An adjustment to the plat of Chyma’s Second Addition and the final plat were approved by the City Council on a 5-0 vote Monday night, May 11 meeting in an internet Zoom electronic session because of COVID-19 precautions. It is another step paving the way for a $10 million assisted living and memory care unit to be built on the site which was first announced a year ago by developer Mark Holtkamp of Solon, Iowa.

The change allows for additional sanitary sewer service for the property. The change was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission which met April 30.

Alliant Rezoning

The council also approved the rezoning of the former Alliant Energy property at 1501 South Broadway from Residential-R2 to L1-Lght Industrial. The change was also recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The property has been purchased under contract by Graff Excavating operated by Mike and Curt Graff according to zoning commission report of a joint meeting with the Tama Planning and Zoning Commission also held on April 30.

Mike Graff, taking part in the Zoom session, assured the council the equipment route to and from the building would be via Broadway, not residential streets in the area. Steve Kenkel, attorney for the Graffs, said the residential streets in the area along with South Church Street would pose problems for the equipment at corners. Her also noted the business would be using the location for indoor repairs primarily and their equipment is usually on job sites except in winter.

In response to council member Darvin Graham, Mike Graff said a planned development of property for their business on Business Highway 30 at Toledo Heights would be replaced by the Alliant building. He said he could foresee the Toledo Heights property used for a housing development.

Alliant Energy closed the operating department and relocated to Marshalltown on Aug. 19 of last year.

The warehouse – garage area, outdoor fenced storage to the northeast and a portion of the parking lot are in Toledo Realtor Dave Dirks told The Chronicle when the property came on the market in February. The office area, a portion of the parking and the wooded area to the south are in Tama. The There’s a total of 13,937 sq. ft. of space on 4.7 acres.

Council members also approved a third zoning recommendation for a change for a property at 107 South Main St. from B2 to residential. The property has long been the site of a home.

Fire Department

Personnel

Fire Chief Kendall Jordan explained a proposed change in fire department membership. He said in some instances firefighters do not qualify after taking the Firefighter I course.

He said these persons can still be of value to the department and recruitment of new volunteers is challenging.

The change will allow for the fire department executive committee to evaluate candidate unable to be certified and may grant a membership exemption.

Anyone accepted will not be able to be eligible for a line officer’s position. If the executive committee vote is not unanimous the candidate will be dismissed from the department.

Also, any firefighter enrolled in a firefighter or EMS course will be given credit for weekly department meetings.

Brush Pile

Lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of signage for the Toledo Brush Pile location ended with the approval to purchase one sign at a cost of $539 from Prison Industries.

It was suggested at one point an additional sign in Spanish might also be considered.

The new sign, in English only, has these provisions: Toledo residents only; only brush, grass and leaves accepted; no concrete garbage lumber, etc.

The site on West Ross Street, east of the Deer Creek Bridge, has seen improper dumping of some material at least once weekly on the average according to Kendall Jordan, superintendent of public works. The violations cause extra work for city employees and it is illegal disposal of some materials.

In other business the council:

•approved a fiscal year 2020 budget amendment after a public hearing during which no comments were heard. The changes primarily are to reflect grants received by the city.

•reviewed the following building permits with estimated cost of the improvements:Mike Thede, 407 East Vine, build deck, $3,000; Jeffrey Needs, 106 E. Carleton, install 18 ft. x 40 ft. chain link fence behind house $500; Jeff Schroeder, 607 S. Elm, 16 ft. x 20 deck with railing $400; Al Smith, 101 1st St., 4 ft. addition to shed, fence concrete patio and steps to patio $2,000; and John Kramer, 207 N. Wilson, fence behind house, 12 ft. north and south and 20 ft. west $2,000.