Company selected to market sale of Garden View
By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times
At its April 16 meeting, the Monona Council agreed to enter into an exclusive representation agreement with Marcus & Millichap for marketing the sale of Garden View Senior Living Facility.
The city has maintained ownership of the facility since its construction, but the council, earlier this year, felt it was time to relinquish that control.
“This is one more step to go down the path to accomplishing that,” said mayor Lynn Martinson.
Martinson said the committee that’s looking into the facility’s sale has met twice with Marcus & Millichap representative Ryan Fleming, and feels comfortable with the situation. City attorney Greg Schiller has also given his OK.
The agreement with Marcus & Millichap is for six months. The company will not collect any fees until the city accepts the offer of a quality company, stated city administrator Dan Canton.
“It’s at no cost to the city if they don’t sell that piece of property,” Martinson explained.
Surveillance cameras coming to city park
Hoping to cut down on vandalism and mischief, the council approved the purchase of two trail cameras for surveillance of the city park.
Councilwoman Heather Lange, who spearheaded the project, said the cameras are used by other area municipalities and agencies, and should provide quality photos. Someone will have to periodically remove the cameras’ SD cards to check the photos, which will be time stamped and dated.
The cameras will be placed in special “bird houses” for their protection and secured where park visitors cannot reach them. Unlike other models, Lange said these cameras will not flash, therefore not alerting people that their image has been captured.
She’s hopeful it will cut down on problems at the park.
“If it deters kids from vandalizing—knowing that [the cameras] are there—then it works,” she said.
“I think it’s a good investment for the investment we’ve put into the park,” added councilman Dan Havlicek.
Contract awarded for sanitary sewer extension
The council awarded a contract for $99,866.65 to Bacon Concrete, of Postville, for construction of the South Main Street sanitary sewer extension. The bid fell well below the engineer’s estimated cost of $105,938.
The project will aid properties the city hopes to annex along its southeast boundary.
