Tagged: Fort Madison City Council

Fort Madison continues to clear the way for Amtrak to move its operations across town to the former Santa Fe Depot in Riverview Park.

The North Lee County Historical Society has a lease in place, through 2040, that allows it to use the complex for display and storage.

That agreement has now been amended.

City Manager Byron Smith says the historical society has agreed to relinquish the eastern 2/3 of the main building.  He says the organization will also make more space available if requested by Amtrak in the future.

Fort Madison is moving ahead with a plan to reorganize several departments.

Six veteran employees signed up to take advantage of the city’s early retirement program, which means they will be stepping down before the end of the calendar year.

City Manager Byron Smith says the group of retiring employees includes the heads of the water department, the public works department and the wastewater treatment plant.

He says the city will replace the three positions with one new public works director.

Fort Madison is moving ahead with a plan to reorganize several departments.

Six veteran employees signed up to take advantage of the city’s early retirement program, which means they will be stepping down before the end of the calendar year.

City Manager Byron Smith says the group of retiring employees includes the heads of the water department, the public works department and the wastewater treatment plant.

He says the city will replace the three positions with one new public works director.

Future mayors of Fort Madison could have more authority and input on city matters.

The city currently functions with a part-time mayor, a full-time city manager and seven city council members.

Two of the seven city council members are selected at large while the remaining five each represent one of Fort Madison’s five wards.

City Manager Byron Smith says the panel is exploring several potential changes to that current structure.

He says the discussions are based on one of the goals established during a goal-setting workshop held earlier this year.

Fort Madison wants to make it more enticing for rural property owners to join the city.

The city council has signed off on a series of incentives available to those interested in voluntarily annexing into the city.

City Manager Byron Smith says the incentives include the gradual phasing in of the city’s property tax rate and the possibility of offering a specific zoning designation for a property.

They also allow the city to cover certain legal expenses and reduce utility connection fees.