By Mari Radtke
The Archer City Council met in regular session on Tuesday September 12. The mayor reported that all parts of the flashing warning lights to cross the highway between the main residential area of the city and the city park have arrived. Dates to dig holes and pour posts as well as a separate date to install the lights need to be set. The discussion targeted completed the task by September 25.
No progress was made in determining the role of a library director for Archer using the Primghar Library. At a special Archer Council meeting held on Thursday September 21, the resignation of Annee Carlson was announced.
Discussion of the former school building continued with no information from the attorney to proceed with any decision making. The building is not insurable, as things stand, due to not having any vested interest in the property. The lease was not cancelled timely therefore is still in force. It requires certain maintenance and other activity of the City.
The topic was discussed in closed session at the special meeting on September 21. Council decided in open session to get quotes for a roof over the library and community room portion of the building and 3 furnaces.
An unsigned letter to the Archer Council representing the Archer Post Office explaining the removal of the bulletin board reserved for City/Library business. It was stated that recent comments to the board prompted the decision and supported by federal regulation, 232-1 sub 0. The letter is not dated.
The notice prompted council to need to find a third location to post agendas, financial information, and other notices. Currently, the other two locations were the door of the Reformed Church and Archer Elevator. Council considered a temporary use at DeKok Manufacturing, pending approval of management.
The “closing” of the post office for access to public notices came amidst a flurry of written communications. A note was placed on the windshield of a car owned by a tenant to the Air BNB in Archer park4ed on Main Street. The note requested the car be moved from in front of the post office and signed, “City of Archer.” This note is not dated.
On August 23, 2023 a public notice was posted notifying whoever left the note on the car and using “City of Archer’ was not representing the city and does not had authority to do so. The notice also shared that to represent the City or its likeness is “unlawful.” This was in response to the note on the car. It is not clear if the bulletin board came down after the city’s notice was made public. Council considered its choices and was going to work up the postal service chain of command to rectify the situation.