By Mari Radtke
Cory Myer, Sheldon School Superintendent presented information to the Archer City Council about the proposed Sheldon High School improvement plan. A bond issue for the improvements will be on the ballot in November. Sheldon School District is asking for $19 million from property tax to fully fund its $33 million interior improvements and new construction needs on the site. Archer is part of the Sheldon School District. The bond issue is expected to be a property tax increase of $2.47 per $1000 of assessed value. The balance would be funded through sales tax dollars (SAVE).
The library contracting agreement with Primghar was presented to the board. Every city in Iowa is required by state law to provide for library services to its residents. The proposed agreement provides that the Primghar Library will provide access of its physical and online (Bridges) collections to citizens of Archer. The effective dates proposed are November 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
The cost proposed cost for the proposed time is $336. The full year cost proposed is $25 per Archer citizens (115). Delivery would be extra. According to Bonnie McKewon, Northwest Iowa Library representative, the average library per capita income is $40.00. The 415 per capita would impose on Archer an annual cost of $2925. Discussion followed about library use. Would all 115 citizens use the Primghar library, children’s use of school libraries and Archer children attending school at Sheldon? Local use was estimated at 45 individuals through the door each month. Council also asked if they should reach out to the Sheldon and Sanborn libraries to consider service from one of them. City Clerk Sandy Fritz was tasked with making those contacts. Without a building, the Archer Library would not receive county funding. Cost analysis of contracts versus operating its own library with county revenue had not been done yet.
An ordinance to repealing all of Archer’s Library ordinances was on the agenda. The Library Board did not want to disband as an operating arm of the Archer government. Council took no action on the proposed ordinance.
A letter from William Klinker, attorney for Brad Puhrmann owner of the building noted that Puhrmann had been paid by his insurance company for cleanup. It’s not clear what cleanup was paid for. Council did discuss its status for price quotes for 3 furnaces and roof replacement for its leased portion of the old school building. A request for furnace quotes had not yet been fulfilled by SP Heating and Cooling by meeting time. The letter included an estimate for the roof obtained by Puhrmann. That bid was for $34,000 and a 3-year labor guarantee. The shelving, furniture, collection and equipment is still in the possession of the city.
DK Plastics installed a glass case outside for posting legal notices. Richard Luedeke is the current postmaster who stopped the posting at the post office. He is finished on October 27. Council was not sure if they would take this up with a new postmaster or if the ordinance needs to be changed to reflect new posting places. The issue will be revisited in November.
Discussion of hiring a grant writer led to more questions than answers with no decisions.
The street finance report was approved. The city spent just nearly $2500 more than it took in during the 2022-23 fiscal year. The ending balance is $14,195 on June 30.
Archer City Council also approved it annual financial report. Archer spent approximately $40,000 less than budgeted.
A hole on Highland Street has not been repaired and has gotten quite large. Mayor Nathan Mueller reported machinery issues are delaying the repair.