearden said the water board had the contract back from S L Baumeier and plans are to start the middle of next week and will start in the Grand/Elizabeth Street area. Beth Miller, Jodi Betts and Jamie Smock attended the meeting to give an update on the playground equipment at Crayon Corner and also the park. When the daycare was built the wooden playground equipment was removed. The northeast section of the park still has the merry-go-round, swings and slides but a park equipment representative advised that these pieces be removed because of their age. They will be receiving prices on some playground equipment for the south side of the Learning Center, new Little Tike play equipment for infants and prices to replace the equipment north of the elementary building and will present that information at the special meeting on September 28th. The Council adopted a resolution to approve a transfer of $8600.00 from the General Fund-Other Public Works to the Road Use Fund to supplement the street lighting budget item. City Clerk Lori Bearden reviewed the annual street report and said the fund balance has been increasing over the last several years. A resolution was adopted to approve the report. Jerry and Jan Schulz have submitted a building permit to replace an existing truck shed with a 32x50x14 building and utilize the old lines and expand further west and north. The City Ordinance says a building cannot be taller than 12’. The Council will ask for a variance request and will hold a public hearing on October 10th. Trick or Treat has been set for Monday, October 31st from 6-8 p.m. Bearden asked the Council to approve an additional claim from Windstream in the amount of $886.39. Public Works Director Mark Lowry said since the recent rain storm they found the roof at the old water plant to be leaking and is getting prices for a steel roof. Municipal Pipe & Tool will be in town soon to televise some sewer lines and Lowry said that Municipal Street will be in town by the end of the month to start street repairs. Mike Bearden said the electricity used at the basketball court, shelter house and restrooms all runs through the meter at the Crayon Corner Learning Center and felt the City should reimburse the Crayon Corner a portion of the amount. City Clerk Bearden will look back at old bills when there was a separate meter for these to determine a fair amount. A report from the Tama  County Sheriff showed there were 18 calls during the month of August and 126.5 hours were spent within the city limits. There were 3 calls for fraud and 2 for public assistance, all other areas had 1 call each.