Lansing City Council sets public hearing on proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget, discusses grant-writing workshop, possible tax abatement policy

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, March 20, the Lansing City Council set a public hearing date on the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 24) budget for Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in Lansing City Hall.

ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEE REPORT
Council member Ian Zahren introduced two new topics for the council’s consideration as part of his report from Main Street Lansing’s Economic Vitality Committee. One involved the possibility of instituting a tax abatement policy in Lansing, as part of an effort to “grow Lansing economically, residentially, commercially, and industrially.” Where tax abatements would be approved in the interest of increasing the number of long-term occupancy units and affordable single family-zoned housing stock, Zahren emphasized that there would be “no impact on [the] current tax base. We’re just providing an incentive for people to build long-term housing.”

The second topic involved being pro-active in seeking funding for the city. Zahren introduced Scott Gelzer, of Management Cornerstones Next Chapter LLC, to talk about the possibility of hosting a grant writing workshop for representatives of various organizations in Lansing.

“Because of the [Iowa Great Places Designation] Vision Plan, we’re pro-actively seeking funding for a growing city,” Zahren said. “We have some preliminary data, some strong data. We have to be able to pull it and go - and we’re all swamped.”

Council member Steve Murray acknowledged the value of knowing how and where to access funding opportunities for the city. “The more people we have in this community who have this skill set, the better,” he said.

According to his professional profile at linkedin.com, Gelzer has led or helped lead nonprofit organizations in Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. His areas of expertise are philanthropy, capacity building, teaching, community development and social enterprise.

“I am guided by alliances with funders, community residents, nonprofit leaders and many other colleagues,” he notes in his profile.

Gelzer said Zahren initially approached him about the possibility of hiring him to write grant proposals because “opportunities were being missed from time to time to seek funds.” But, Gelzer told Zahren, “I would much rather teach people in the community what I know… I’m really excited about doing this.”

Zahren asked his fellow council members to think about what they would like to learn more about as regards the possibility of hiring Gelzer to conduct a grant-writing workshop, in case they might want to bring it to a vote at the next meeting. Gelzer said he would be happy to attend that meeting, to answer any questions.

POLICE
Addressing Lansing Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl’s February report, council member Murray asked Rosendahl about what seemed to him to be a “very high” number of traffic warnings - 23 in Lansing and 97 in New Albin - and wondered if this was typical. “We have almost daily complaints (in) New Albin regarding speed,” Rosendahl said. He said the department had done an eight-day study in New Albin, and noted that over 100 traffic stops were made, with two officers. “We have determined that they have a serious speeding issue,” he said. “They have a lot bigger problem than Lansing does.”

CITIZEN CONCERN: COAL ASH PONDS
Lansing area native Dale Reeves addressed the council via Zoom web-conferencing software regarding his concerns about the possibility of groundwater contamination related to Alliant Energy’s plan to fill the unlined coal ash ponds at the Lansing Generating Station. He also expressed concern about what he said could be damage to roads and dangers to drivers posed by the plan, which will involve 30 semi-trucks carrying 300 loads of dirt per day on Lafayette Ridge Drive and the Great River Road. “It is a County issue but it’s going to affect Lansing, I’m afraid,” he said.

WATER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
In his report to the council, Duane Estebo of PeopleService reported that Between February 10 and 14, a couple of customers had their water lines freeze and break, which resulted in some water loss. “We replaced the broken meters and helped guide them in how to proceed,” Estebo said.

February 15, the water service line at the high school broke under the paved ramp to the school entrance. “We assisted Tri-State Plumbing with shutting the water off and doing locates for the lines in the affected area,” Estebo said. “After the line was repaired and disinfected, we took two samples to the lab to test for e-coli bacteria. These samples both came back negative and school administration was notified about the results of those tests.”

WASTEWATER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
During February, Estebo said, “we wasted from the Aero-Mod over to the sludge tank a couple of times. We do this to keep the sludge volume consistent in the Aero-Mod. Usually, we decant back after this is done; but in the winter this can’t be done because of ice build-up.”

After Estebo’s reports on the items, the council approved water/sewer forgiveness at 201 2nd Street in the amount of $342.17, and at 942 South 4th Street in the amount of $70.15.

OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, Murray told the council that the website for bridge lighting fundraising should be up by the first part of April. Additionally, the council approved a Department of Parks and Recreation request to purchase pool furniture in the amount of $7,729.20, and to split the payment between Fiscal Year 2023 and Fiscal Year 2024. The council also approved Resolution No. 982 regarding a subdivision plat and Resolution No. 983 regarding a survey of plat.

The next regular meeting of the Lansing City Council is scheduled for Monday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at Lansing City Hall.