Jewell- This week the Jewell City Council met with Stacy Olthoff and Jackie Reiter of the Jewell Area Development Enterprise (JADE) to discuss the possibility of a pocket park project in the JADE owned lot in between the Van Diest Family Clinic and the Shed on Main Street. The purpose of the pocket park project is that it gives people a place to relax, gather and enjoy the Jewell community. The current concept for the park has a mural on the north facing wall of the Shed which would be inspired by a book and with playground flooring. There were questions raised regarding how long the potential grants would lock in the space as a park, wondering what would happen long term if a potential business owner wanted the space for a new building on Main Street. In addition, there was a conversation that the potential the concept might hinder parking for the Van Diest Family Health Clinic patrons or employees. The JADE group and the city of Jewell will try to address these concerns by speaking with Ottie Maxey of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance. The Jewell City Council voted to support the JADE lot project.
A public hearing for August 24th at 7:15 p.m. was set for amending the current fireworks ordinance in Jewell. This will include the following language to make the city of Jewell compliant with state code. The City of Jewell’s ban on fireworks remains in effect except for the following specific dates and times.
July 3rd between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. (or 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.if July 3rd is a Saturday or Sunday)
July 4th between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.
From 9 a.m. on December 31st to 12:30 a.m. on January 1st.
The Jewell City Council approved the submission of a REAP ( Resource Enhance and Protection) grant for the funding of the Jewell to Little Wall Lake Trail. This would be a $25,000 commitment from the City of Jewell towards the project and maintaining these improvements for a minimum of 20 years following the completion of the project.
In other matters at last Monday’s council meeting, the Jewell City Council held the first reading on a policy for solicitors, peddlers and transient merchants. This is to allow the option of food trucks obtaining an annual permit for $100. The first reading was approved with the second reading set for the August 10th council meeting.