3/18/24 Meeting Minutes:
Attendance: Deb Quandt, Bob Fasbender, Casey Berlau, Lynn Curry, Sara Stortz from newspaper, Trevor B., Rich Hartley, John Grundmeier, Aaron Kooiker.
Birthday – Lynn Curry (84)
Brag Buck – Bob Fasbender and the ISU Men winning the Big 12 Tournament
Business:
1. Reviewed Rotary District By-Laws changes – Motion made by Bob and Second by Lynn to approve changes, and all voted in favor – Adam emailed Carolyn at the District our clubs' approval.
2. RYLA info has been sent to Carroll and Kuemper and we are encouraging students (up to 2 from each school) to attend this summer.
Program Notes:
Speakers – Aaron Kooiker (City Manager), Jerry Fleshner (Mayor) and Lavern Dirkx (City Council) – City of Carroll update
Mayor – There is and has been a Carroll Foundation in Carroll for years and was active last during the Aquatic Center campaign. The City is going to get this Foundation back to active again and promote it more as it allows for citizens to donate to projects and receive a tax benefit so that we are able to raise private funds to put with public funds on future updates and or new additions to park, rec, culture and social services within the community. Most communities have them and they are active with them. The foundation can also be used to leverage future state and or federal grants that might require local matches.
City Manager – Budget Season in full swing but heading towards a wrap up the end of this month. Levy will be slightly lower to flat at $12.16. Projects on the horizon is mainly water/sewer related as well as finishing work to Adams. Vacant Property Ordinance is being discussed to move the needle on addressing houses that have been vacant with no utilities for years. This will help with our housing needs, hopefully catch properties before they are too far gone and have to be ripped down as well as clean up neighborhoods and protect property values. Working with CCGP on follows to Downtown Assessment done late last year. Planning on some larger facade improvement grants, above and beyond the micro-ones offered through CCGP along with Way Finding Signs to direct people to places and business areas of interest. Also planning a larger marketing push outside Carroll and the County to attract business and consumers. Fairview Village has sold to new owners who will no longer have the property tied to HUD are going to fix it up and have the units be market rent.
City Council Member –
1. Rec Center is all done except new flooring in Women’s and Family Change Rooms and those will be done soon. Raised walking track is open.
2. Lavern presented on a good 15 or so hours of individual work he did on studying the removal of the Court Street and Adams Stop lights. He collected a ton of data a different times per day every day over about a week’s time to show how many folks tried to cross, who is parking where, how long it takes to turn or cross, how many parking spots are open and time to get through Clark to Carroll Street with the lights gone. The data is quite compelling in favor of removing both lights with no accidents in this time or during the summer construction period and he will continue to present to council and others it the community that wish for the data. Beyond the pedestrian and vehicle data showing neither are necessary the city will also save $250,000 per intersection by removing them. Final official study data from the engineering and public safety departments will come in the end of the month and council will then take action.
Next week's speaker is Stephanie Hausman with an update on all things Carroll County Supervisor's office.