By Elaine Rassel
Sanitary Services will be picking up Marcus garbage early (starting at 5 a.m. Monday) and would like residents to put their garbage out Sunday night. The Services are having problems keeping enough workers to drive and dump garbage so they are planning to buy another automatic truck. This new truck is too big for the City’s gravel alleys and the Services have requested that garbage and recycling be CURBSIDE and this is only for gravel alleys. The Council approved moving garbage and recycling collections to curbside for gravel alleys permanently.
A Public Hearing was open for “Proposal to Rehabilitate Abandoned Property at 409 N. Ash Street” with Ayes from Ebert, Jenness, Enneking, and Klassen and no Nayes. Dale Cave, Managing Member for CPI #5 LLC, spoke to the Council about what he plans to do with this property at 409 N. Ash Street. Plans are to have a duplex apartment building (split in half going east to west) with the floors used in each as two-bedroom apartments.
He will put all new wiring, windows, insulation, and plumbing. The siding on the house would be either resided or fixed where needed. He was told that the City’s Code Enforcement Dave Christensen would have to be contacted as to what would bring the building up to the International Property Maintenance Code into City Code within one year.
As no other proposals for 409 N. Ash Street were received except by Dale Cave, the Public Hearing was closed with five ayes.
Council approved Resolution #21-16, “Resolution Approving Proposed Restrictive Sale of Abandoned Property at 409 N. Ash Street in the City of Marcus_with the amended name change to CPI#5, LLC by Dale Cave, Managing Member.
Monday, May 10, 2021 there will be a Public Hearing on the 2020-2021 Budget Amendment at 5:05 p.m.
The Council approved Resolution #21-17, “Resolution Setting Time and Place of Public Hearing on Proposed Sale of Real Estate on the Marcus Business Park the City of Marcus, Iowa.”
The Council approved Resolution #21-18, “Resolution Transferring Funds.”
A business was asking to be recommended for the Signage and Facade Program but was denied due to guidelines being met. The guidelines (by Planning and Zoning) state that the sign has to be on the building to be recommended, whereas the business wanted it out front by their business rather than on the building.
The Council approved having three trolleys added to the City’s Auto Policy. They will be used for the Sesquicentennial August 11-15 of this year.
The Sesquicentennial has asked for Friday, August 13, 2021 for a free swim night. This will be discussed at the May meeting. As of this time, there are only two life guards.
A Class C Liquor License for J.B.’s Bar & Grill was approved.
Ten Corp is planning on having a cafe´ (east of Mike’s Barber Shop) and would like to have a drive-up window located on the west side of the building in the alley. Steve Philips, representing Ten Corp was asking for this alley to be a one-way (north to south) alley behind 400 N. Main Street.
City Attorney will have an Ordinance for a one-way alley for that block only. Council members agreeing to this were Ebert, Enneking, Klassen, and Frangione. Jenness abstained.
Fire hydrants will be flushed out through April 16. With funds left over from this year’s budget, there will be small street repairs (weather providing). After the new fiscal year, bigger repairs will be done.
Steve Philips asked if he could put rock in his alley. He was told that if owners don’t think they have enough rock (what the city has put down), they can add more at their own cost and delivery.
City Attorney Herbold reported she continues to handle motions filed by Vicky Jacobson (one of the owners of the 409 N. Ash property, property in the East end of town, and the building next to the Marcus Community Center.) Her last motion was denied and now she is attempting to file with the Supreme Court.
The only police report from Brian Flikeid was that because Zack Smith and Kris Alesch are not working for Marcus anymore, he will need extra help as he has many on-going investigations.
Open burning is from April 15 until May 15. The HOURS for open burning are SUNRISE to SUNSET beginning April 15 and extending to May 15. While burning, the fire should be attended—no fire should be allowed left to “smother” all night. All disposal of landscape waste during open burning must be on the premises which EXCLUDE alleys, city side walks or parking area (between sidewalk and street).
Our fire department is busy enough without being called to a fire due to a careless person burning. When burning, take into consideration the “weather” factor—WIND. Another factor is your neighbor. There are some people who burn with the smoke away from their residence, but not from their neighbor’s. We are reminded there is still the “city landfill” west of town where people having access to hauling out their yard wastes can leave them off and avoid the problems caused by burning. The gate is open 24 hours for those wishing to use the landfill area as long as they abide by the posted rules as to what can be left off. NO garbage bags are allowed. Take the bags back with you.
City wide garbage collection (city cleanup) is May 10. Leave off at the curb only what two people can lift. You cannot leave out any appliances or hazardous materials.
City Clerk Robin Harvey will be out of the office for a Conference April 21-23 in Des Moines. City Hall will be closed at this time.
Public Works has received compliments on how nice the alleys are looking this spring.
Now to the recycling area on Railroad Street it is a mess! Those leaving cardboard there, PLEASE break down the boxes to make more room for others leaving off their cardboard. The GLASS container_is for GLASS only, not plastics or whatever the glass was carried in.