T-R FILE PHOTO The Marshalltown City Council held the regular Monday meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The council approved the budget.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Marshalltown City Council to hold a virtual meeting Monday night.

A resolution declaring a state of public emergency due to COVID-19, which was announced March 17, was approved.

While the public was able to view the meeting, public comments had to be turned in prior to the meeting.

It was within legal guidelines of public meetings and the council unanimously approved the city’s fiscal year 2021 budget.

The budget includes $3 million toward infrastructure projects including repairing damaged city sidewalks, roads and sewers, without an increased property tax levy rate.

“You kept the general fund in balance by contributing $60,000 to the general fund,” said Diana Steiner, Marshalltown finance director.

The tax rate is $15.38 per $1,000 of taxable valuations. The budget was passed without discussion.

Council members also approved a partnership with the Marshalltown Community School District to reconstruct tennis courts at 1602 S. Second Ave.

The city will bond for $684,000 to contribute 50 percent of the project cost. The city will also share 50 percent of the change order costs.

“Change orders are something we have no way to quantify at this point,” said city administrator Jessica Kinser. “Though it was believed there would not be anything too significant, but you never know.”

The Marshalltown School Board has a special meeting tomorrow to consider bids toward the tennis courts.

This is the second phase of the tennis court reconstruction project.  

“Everything in the second phase comes in below what the engineer’s probably cost was,” Kinser said.

The city received five emails in favor of the city partnering with the school district.

City council member Gary Thompson proposed an amendment to cap the city’s involvement at $684,000. The amendment passed.

Council members approved the amended measure unanimously with the council voting to not assist with the change orders.

In their consent agenda the city council also approved union contracts with city workers, including the international firefighter’s association, teamsters and the United Auto Workers Amalgamated Local 893.

In other business:

• The council proposed a $14,000 offer to the Central Iowa Fair committee for use of their property in the 12th Avenue sidewalk project

• The council approved the first reading of an ordinance to raise the compensation for council members and the mayor which would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022

Contact Thomas Nelson at tnelson@timesrepublican.com