Council delays building purchase

By Danica Baker

CLINTON — The Clinton City Council pulled the potential purchase of property from Tuesday’s agenda because the purchase still is under negotiation.

The item was added to the agenda on Monday and the amended agenda detailed the purchase of 129 Fourth Ave. South from David Rose for a not-to-exceed price of $178,000. According to the proposed resolution, the purchase would include improvements to the building to the city’s specifications.

City Administrator Gary Boden said that a different recommendation may come before the council depending on what comes out of the negotiations and noted that a discrepancy exists on the condition of the building’s roof. He added that a special meeting may be scheduled in one week for the council to vote on a recommendation.

There also was a public hearing concerning the authorization of a loan agreement and the issuance of not-to-exceed $315,000 General Obligation Capital Loan Notes for general corporate purposes. According to the resolution, the city is in need of funds to pay costs of equipping the police and parks departments and city airport.

The Capital Loan Note Equipment Listing cites the police department is in need of $53,360, including $860 for patrol lighting and $52,500 for the replacement of two marked police vehicles. The listing states the airport needs $83,000 for an $18,000 mower and a $65,000 tractor with a loader. The parks department is requesting a total of $173,000, including $60,000 for a 16-foot rotary mower and $50,000 for a zero turn mower with snow removal attachments. Also requested in the parks department is $40,000 for a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a snow plow, $15,000 for a four-wheel drive utility vehicle and $8,000 for a flat bed trailer. Included in the listing is estimated issuance costs of $5,640 for the notes.

Following the public hearing, the council approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of $315,000 general obligation capital loan notes, series 2008, and levying a tax for the payment thereof.

The council approved the submission of Transit Grant Applications to financially aid the Municipal Transit Administration, seeking approximately $178,973 from the State Transit Assistance Program, $444,460 from federal formula funds for transit in non-urbanized areas and $1,747,000 from statewide federal capital assistance for transit.

Later, the council approved the second and third readings and adoption of ordinances that provide for the city to convey the east/west alley right-of-way lying north of Lot 1, Block 12 of the Broadmoor Addition and the north/south alley in Block 8, Range 7 of Buells Addition to Lyons, to the school district for $1 each. The council approved the first consideration of both ordinances on Feb. 26.

The council also approved resolutions:

• amending the current City Operating Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.

• waiving the R & R Farms sewer billing in the amount of $422.78;

• entering a five-year lease agreement between the estate of Claire Behr and the city of Clinton for the lease of 113 Sixth Ave. South to be used as the Clinton Police Department at an initial rate of $5 per square foot for 10,500 square feet of space and a 2.5 percent increase per year after the initial year;

• expressing support for the Clinton Four-Year-Old preschool program;

• supporting the Sawmill Museum’s request for Community Attraction and Tourism grant support and for partial year tax abatement;

•recommending appointment of Michael Harmon as the Assistant Director of the Building and Neighborhood Services Department at a starting salary of $46,489 effective March 1; and

• authorizing fireworks displays in Riverview Park after baseball games on May 31, June 28 and Aug. 23, amended to openly change the dates by administrative action.