5/31/18 – Special

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 31, 2018
A special meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 31st day of May, 2018,
at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers, Vinton, Iowa. Mayor Maynard presided and
the roll being called the following Council Members were present and absent: Present:
Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Absent: None.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Melissa Schwan, Vinton Unlimited director and IBSSS committee member, stated the
committee was looking for permission from Council to proceed with further investigating
opportunities for the Braille School campus. The committee has received a proposal from
Hobart Historic Restoration of Cedar Rapids. Jim and B.J. Hobart have suggested a mixed use
of properties such as a café, events center, townhouses and senior housing. A public safety
facility could be built on the west side of the campus. The AmeriCorps lease will expire soon
and a new lease is anticipated. If the property becomes privately owned it would start generating
property taxes for the City. The City could purchase the property for one dollar and sell it for
one dollar. An urban renewal district and revitalization zone could be done. A minimum
assessment agreement between the investor and the City could be drawn up. The county assessor
would also have to agree to the minimum assessment. The pool and recreation center could be
city owned. The general consensus of the council was to allow the IBSSS committee to proceed
with working on a development agreement. Administrator Ward will work with bond counsel to
establish a potential urban renewal district and tax revitalization area for this project.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 7:55 p.m. ________________________________ Max (Bud) Maynard, Jr. Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk