City of Clarion

City passes sump pump ordinance

Published by editor on Wed, 05/12/2021 - 8:14am

               At the Tuesday, May 4 meeting of the Clarion City Council, the group held the second reading of the revised sump pump ordinance. According to the ordinance, “No discharge pipe shall discharge onto any of the City’s rights-of-way, sidewalks and/or streets.” The second reading was passed and as there were no comments submitted before or during the meeting, the third reading of it was waived. The ordinance was then officially adopted.

Council holds first reading of sump pump ordinance

Published by editor on Wed, 04/28/2021 - 8:33am

               At the Tuesday, April 20 Clarion City Council meeting, two new ordinances were read. The first was the third and final reading of Ordinance 605 that amends zoning regulations. This ordinance mostly deals with rules governing accessory buildings. Some changes had been made regarding how big accessory buildings can be in relation to property. The ordinance was adopted.

City signs agreement with police bargaining unit

Published by editor on Wed, 04/14/2021 - 6:58am

               At the Clarion City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 6, the council approved a resolution entering into an agreement between the city and the union representing the Clarion Police Department. The PD joined the Public Professional and Maintenance Employees (PPME) Local 2003 union recently.

One vehicle accident on Madison Ave in Clarion leads to gas leak Tuesday

Published by editor on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 2:42pm

               Tuesday morning, April 13, a one vehicle accident on Madison Ave in Clarion occurred near T & S Sanitation between 3rd and 4th Ave NW. According to Clarion Chief of Police Steve TerHark, the driver of the vehicle experienced an unknown health emergency and lost control. The vehicle then struck an aboveground gas regulator, causing a significant gas leak.

               The driver was transported by ambulance to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.

Iowa’s Ride modified and no longer going through Clarion

Published by editor on Wed, 04/07/2021 - 6:46am

               The announcement came last week after months of uncertainty. The organizers of the Iowa’s Ride bike ride took to social media to announce that the ride had been significantly scaled back. So much so, that the event will no longer include Clarion as a night stopover point. Though that is inopportune for Clarion, many are noting that it is an understandable move.  

Slight decrease in Clarion city tax levy

Published by editor on Wed, 03/31/2021 - 5:46am

The Clarion City Council moved to take the final steps and approve the 2021-2022 budget at their March 23 meeting last week.

The approved budget for the upcoming year (which was published previously in the Monitor) sets the city tax rate at $17.75 per $1000 of taxable property value. That is a slight decrease from last year’s rate of $17.90. The levy rate for ag land is about $3.00 per $1000, about the same as last year’s rate.

Council talks zoning ordinance revisions

Published by editor on Wed, 03/31/2021 - 5:44am

A Clarion City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, March 23. Though the regular meeting typically would have been the previous week, a special meeting was held instead to coincide with publication requirements for the city’s budget hearing. A public hearing for the budget was held. No comments were made at that time or had been received previously. The budget passed. (See the story elsewhere on our website for city budget highlights).

Clarion Council approves max tax levy

Published by editor on Wed, 03/10/2021 - 8:22am

At their March 2 meeting, the Clarion City Council held a public hearing on their maximum property tax rate. For the second year per Iowa code, all cities are required to pass a resolution establishing their maximum property tax dollars for certain levies. The “Maximum Levy” applies to certain individual levies that the city uses, which total up to the overall tax levy. But it should be noted that not all levies are included in this calculation. The law created a 2% threshold that applies to the revenue derived from certain levies.

City of Clarion reminds residents of new lift assist fee

Published by editor on Wed, 03/03/2021 - 8:54am

               In a resolution approved by the Clarion City Council in early February, a new fee schedule for the city was okayed. This included a new item- a $75 fee for lift assist calls. This fee is now in effect.

               Clarion Ambulance Director Jennifer Littlejohn explained this fee was made necessary over the last year due to the increased calls for people needing help getting up. These calls come in often from elderly people who may live alone. Sometimes a person may slip and fall or have trouble getting out of a chair.

Public hearings held and planned at council meeting, proposed tax levy to increase 2.14%

Published by editor on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 7:17am

At the Clarion City Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 16, various public hearings were held and planned. First, a public hearing on a Community Development and Housing Needs Assessment was held. City Administrator Clint Middleton noted that this allows the city to keep pursuing grant moneys for things like community development and beautification projects. After the hearing, a resolution to approve the assessment was passed.

Wright County Monitor

P.O. Box 153
Clarion, IA 50525
Phone: 515-532-2871
Email: news@wrightcountymonitor.com

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