Passmore to take over as Monona’s mayor

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor

Monona residents will see a familiar face in the mayor’s seat at the next council meeting: Fran Passmore. Passmore served as the city’s mayor for six years prior to the most recent mayor, Barb Collins, who took over in 2014.

Collins resigned as mayor late last month in order to become the city’s deputy clerk, replacing the retiring Linda Gullickson.

Passmore will finish out the remainder of the two-year term, through the end of 2017.

The council unanimously approved Passmore’s appointment at its Sept. 6 regular meeting, remarking that it will be nice to have someone in the position who already knows the ins and outs of the office and city government.

Hotel/motel study funding

City administrator Dan Canton told the council he’s discovered several possible funding sources for a hotel/motel feasibility study.

The council began considering having a hotel/motel feasibility study done for Monona earlier this summer, upon the encouragement of a representative from Cobblestone Inn and Suites. Council members were leery to pull the trigger, though, due to study costs. 

According to Canton, the initial study, which would determine if a hotel/motel in the community is feasible, would cost $3,500. If the outcome is favorable, the study would continue, resulting in an overall cost of $7,500.

Canton said one potential funding source is a cost-share opportunity with the Iowa Area Development Group. He noted that Clayton County Development Group Executive Director Darla Kelchen said Alliant Energy and Black Hills Energy have also provided funds to such projects in the past. These options will be further discussed at an upcoming meeting.

Bulldog Boulevard 

Canton said the city’s Bulldog Boulevard permeable paver project is expected to begin this week. Those going to and from the school should take note, as the street will be closed. 

“We’re not expecting a long construction time,” Canton said of the project, which will include resurfacing much of the gravel street with permeable pavers. 

Permeable pavers, which fit together like Tetris pieces and allow stormwater to filter through the cracks, were also used on the Monona Aquatic Center parking lot. That project has garnered the city several awards over the past year, most recently the American Public Works Association Project of the Year Award, from the Iowa chapter.