North English Receives Grant for Bridge

NORTH ENGLISH – During the July 3 meeting of the North English City Council, Mayor Dan Strohman reported that the city had received a grant from the Iowa County Community Foundation to install a pedestrian bridge over the creek on Smoky Row Trail. The city will also kick in $5,000 for the bridge. Work is expected to start sometime this month. Strohman also stated that the foundation gave a grant to the fire department to install a new bathroom at the ballfield. The council approved paying the $2,500 needed to install the pipes at the new bathroom.

The council approved a $7,921 from Garcia Carpet to replace carpet in the council room. The council also approved spending around $600 to replace the pews with chairs. Strohman stated he had received an estimate of $235,000 from LL Pelling Co. to resurface main street; he stated this would need to be put into next year’s budget. The council approved replacing flags on main street, which have become torn over time due to weather; the new flags should cost around $25-30 each.

The council discussed a request from a homeowner wanting to have the sewer fee on his water reduced, after filling his pool with 9,000 gallons of water. Strohman stated he was not in favor, because there are a lot of pools in town and this would set a precedent. Councilman Andrew Custer called this “Pandora’s Box.” Councilwoman Kathy O’Rourke noted that this was a request made after the pool was already filled. Councilman Red Haugland called it the cost of owning your own pool.