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Starks appointed to first ward council seat

The Marshalltown City Council appointed Raymond Starks to succeed Sue Cahill as first ward council representative effective Jan. 1.

Starks was one of three candidates who interviewed for Cahill’s seat last week. Mike Ladehoff and Shari Cougenhorn also made a bid to represent the city’s first ward.

Starks, an attorney with the law firm Moore, McKibben, Goodman and Lorenz, serves as the economic vitality chair of the Marshalltown Central Business District and is a member of the Board of Adjustments.

Councilman Gabe Isom motioned for Starks to be appointed. His motion carried with Councilman Gary Thompson as the lone ‘No’ vote.

“He’s shown a unique appetite to get involved in the community,” Isom said of Starks. “I think he has the drive and will bring a fresh perspective to what we’re trying to do here in Marshalltown.”

Thompson said he would vote ‘No’ regardless of the name up for appointment, a stance he vocalized last week during the interview process.

“All three candidates who put their names in are more than qualified. Any one of them would be an asset,” he said. “I truly believe the residents have the right to choose who represents them, not the seven of us. I want to make sure everyone knows it’s not a ‘No’ vote against the candidates. It’s a ‘No’ vote against the process.”

Cahill made a motion for the appointment of Ladehoff as well but it was voted down.

“I’ve been honored to work with my fellow councilors to improve Marshalltown and make it a place that is welcoming and inclusive,” Cahill said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the councilors and councilor Raymond Starks when he is sworn in to make sure we are looking at all of our people in the community to make sure we make Marshalltown the best place it can be.”

The council seat will be up for election next November but there is still a chance for a special election in coming months if a petition is submitted. The special election to fill the second ward council seat in 2018 cost the city $6,341.98 to conduct, according to City Administrator Jessica Kinser.

In other business:

The council approved a resolution to approve an agreement between Youth Shelter Services and the Marshalltown Police Department to launch its pilot project MPACT — Marshalltown Police and Community Team — and allocate $150,000 to support the project.

“I really appreciate the collaboration on this project,” Councilman Bill Martin said. “As a part of the school district as a counselor for a lot of years there are a lot of needs out there that are sadly not met. I hope this will fulfill some of that gap and provide an innovative and effective program.”

The resolution was approved unanimously.

The council held a public hearing on its development agreement with McFarland Clinic relating to the construction of a new 66,000 square-foot medical facility on East Merle Hibbs Boulevard. Per the agreement, the city will provide tax increment payments, equaling what amounts to a 50-percent rebate, starting in 2021 and continuing for 10 fiscal years or until the total payments reaches $2.4 million. The payments will be made on Dec. 1 and June 1 each year.

The resolution to approve the development agreement passed with Thompson as the only ‘No’ vote.

“I told the representatives from McFarland Clinic I will fight this until the day they cut the ribbon,” Thompson said. “At the same time I want the public to understand the doctors themselves are putting up a sizable share of money to make this happen for the residents of Marshalltown. My only objection is I would love to have seen it stay downtown. This is good for Marshalltown. The doctors are showing they willing to put money into this project which speaks volumes about their beliefs for the residents of Marshalltown.”

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Contact Joe Fisher at 641-753-6611 or jfisher@timesrepublican.com

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