Tagged: Fort Madison City Council

Fort Madison wants to make it more enticing for rural property owners to join the city.

The city council has signed off on a series of incentives available to those interested in voluntarily annexing into the city.

City Manager Byron Smith says the incentives include the gradual phasing in of the city’s property tax rate and the possibility of offering a specific zoning designation for a property.

They also allow the city to cover certain legal expenses and reduce utility connection fees.     

The Fort Madison City Council has turned down an opportunity for some national recognition after voting against a proposal to have the city featured on the national television program, “Today in America.”

City Manager Byron Smith says the show’s production company contacted Fort Madison about producing a five-minute, “network-quality” feature on the city as a “hidden gem.”

The feature would have cost the city nearly $20,000.

Fort Madison is trying to organize and prioritize its future infrastructure needs.

City Manager Byron Smith says the city has not had a capital improvement plan since he arrived in January 2009.  He says city staff has been working on a five-year forecast for the last six months.

Smith says the wide-ranging document will cover a variety of projects, including streets, water lines, sewer projects, vehicles, and large-scale equipment.

The five-year capital improvement plan would include cost estimates and potential revenue sources for the projects.

Fort Madison plans to have its new rental property inspection program up and running by July.

City Manager Byron Smith says Fort Madison is finalizing the forms and documents related to the program.  It has already received city council approval.

Smith says letters will soon be sent to the owners of rental properties throughout the city.  He says it will inform them that property registration will get underway in July, with inspections to begin shortly afterwards.

Fort Madison residents should expect some good news and some bad news from the city when they go to their mailboxes this summer.

The city council has approved the first reading of an ordinance that would decrease the water basic charge by just over $1.00/month.  The average residential household will see a decrease of 4%.

Aldermen described that as the “good news” during its most recent meeting.

The savings are linked to favorable bids for the construction of the new water plant and several transmission mains.