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Storm water fees, townhouse measures advance

An increase in the storm water utility fees paid by Fort Dodge property owners advanced Monday on a 6-1 vote.

The base fee paid by most homeowners would rise from $3 a month to $5 a month under the proposal.

The fees paid by apartment owners, businesses and industrial properties would double from $9 a month to $18 a month.

Owners of very large properties would pay an additional fee of 50 cents for each equivalent runoff unit. A runoff unit is equal to 2,533 square feet.

Councilmembers Kim Alstott, Neven Conrad, Dave Flattery, Jeff Halter, Terry Moehnke and Lydia Schuur voted yes. Councilman Dean Hill voted no.

The increase must be approved once more to become final.

In other business, a procedural matter that would clear the way to sell some property near downtown to a townhouse developer was approved on a 6-1 vote.

The proposed townhouse location is a city parking lot on the north side of Second Avenue South between Ninth and 10th streets. Up to 14 townhouses could be built there.

Proposals from developers are due in the city’s Engineering, Business Affairs and Community Growth Department by 4 p.m. June 4.

The resolution before the council Monday would enable it to transfer the property to the developer that is eventually selected.

Conrad objected to the proposal. He said that with the planned renovation of the Warden Plaza and the hoped for construction of a cultural and recreation center just a block to the north, the city should not be getting rid of that parking lot.

“I like the project, I don’t like the timing,” he said.

Alstott, Flattery, Halter, Moehnke and Schuur voted yes. Conrad voted no.

Also on Monday, the council renamed Mini Park along 10th Avenue Southwest. It is now called Meriwhether Park in honor of the late H.C. Meriwhether, a Fort Dodge businessman. A dedication ceremony will be held next month, but the date hasn’t been determined yet.

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