Ellsworth- During their Monday evening meeting, the Ellsworth City Council was presented with a draft of an agreement prepared by its City Clerk, Heidi Eckers between the city and Thomas Wirth, the owner of the adjacent property to the City Brush Dump and Lagoons. The council went on to accept the agreement with Wirth.
The Ellsworth City Council was presented with a first draft of an ordinance for the operation of E-Bikes, Scooters and Electric Vehicles. Council members instructed Clerk Eckers to edit the ordinance with no age requirements and limitations and to present a fee schedule at the next council meeting on this matter. There was a discussion on a fireworks ordinance for Ellsworth at this week’s meeting. A draft will be prepared of the updated ordinance by the July 28th council meeting. The council also approved on Monday evening the third reading of a water rate ordinance for Ellsworth residents and businesses that will take effect in August.
There was a discussion on the Highway 175 and Ubben Crosswalk project. The council reached out to the Iowa DOT with questions about the requirements for such a crosswalk. The City of Ellsworth would be required to install and maintain sidewalks on Ubben and Delphi both North and South of Highway 175 and maintain the painted crosswalk lines across Highway 175. Due to the number of utilities located on the city easement along Ubben and Delphi and the South and West corner of the intersection a sidewalk installation would not be possible. Ellsworth council member Ladona Sogard will request through the Iowa DOT if it would be possible to reduce the speed along Highway 175 as a precaution concerning pedestrian traffic crossing the Highway to patron the Dollar General store.
In other matters the Ellsworth City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2027 28-E agreement for the Ellsworth Jewell Police Department. The council accepted the letter of resignation from Ellsworth Library Board member Kris Groth. A replacement for Groth will be announced at the July 28th City Council meeting. There are plans for a meeting in August with the Ellsworth Park Board for updates and for planning for improvements to the Ellsworth City Park. An update on the recent Ellsworth Extravaganza was presented to the Ellsworth City Council. There are plans to make the event on an annual basis instead a biannual event in the future.