Government : City Discusses UTV & Food Truck Ordinances, Beautification & Weeds, and Misc.

The City Council met on Thursday night before the official council meeting in a work session. They first discussed the UTV Ordinances in Vinton. You can find the section under review under 75.01A. Recently the State of Iowa has changed its laws in regard to UTV use which caused the city to review its ordinance.

The city can no longer charge a licensing fee for UTV use, so that goes away. However, there are plans to still include a one-time inspection fee. The vehicles will need to meet all of the requirements for use on the city streets. Because Vinton has two state highways running through it, there is a concern for safety as these vehicles are limited to 35 mph. Sections of Hwy 218 have speed limits higher than the 35 mph limit of a UTV.

The General Government Committee made recommendations to Vinton's Police Chief Ted Paxton for the new ordinance. He will work with the city attorney to develop a proposal for the city to consider.

Community & Economic Development Committee also met to discuss Food Truck ordinances. Several of the area businesses were in attendance for the committee to make clarifications and ask questions of the businesses. The committee took recommendations from the businesses and plan to have a $25 annual registration fee for the businesses to operate in Vinton beginning in January. A new ordinance concerning their operation in Vinton is being drafted for approval by the council.

This committee also discussed the proposed beautification of the downtown area by adding flowerpots to the light poles in the three-block area downtown. The local Cottage Garden Society raises funds each year by placing the large flower pots next to the businesses downtown. They planned to purchase the hooks for the light poles (which first had to be approved by the Electric Board and the City Council) but the catch came in the maintenance of the flowers. The plants would need to be watered each day and finding someone to do it became the challenge. Right now there is not a beautification committee to take on the responsibility and it was agreed without someone to maintain them it would be a challenge. (Hint: if you would like to be part of the solution, talk to the Mayor or a City Council Member.)

Also, discussed was the need for area businesses to take care of the weeds growing in the crevices of the sidewalks inside the border of their own businesses. It was decided that those are NOT beautiful.

In other business, the city will table a discussion concerning the cost split of the Elation software program between the city and Vinton Municipal Electric Utilities. VMEU brought the concern to the city that the cost wasn't being fairly divided.

Under the citizen's input, Brett Root approached the council concerning the property boundaries around the IMCA building which include around seven acres of land. There are issues with the trespassing and junk being placed on his property. The city inspector's hands are tied in some of these issues, and so they become civil issues.

In a separate issue he would like the city to address the "living fences" issue in his neighborhood. Iowa Law addresses the issue and Root would like to see the city address it via its ordinances.

Bruce Gardner also addressed the council in regard to the city possibly funding the utilities and needed infrastructure to develop an area near the Remington Seed property just off of Highway 218 on the southern edge of Vinton. He requested that it be put on the agenda for a later meeting.

The requirements of Section 508 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, a public hearing was also held to discuss the status of funding for the City of Vinton's Homebuyers Assistance Program. The program is funded through a Community Development Block Grant provided by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the City of Vinton.

The contract was in the amount of $171,850 that was awarded to the City of Vinton from the Iowa economic Development Authority. 19 applications were received and processed. Two have been assisted.

Through July 31, 2022, a total of $63,509.95 of which $44,272.45 for homebuyer assistance was granted and $19,237.50 went toward grant administration and technical services. Homebuyer expenses include down payment, eligible closing costs and home inspection fees.

In Vinton two homebuyers were assisted and one more is pending. The program expires as of September 30, 2022, but has a 60 day extension in hopes to be able to help another potential homebuyer.

It was anticipated to help five homebuyers but because of the tight housing market, it only assisted three.

The council also approved the purchase of a new pump for the water department to repair a lift station.

The council also approved final payments for the work done at the B.L. Anderson Park.

The Vinton Municipal Airport was awarded a grant by the FAA for the rehabilitation of the 9/27 runway. The project was completed last fall and the painting has been completed. With no issues with the project, and no cost to the city the council voted to approve payment of $18,788.51 with the FAA grant covering 100% of the cost.

The city passed a Hotel/Motel Tax of 7%. Each quarter the state returns that to the city to be divided between Vinton Unlimited and the City of Vinton. The council approved the quarterly disbursement in the amount of 75% to Vinton Unlimited in the amount of $10.812.29 and the remaining 25% goes to the general fund for Vinton. The total received from the State of Iowa was $14,416, 39.

Under reports, the City Administrator reported that the bridge on E. 13th St. will cost $1.3 million to replace without a sidewalk or $1.8 million with a sidewalk. Fortunately, it will be covered by a grant from the State of Iowa.