Work on downtown to continue through possible grant

City officials are prepared and ready to go with some downtown revitalization providing some grant money comes through.

City Manager Mike Smith said the city hadn’t ben prepared due to time constraints on acting on some programs but the possibility of up to $350,000 has the city prepared and ready to go. Depending on the money, new sidewalks, new lighting would be the two major components of the plan. The city would apply for the grant in 2021 and, if approved, get the money in 2022.

“We’re working with engineering companies now, so we’re not scrambling,” Smith explained.

KJE Engineering is working with the city to add angle parking provide ADA accessibility and parking islands. Engineering costs were put into the budget. Smith said the Economic Development Corporation is looking to work with the city on the program and will meet later this month to discuss further plans.

Some discussion was given to waiting until January and see what the EDC does. Smith said the city could but the money for preliminary plans has been budgeted. Smith told the council the firm could have plans together in tow weeks.

The EDC meets the first Monday in January. In other news, a public hearing where no one spoke for a zoning change from single-family residential to continuous thoroughfare had its first hearing. A business at 614 N. 6th, which is across for the entrance to the elementary school. Everything on Main Street is commercial property but entrances right off Main could be commercial.

The present owner of the business wants to sell his business and the new owner wants to sell liquid fertilizer.The school was concerned about the fertilizer being so close to the school. The fertilizer being sold is non flammable and no explosive the JFD was told which made the school district feel better.

Planning and Zoning approved the request two weeks ago.