Harding resolution postponed

By Danica Baker
Herald Staff Writer

August 27, 2008 01:15 pm

— CLINTON — The Clinton City Council voted Tuesday to postpone a resolution extending the Harding School purchase agreement by two years until Oct. 28 and in the meantime, authorized the city to begin negotiations with the Clinton School Board to purchase the building.
Prior to the discussion, Library Board member Dick Kissack urged the council to remove the tabling of the motion and approve the two-year extension of the agreement. He said the school board has no plans to otherwise change the agreement and approved the two-year extension. He added that the Library Board feels the building is adequate and it is their recommendation the building be used for a new library location.
Fourth Ward Councilman Paul Gassman asked the council to table the discussion, saying he is not for or against either side of the debate, but feels the city should own the building outright and be able to use the building for any purpose. He said it makes no sense for the city to spend money to maintain the facility for another entity. City Administrator Gary Boden suggested the issue be postponed instead of going through a cumbersome process of rescinding motions to table the matter.
At-Large Councilman Ron Mallicoat said he did not think the issue needed to be tabled. While he agreed that the building should have been properly winterized and “mothballed,” he said the city should move forward on presenting a bond issue in April and get going on a plan to use the building. First Ward Councilman Bob Soesbe said he would vote in favor of negotiating city ownership of the Harding School building and remarked he too hates to see the city put money into a building it does not own. He said the city would be better off if it owned the building and had total control of it, wherein the city could find a use for it and the adjoining land.
At-Large Councilman Mark Vulich agreed, saying he thinks the city should own the building. Vulich said it should be up to the voters whether the building is used for a library, but remarked that the building and land is an “important piece of property for the city to own.” Boden clarified that the city owns the property contingent on reversion rights, meaning that if the city decides not to use the property as a library, ownership reverts back to the school district. Boden said the city does not now, nor has ever had, control of the property.
The council voted 6 to 1 to authorize negotiations to purchase the Harding School property with the school board.
The council then re-approved a $1 million Manufacturing Drive Paving Project and included $160,000 for a stop light to be installed at Valley West Drive.
The council first approved the project award on Aug. 12 following a public hearing concerning the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the Manufacturing Drive Paving Project, but voted 4 to 2 on an amendment to remove the $160,000 included for Valley West Drive signalization.
The project was awarded to Clinton Engineering Co. at $1.07 million by a vote of 5 to 1 with At-Large Councilman Ron Mallicoat voting no.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, the council rescinded the previous resolution and approved a new resolution awarding the contract including alternate number one for the installation of stop lights at Valley West Drive and Manufacturing Drive at a cost of $1,232,072.
The council approved three resolutions amending Iowa Great Places Agreements regarding the public art project, public beach project and the disc golf project. The resolutions approve the transfer of $8,000 from the public art project to the public beach project for the installation of 22 light fixtures and a new completion date of Oct. 31 for the the disc golf project and public beach project.
The council also approved ordinances, motions and resolutions:
• amending the code of ordinances by adding a new section establishing camping time limits for Willow Island;
• approving the hiring of the law firm of Hall and Associates of Washington, D.C., to provide legal services related to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the United States Environmental Protection Agency enforcement of regulatory compliance;
• approving the purchase of 338 Eighth Ave. South from Go-Tane Service Stations, Inc. for $127,260;
• authorizing and providing for the issuance of $6,270,000 general obligation bonds, series 2008A, and levying a tax to pay said bonds;
• approving Bankers Trust Company, N.S. of Des Moines to serve as paying agent, bond registrar and transfer agent, approving the paying agent and bond registrar and transfer agent agreement and authorizing execution of the agreement;
• approving exclusive use of the Alliant Energy Field ballpark parking lot west of the stadium by the Clinton LumberKings for July 4 and 5, 2009, for regularly scheduled games that coincide with the annual Riverboat Days celebration;
• amending the 28E Agreement with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by reducing the number of transient boat slips from 50 to 30;
• to approve and place on file the form of Tax Exemption Certificate;
• to approve and place on file the Continuing Disclosure Certificate; and
• to accept the donation of a steel walkway bridge with handrails and a 130-foot by 50-foot double raked deck barge from Celebration River Cruises for use to disembark and load passengers at a dock site downstream of the Amenities Building.