This week the Stratford City Council met Tom Heeren from the Stratford Lutheran Church on the asphalt parking project. This project would be a contiguous asphalt from the road up to the concrete sidewalk. Heeren explained this would be the appropriate time since Fort Dodge Asphalt is currently working on Stagecoach Road resurfacing project. Heeren explained this project would improve snow removal and improve handicap accessibility to the church.
The Stratford City Council met with Randi Baker to work on a plan for a Community Garden in the City of Stratford. Master gardener classes are available in Hamilton County for anyone interested. Baker discussed plots would be available for patrons to garden vegetables and flowers to encourage pollination. No pesticides will be used creating a more organic yield. The overflow of vegetables could be used for the City Pantry. Patrons are encouraged to sign up for the 2026 planting season. The Stratford City Council approved the plan to move forward with a plan for a Community Garden plot at the Railroad right-of-way.
There was a lengthy discussion on Monday evening on a leak at the Stratford outdoor swimming pool and the painting this fall of the pool basin. Currently the pool leak is in the gutter return system and is plugged causing the baby pool to be inoperable due to the drains connected to the gutter system and are plugged. The City has had two contractors come to locate the leak. Both were unsuccessful to find the exact location of the leak. Iowa Rural Water will bring equipment to find the exact location. The City of Stratford also needs to look into painting pool offices and bathhouse exterior while basin painters will be on site. The Stratford City Council suggested a Paint Iowa Beautiful Grant to offset the costs.
The council discussed the problem of delinquent utility accounts. The city will continue the process to work on getting all those accounts paid. A quote from Sun Country Distributing for $3000 for the replacement a diving board at the Stratford City Pool was approved on Monday evening. The payment will be through the use of Stratford’s LOSST funds.