The Denison City Council spent much of its time Monday discussing the demolition of unsafe houses and also voted to step back from the fee increase for Waterloo Pool.
In 2011, the council adopted increased fees to help fund the pool’s continued operation, and also instituted a voluntary $5 fee on customers’ water bills. “The voluntary $5 fee has been much more successful than I think people were really anticipating,” said City Manager Robert Hanna. “There’s no sense in creating more of a market-condition fee schedule if we have the community willing to subsidize the pool to the extent that they are.”
In most cases, the fees are still higher than before the increase, but are lower than the initial increase. General admission is now $3 for residents and $5 for non-residents. Youth general admission is now $2 for residents and $5 for non-residents. The new schedule also includes reductions in many of the pass levels and fitness swims.
In the area of demolitions, the council voted to approve the low bidder for the demolition of 20 MacArthur, 400 and 408 Martin Luther King, 425 W. Bond, 530 E. Monterey, 703 E. Shepherd, 720 N. Eighth, 1121 W. Elm and 1123 W. Sears.
For the owner of 425 W. Bond, the council voted to give him some time to attempt to rehabilitate the house. The owner of 703 E. Shepherd made a similar request that the council tabled to give staff time to evaluate his plan and progress so far. The accepted bids for demolition still stand, however, should the owners fail to meet the prescribed deadlines.
The owner of 1123 W. Sears addressed the council about his intent to financially contribute to the demolition that will be the city’s costliest. He said he bought the historic homes out of foreclosure with the hope to find an owner dedicated to its preservation, but was unsuccessful. The owner promised $2,500 for the project.
Also the council approved the structures at 1 Cynthia Lane, 419 E. Gandy, 505 W. Hull, 507 W. Walker and 610 W. Elm as unsafe and put them on the demolition list.
In other business, the council:
• directed staff to develop a list of potential street projects for funds remaining from the 2005 Series General Obligation Bonds;
• approved an agreement with MuniServices LLC for Sales & Use Tax Audit Service, Sales & Use Tax Reporting Service and Hotel Occupancy Tax Service.
• approved the annexation of 6.061 acres on Highway 91, the site planned for the new Denison High School and the annexation of 1.24 acres on the west side of Highway 75 at Stafford Road;
• gave the go-ahead to a conditional use permit for on-premise consumption of beer and wine at 424 W. Main St, the site of the Rialto Theater.
