City Council sets trick-or-treat night

The New London City Council met in regular session on Sept. 11, 2023. With all members present (Travis Benz by phone), they approved the agenda. No one addressed the Council in open forum. In reports, the Council discussed Devin Swanson’s employment with the city as a police officer. He will have the months of November and December to fulfill the necessary items to complete his employment requirement.

The Council approved the consent agenda and then took up old business.

•They discussed the residential and commercial building codes. After reviewing the various building code books and draft ordinances for adopting the building codes, the Mayor and the city clerk will work to get a clean draft of the ordinance to the Council in the next month or two.

•The next issue discussed was semi-truck parking on E. Cleveland St. The Council discussed why this is unsafe and how they might prevent it. Council Member Campbell suggested the city start by enforcing the 48-hour parking limit and parking the wrong way on a street before adopting a new ordinance. The Council agreed this would be the best place to try and correct the issue.

The Council then turned its attention to new business. They took the following actions:

•Approved pay estimate #3 for $102,186.03 to Hickey Contracting for the Division Street improvements.

•Approved pay estimate #7 to Jones Contracting for $15,952.89 for the Pine Street Subdivision — second addition.

•Approved change order #5 to Four Seasons Excavation & Landscaping for the sponsored project for -$27,912.31.

•Approved pay estimate #8 to Four Seasons Excavation & Landscaping for the sponsored project for $13,057.86.

•Approved Oct. 31 from 5:00 to 7 p.m. for Trick-or-treat.

•Approved the Homecoming parade route for Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

•Approved Resolution #407 employee a part-time police officer. Carlos Lopez will start with police department at an hourly wage of $24.91.

•Approved Resolution #408 Street Finance report for the period from July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023.

•Approved Resolution #410 authorizing temporary closing of a public way. The City will close off the 100 block of N. Maple St. and 300 block of W. Washington St. from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023 for Trunk or Treat.

•Approved Resolution #409 reasonable competitive bidding procedures for disposition of certain property located within the South Pine Street Urban Renewal Area; directing publication of related notices; and declaring the intent of the City to accept the offer submitted by Sovern Construction and Home Center, Inc. in the event that no qualified competing proposals are submitted.

•Approved the rescinding of the Restrictive Covenants for the Pine Street Subdivision — Second Addition, New London, Iowa adopted on March 27, 2023.

•Approved the Restrictive Covenants for the Pine Street Subdivision — Second Addition, New London, Iowa.

The Council discussed the City’s acquisition of the property at 102 E. Main St., Apt. 1 and the possible future use of the property. It may be donated to the New London Community School District for a potential welding shop separate from the carpentry shop. The Council agreed it was good to acquire the nuisance property, and they would like to help the school out by donating it to them.

The Council discussed buying a chipper for the Public Works Department. The cost of the dumpsters for yard waste and limbs are an the ongoing expense. If they purchased a chipper, they would no longer have to pay to have the limbs chipped. Bur they are concerned that the cost of maintenance and repairs to a chipper would be prohibitive. They discussed other options including a larger dump truck that could have more than one purpose while being used in limb/yard waste cleanup. No action was taken.

The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. The next regular City Council meeting will be Oct. 9, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the City Office.