Keota City Council Rejects “Irritating” Bid

KEOTA – During the Feb. 5 meeting of the Keota City Council, the council discussed a strange bid the city received for the trailer home located at 505 S. Green St. According to City Administrator Alycia Horras, representatives of Trials and Tribulations Ministry, a Christian non-profit in Washington, gave her a choice between four different unmarked envelopes, each apparently containing a different bid amount. The envelope randomly chosen by Horras offered $500 for the trailer home and referred to the city as Keokuk. This was the only bid the city received before the bidding window closed, although Horras noted she received interested phone calls after the deadline. Trials and Tribulations Ministry planned to give the trailer to a local family in need. Horras described the encounter as awkward.

Councilman Curt Burroughs stated that, in the future, the city should only allow one bid, instead of choosing randomly. Burroughs explained that he was open to the idea of helping a local family get a new home and that he was not initially concerned with the bid amount, with the bidding process being a way to get something out of the trailer instead of having to pay to remove it. However, Burroughs noted that he was irritated by receiving a “low ball” bid from a Christian ministry, who he believes wanted to be given the trailer cheaply simply because they are Christian. Councilman Matt Greiner stated that the price wasn’t an issue, but that he didn’t like having the city choose between four different envelopes. Greiner pointed out that the city could throw the offer out, because it was not addressed to the correct city. Councilman Keith Conrad stated he disagreed slightly and that the city should hope for a bid closer to fair market value. The council decided to reject the bid and reopen bidding, with Trials and Tribulations allowed to submit a single bid, addressed to the correct town.

A concerned citizen brought up problems she has seen with making North Ellis Street a two way road near the school, as part of a new bus dismissal plan. She explained that she had seen parents parked “bumper to bumper,” forcing kids to walk between them. She also brought up concerns over the four way stop by the library, where she has seen cars not leave enough room for children to cross the street crossing. The citizen suggested adding white hash marks telling drivers where to park and school crossing signs.

The same woman brought up problems with a tree located on the city-owned grass easement between the sidewalk and the street near her neighbor’s home. She explained that, to repair her driveway, a contractor would have to cut the tree’s roots, potentially killing the already hollowed out tree and causing it to fall on her house. She explained that she had spoken to her neighbor and offered to pay to remove the tree, but was met with “great obstinance.” Burroughs explained that, while the city owns the easement, the tree on the easement is property of the neighbor, meaning the city is unable to take it down. Burroughs stated that the city could put pressure on the neighbor to take down the tree, for safety reasons, and issue a fine if the neighbor refused. Conrad suggested contacting the neighbor’s insurance company, who may demand the neighbor to remove the tree out of fear of paying for potential damage to the concerned citizen’s home.

A different concerned citizen requested that the city switch to rural water. She explained that she lives on the end of the water line and has had problems ever since the city switched over to the current water plant. She stated that she has to replace her faucets every two years, replace her water filter after three uses, and has dealt with constant damage to her clothes for years.

Horras stated that she had met with high school students about returning to the pool for the new season; there are eleven students who potentially want to apply to be lifeguards and at least six who want to apply for the concession stand. City employee Micah Harmsen was given the new job title of Public Works Director.