NL City Council and School Board to meet tomorrow

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? It looks to be a full house at Tuesday?s meeting of the New London City Council.

The New London Community School District Board of Education is set to attend the council meeting to discuss the lack of housing available in the community, according to an agenda sent out by the school district.

The city council will be discussing a residential housing development on South Pine Street. The council has been toying with the idea of having a housing development on South Pine Street, but in the past, had hoped a private developer would come in to build the houses.

In January, the council talked about creating a TIF district in order to help develop housing on South Pine Street. According to City Council member Kirk Miller?s calculations, the city would have to sell eight houses to make the yearly payment on the TIF loan.

However, there were concerns a TIF district might divert tax dollars away from the school district. Council members were also leery of putting city money into developing the area and hoping someone would buy the properties.

At the end of the January meeting, the council had agreed to look into the costs of extending utility services to Adams Street, which had enough land for three homes and would be a better project for the city to ?get its feet wet? with.

On Tuesday, the council will also discuss the sewer replacement through the New London School?s football field. The field has been sinking due to problems with the storm sewer, which runs below the length of the football field, and is creating possible sinkhole effects.

The council had met with the New London School Board about this issue in October. Originally, the council had wanted to begin the project as soon as possible due to liability concerns. However, the city and the school district were both concerned with having the field ready for football season in August.

In the end, the council felt the likelihood of a sinkhole occurring was slim so the council unanimously voted to postpone the project for a year.

Despite the project not beginning until November, the city will soon need to look at bid letting.

Another agenda item the council will tackle on Tuesday will be deciding if a teacup potbellied pig may reside within city limits.

Jessica Garrels approached the council during its February meeting to see if her family pig, which is spayed and fully grown at about 18 inches tall and 75 pounds, can live with her and her family at 104 Orchard Lane.

New London City Code 55.05 states it is unlawful for persons to keep livestock within the City except by written consent of the Council or except in compliance with the City?s zoning regulations.

Within the same set of codes, livestock is described as ?an animal belonging to the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine or procine species, ostriches, reheas and emus; farm deer as defined in Section 170.1 of the Code of Iowa; or poultry.?

Neighbors of Garrels said they opposed an exception being made, due to fears of loud noises and foul odors.

The council will meet at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, at the New London City Hall.