GC council tables BIG grant action, discusses sports complex

GRUNDY CENTER- Citing the still-evolving coronavirus situation, the Grundy Center city council voted to table action on awarding a BIG grant to Julie Johnson and Heart and Solutions for plumbing and HVAC updates during Monday night’s regular meeting.

At previous meetings, the council has had several discussions about the future of the program and whether it should be reformed or replaced, and councilman Butch Kuester contended that because of the pandemic, it wasn’t the right time to award the grant.

“The state’s not giving out money right now. I don’t understand why we’re doing it,” he said.

Councilman Dave Stefl also noted that Johnson’s business will be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, while Mayor Al Kiewiet told the council that the funds were already allotted and that changes should be made during the next fiscal year.

Eventually, a motion to table awarding the grant until the council can get “an additional estimate to verify best use of funds” carried by a 5-0 vote.

Council members, most of whom were communicating via teleconference, spoke with Pat Brown of Tender Lawn Care on how to proceed with the proposed maintenance contract for the sports complex if events are cancelled for the foreseeable future.

Brown said he would still have plenty of work to complete in the meantime and promised to keep busy through the shutdown.

“I hope you guys know me well enough (that) we’re not going to let that facility go down at all. There are things we can be doing down there to improve that facility… By no means do we look at this as an opportunity to slack off and let this thing go to pot,” he said. “I think you can rely on my word and my son’s word that we’re going to be held accountable for doing things down there.”

A motion to approve the maintenance contract carried by a 5-0 vote.

City Clerk Kristy Sawyer reported that the city’s website would be up for renewal with the hosting service Far Reach soon and would cost $2,850 plus a $1,500 installation fee and a $1,000 annual renewal cost. The council also discussed the potential of combining the city and Chamber-Main Street sites, and Stefl recommended that they explore other hosting options to see if they could find a better deal.

Police Chief Doug Frost discussed the recent order from Governor Reynolds to close parks, and he said he hoped people would be compliant enough to “just leave” if they are asked. Stefl told Frost that while he understood the orders to stay inside unless necessary, he worried that the quarantine could create new problems.

“We’re going to have all kinds of things to deal with, domestic violence and others…There are going to be some individuals that need to get out and take a walk,” he said to Frost. “There are going to be some societal issues that are going to affect your department.”

IN OTHER BUSINESS, the council:

·      Set a public hearing on the proposed sale of municipal property at 705 1^st Street, 702 and 704 M Avenue for April 20.

·      Set a public hearing for May 4 on fiscal year 2020 budget amendments.