A developer representing Dollar General Store has signed an agreement with the city to purchase the Bethany Community Center and fire station property to build a new store.
Mayor Patrick Miller told the City Council Monday night that the company, Overland Group, agreed Monday to purchase the site for $250,000. Dollar General plans to move from its present location on the northeast corner of the Square to the new location that would accommodate a larger building and more parking.
The company plans to close on the site by the end of August, allowing demolition and construction to begin in September with the completion of the new store by February.
The city plans tentatively to relocate the fire department to a building at 12th and Beekman Streets that was recently purchased from Cole Osborn. City officials said the building, which previously served a terminal for gasoline transports, would be large enough to accommodate the city’s fire equipment, but they emphasized that the building would be used only temporarily until a new fire house can be established.
Eastward Councilman Todd Williams pointed out that the Osborn building was never intended to be a fire station but was purchased as part of the city’s plan to consolidate some of its departments.
Miller said the community center and fire station were a financial liability for the city because of the condition of the buildings. The city faced the prospect of spending large sums of money to improve drainage and to repair both buildings.
While the city may have found a temporary spot for the fire station, it will be more difficult to establish a new community room.
“There is no immediate place that we have that we can put the community center,” Miller said.
The city suggested some alternative locations for meetings and reunions, such as Eastwood community center, the V.F.W. Hall, the American Legion Hall and the meeting room at the Toot-Toot Restaurant.
City approves new insurance plan
The council, on a split vote, decided to switch health insurance providers for the city’s employees from Midwest Public Risk to Federated Insurance in a move that save the city about $12,000 a year.
The change will increase the deductible from $750 a year to $1,300. Because of the higher out-of-pocket expenses, the city plans to establish a Health Savings Account for the employees with a contribution of $500 from the city for the each employee during the first year. The city would then match contributions the next year by a maximum of $250.
Councilman Williams objected to the insurance proposal as a “Cadillac plan.” He joined Westward Councilman Randy Mann in voting against the proposal, while Westward Councilman Steve Miles and Eastward Councilman Lance Johns voted in favor. Mayor Miller broke the tie by voting in favor of the new plan.
City Administrator Jan Hagler said the city has received a construction permit to build the new wastewater treatment plant at the site of the existing plant southwest of Bethany. The city is preparing to call for bids from prospective contractors.
A local resident, retired barber Harold Eckerson, attended the meeting to state his objection to the $25 monthly charge placed on water and sewer bills to pay for the sewer plant.
Eckerson said the added charge has placed a burden on the budgets of local residents and could hurt the city if persons decide not to build here in the future.
“Bethany used to be a good place to live,” Eckerson said. “It was affordable. Now homes are being built in the country.”
City officials said they know the extra charge has been a burden for local utility customers but said it was part of the original financial package that was established by the USDA to pay for the new sewer plant that was approved in a city election in 2012.
Councilman Miles said the extra charge probably should have been phased in just after the vote “so the public would know what it is for.”
Initiating the charge, at this late date, came as an unexpected blow to local residents. The city might have been able to reduce the charge if it had already been accumulating funds for the plant, Miles suggested.
Work starts at middle school site
City Administrator Hagler said R/S Electric has begun work on relocating utility poles at the site of the new South Harrison Middle School. The contractor plans to begin site preparation work at the site as soon as the poles have been moved. The middle school will be located north of the present high school building.
In face of complaints, the city has been considering reducing the charge for fire department calls outside the city of Bethany and possibly going to a fire membership fee for persons living outside the city limits. The city had recently initiated a minimum charge of $1,000 for fire calls outside the city limits.
Main Street has been partially blocked just off the Square to allow the street department to make repairs to deteriorating concrete.
Mayor Miller reported that sales tax collections have increased during the past month. Revenue from the sales tax has increased by $14,800 compared to the same time last year. The parks and recreation sales tax has increased by $9,600.