Sigourney Council Discusses Energy Prices

SIGOURNEY – During the Jan. 17 meeting of the Sigourney City Council, the council discussed proposed price increases by Alliant Energy, the utility company that provides electricity for most of Iowa. In October of last year, Alliant Energy requested permission from the Iowa Utilities Board to raise average prices by 7.7% per residential customer, beginning in October 2024, with a second increase of 5.7% in October of 2025. Councilman Gary Iosbaker stated that he had read through materials provided by the lobbyist group Clean Energy Districts of Iowa, which state that other electrical suppliers have not hiked their prices to this degree. According to Iosbaker, more than 230 Iowa cities have publicly opposed the price increases. Councilman Randy Schultz questioned if not increasing prices now would result in a bigger increase later on. The agenda featured a resolution officially opposing the price increases and a memorandum of agreement between Sigourney and Clean Energy Districts of Iowa; Shultz, Iosbaker, and Councilwoman Stephani Lentz stated they were not informed enough on the topic to decide, leading to both items being tabled.

Iosbaker brought up Home Base Iowa, an advocacy group that works to make Iowa communities friendly to veterans. Home Base Iowa previously met with the Keokuk County Board of Supervisors back in June of last year and received approval from the board. To become a Home Base Iowa community, the city must put together “meaningful incentives,” such as closing costs and grants to veteran homebuyers. Iosbaker noted that Keokuk County is one of only six counties to not be Home Base Iowa approved. Schultz questioned how much weight being the 94th out of 99 counties carries for veterans when deciding to move, something Iosbaker acknowledged as a fair concern. Iosbaker stated that the city needs to put work in to attract veterans.

Iosbaker gave an update on KCED’s childcare project, stating that financials are expected to be done by the end of the month and that Sigourney Schools agreed to provide meals for a new daycare. Iosbaker stated that KCED hopes to open a new daycare in Sigourney by June, although meeting that deadline will be difficult.

The council approved a $7,996 bid from TruGreen Commercial to carry out 19 different spraying applications, split between Legion Park, the ballfields, town square park and the soccer fields; it was the only bid.

Iosbaker brought up a request from Sigourney Superintendent Kevin Hatfield to provide a school resource officer, requested after the deadly school shooting in Perry, Iowa on Jan. 4. Iosbaker stated that the city is not capable of doing so at this point, but should be open to discussion in the future.