The water treatment plant on Buttercup Lane is completely online, operational, and EPA approved, reported Public Works Director Brian Strike. The city is planning to hold an open house for the community within the month and will announce the date when scheduled. Read about the project’s progress in this AroundPtown report from December 2023.
In other progress news, lot #3 at the former Halpin property was sold to Chelsie VanDyke, owner of Envy Boutique, with the land already getting laid out and prepped for building work expected to begin August 1. Four lots are still up for sale, with city services being extended to the area along Grove St./Star Rd. and Washington Rd.
The council voted to grind and repave a portion of Railroad St. at a cost of $17,500 using ARPA funds. Mayor Steve Swanson said the work area is east of the middle of the medical building to around the entrance to public works building. “It’s in terrible condition,” he said, adding that the city still has $84,000 in ARPA funds to use.
The council approved the purchase of a printer from SBM Business Equipment Center of Sterling at a cost of $2,047 for the Police Department and approved an appropriation ordinance as presented.
They agreed to close the road for VBS at Prophetstown Lutheran Church July 28- August 1 like in previous years: West 3rd St. from Locust to the west door of Prophetstown Elementary School will be closed in the evenings during the event.
The council approved payment of TIF funds in the amount of $200,000 to Eric Maloney of Penberthy for a new roof. The total bill for the project was $434,000. They also approved TIF money to Prophet Family Restaurant for a concrete pad behind the restaurant. The city will pay half of the project costs in the amount of $8,150.
Eric Maloney of Penberthy applied for TIF funding for a new roof for the facility.
Also on the agenda for consideration was to allow video gaming at Casey’s. Attorney Tim Zollinger stated that it’s not up to the city to decide, since the state regulates video gaming. The council will need to investigate it further. To qualify for gaming machines, the business must allow the sale and open consumption of alcohol on the premises or be classified as a truck stop. Prophet Mini Mart has gaming machines since they sell open liquor. The city can create a category to add a liquor license, but more research is needed.
After an executive session, the council voted to allow Police Chief Jerrod Reynolds to offer full-time employment to a new police officer. At a special meeting on June 27, the council also hired Wendy Schultz as a city bookkeeper for $25 an hour.
Public Comments
A resident said he figured out the miscalculation on his utility bill that was getting him overcharged. He wanted to bring it to the attention of the council, since others are likely paying more. “You pay for a system to make life easy, but whoever is maintaining it is not updating it,” he said of the software. Swanson assured him that they’ve identified the problem and are working to update it.
With well #3 vacated and the pump house demolished, two adjacent property owners asked the city to vacate the abandoned alleyway off E. 2nd St., even offering to pay for the process. Zollinger said the land consists of platted lots so the city will need to work with the State, owners of adjacent land at Prophetstown State Recreation Area, if they want to vacate the alleyway. The individual lots were platted out for the city to extend High St., and the alleyway still has utility easements.
Public Works Monthly Report
Public Works Director Brian Strike provided an update on the new water treatment plant: Well 3 building was demolished, the well capped off, all dirt work completed, and grass mats laid. Well 4 is complete, has been tested, and is ready to be put online. Leander Construction has completed all their work, and everything has been turned over to the city as of June 26.
Public Works crews put up Fourth of July banners and set up barricades for Streetscape, the basketball tournament, and fireworks along Riverside Drive. The riverbank at the lagoon was trimmed and cleaned up in preparation for the new fireworks launch site.
The bucket truck is out of commission until Todd’s Tires gets the fuel pump rebuilt when the parts come in. The new salt shed is under construction at the public works building – the pad has been poured and all the side wall blocks have been transported in and set in place. They’re just waiting on the top shell to get delivered and installed.
Jaycees Park is back open now that the water treatment plant is done. Crews tilled up sand under all the equipment and picked up all the snow fence that was used to close off the equipment. Triangle Park had six loads of natural mulch brought in and spread out.
Police Department Monthly Report
Chief Jerrod Reynolds reported that he and Officer William Lukehart attended an incident command class focusing on joint operations with Fire and EMS. Lukehart also attended a course for profiling active shooters.
Reynolds has submitted paperwork to the state as an instructor to teach about less lethal munitions, shotgun, and tactical/medical. By going this route, all Prophetstown police, fire and EMS personnel will get credit hours for training they’ll be conducting starting in August.
In pending and future tasks, the department is working to get up to date with current state guidelines. Their main computer recently crashed so they purchased a new one. It also had a portal installed to back up files and links every night to prevent further loss.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Moore Foundation, the department was able to purchase much needed gear to aid in training, and outfit the squad cars with breaching equipment and trauma bags.
Reynolds said that due to increased intel from the FBI and state counter-terrorism units about rural targets, they’ll be expediting their efforts in tactical training with a focus on medical and close quarters battle. PPD will be conducting joint training with surrounding towns to ensure an effective response to any threats in the future.
Building Permits Approved
- Ground solar at 709 E. 3rd St.
- Deck at 611 Rita Court
- Replace wood, paint, and trim at 319 Washington St.
- Metal building on E. Railroad, applicant at 322 Tree Lane.
- Replace windows at 211 E. 3rd St.
- Siding and roofing at 704 Jackson.
- Patio at 100 Ferry St.
- Small building at 40 Middle Lane
- Reroof at 328 East Ave.
The next regular meeting of the Prophetstown City Council will be on Tuesday, August 13 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall.
