Ryan Harper, Paullina’s new fire chief reported to the City Council the results of their rating evaluation. The fire department is currently at a 4 and closing in on a 5 rating. The higher the rating number the better readiness a fire department is determined to have. The rating of a local fire department also has an impact on the insurance rates for property owners in a community. Harper explained that it will take a little work to get there.
The electric lines are currently undergoing an inspection. Missouri River will do a rate study and is expected to begin a 4-year step up.
Council adopted the Hazard Mitigation Plan. The adoption qualifies the city for federal disaster funds should the need arise.
City Clerk Sandy Fritz reported that Iowa Department of Transportation has a grant option available for terminal construction/improvement. The cap is $125,000 and a May deadline. The council discussed the need for a new airport terminal last year.
Steve Hallgren attended the meeting representing his newly formed company “Planning Solutions.” Hallgren has worked with the city on many projects including planning & zoning ordinances, the city’s ordinance book updates, building permits and other planning activities. He has over 25 years of experience working with governmental bodies. Hallgren currently performs contract work, with among others, the City of Sibley as a contract employee to do administrative work with permits, nuisances, grant writing and special projects. He offered the council to develop a proposal for the council to consider the cost of different kinds of work done within a city office.
Two adjacent, vacant lots with an address of 317 Maple Street running east/west were discussed. Mike and Michelle Hohbach of Hohbach Construction had expressed interest in the property at the January 2022 meeting. They made an offer with some conditions that included the status of rumored easements for the neighbor’s garage access. At the meeting the plat and survey from Beck Engineering was presented. Two feet of the garage belonging to the property to the north was built on the lot at 317 Maple. Zoning setback requirements, 25 feet on 3 sides of a corner lot 7 feet in the back limit design and size of a residential property on those 2 lots. Fritz also reported that she had a phone call from one of the owners of the construction company saying they received phone calls from other O’Brien County towns offering lots at better prices, even free.
Following the discussion of the limitations of the two lots council voted to list the lots for sale at $8,000 each.

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