Fredonia, Iowa: Town might discontinue incorporation
- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
By Connie Street | Friday, September 14, 2007 |
WAPELLO, Iowa — Louisa County might have one less town come 2008.
Fredonia Mayor Bob Reid told the Louisa County Board of Supervisors at its meeting last week that his seat and three City Council seats are up for election in November, but no one in the town’s 89 households intends to run for office.
“Nobody wants to do it,” Reid said.
Reid said he was elected by write-in votes and will not consider taking the job again.
“Our ordinances say that, as mayor, I have to make certain decisions, and there are some people who don’t like the decisions I’ve made,” Reid said. “I’ve lost customers in my HVAC business.”
He also noted that there are a lot of new residents in the town and that the community spirit and pride small towns used to have are lacking.
The town has not had a city clerk for a year or more, so H&R Block has been handling billing services. That company, Reid said, is not willing to continue the financial work unless some governing body authorizes paying the bills.
Reid told the County Board that if Fredonia discontinues its incorporation and is no longer a taxing authority, the county might have to take over services such as road maintenance and law enforcement. Fredonia now contracts for police coverage with Columbus Junction.
The mayor said there are two options for continuing tax-supported services to the residents: The county would have to take over or nearby Columbus Junction could annex Fredonia. Reid said he has not officially approached the Columbus Junction City Council about a possible annexation.
Alan Kemp, acting executive director of Iowa League of Cities, said there are three ways to discontinue a town’s incorporation:
n The town simply does not levy taxes or submit a budget for five years.
n The council files a petition with the state’s City Development Board.
n The council can adopt a resolution to discontinue the town’s incorporation, and if no one petitions for a referendum, the resolution becomes official.
Stephen Ford, city budget director for the Iowa Department of Management, said only three towns in Iowa have discontinued their incorporation in the past five years. They are:
n Kent in Union County, with a population of 56, formally voted to discontinue its incorporation.
n Little Port in Clayton County, with a population of 26, never recovered from being flooded by the Volga River in 1999.
n Athelstan in Taylor County, with a population of 18, simply stopped doing business.
Ford said the decision to discontinue incorporation is a difficult one.
“They want to maintain their identity,” he said of small towns.
Reid fears that streetlights and garbage collection could go by the wayside if Columbus Junction does not annex Fredonia. He also noted that if Columbus Junction did annex Fredonia, the smaller town would be governed under the larger town’s ordinances.
Reid said he has talked to several residents whose biggest concern is that they want to keep their private wells and not be forced to have city water.
Ken Purdy, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said he has spoken with Columbus Junction Mayor Dan Wilson, who told the city leaders there are concerned about the perception of the bigger town taking over smaller Fredonia. Purdy suggested Reid attend a Columbus Junction City Council meeting and explain that Fredonia residents would like to have their community annexed so city services would be continued.
At this week’s Columbus Junction meeting, Reid said he would poll Fredonia residents and report the results to Columbus Junction officials. The Columbus Junction City Council approved a motion in support of investigating an annexation. In the meatime, Fredonia city attorney Tim Wink will check with state officials to determine annexation options and other procedures.
Reid said there is little difference in property taxes between the two communities and that he does not anticipate any objections on that issue.
The problem would be moot if the elected mayoral and council positions were filled. The last day to file nomination papers for the election at the county auditor’s office is Sept. 20.
Connie Street can be contacted at (319) 527-8164.
del.icio.us
Digg
NewsVine
Fark
reddit» More Local Stories
Highest Rated Articles from the last 7 Days
- Comtex Business News
- Add Real-Time Business Newsfeeds to your Site from 1000+ Sources.
- www.comtex.com
- Technology News Articles
- Computers, MP3, Phones & More. See Product Pics, Specs & Reviews.
- www.NexTag.com
- Discount Magazines
- Save up to 80% off the Cover Price. Select from your favorites.
- www.MagazineOutlet.com
- Ads by Yahoo!
