Iolans may soon be given the option of adding a dollar or two to their utility bills to help fund the city’s parks, trails and recreation programs.
City Council members discussed Monday a proposal to add $1 to each electric and water bill, giving the city a fund dedicated solely for parks and trails.
Much of Monday’s discussion centered on how to give customers the option to participate.
Councilman Aaron Franklin preferred having the surcharge be implemented automatically, giving customers the option to opt out.
Franklin noted apathy on such matters would make it more difficult to raise sufficient funding if it were an “opt-in” process.
“A lot of people would just put it off and not do it,” Franklin said.
Iolan Jim Talkington, an Allen County commissioner, urged the Council to follow the opt-in trail.
“Why have citizens who can’t come in or don’t understand what’s going on be penalized?” Talkington asked.
“They’re not being penalized,” Franklin responded, noting such monthly donations could just as easily be interpreted as citizens offering support for the city’s parks, trails or rec programs.
Councilman Gene Myrick wasn’t so sure.
“Where’s this going to stop?” Myrick asked. “We’re constantly asking citizens to pay more here and more there.”
“All they have to do is say no,” Franklin responded.
Councilman Ron Ballard said while he agreed with Myrick’s point, his opinion changed following last week’s “First Impression” meeting, in which visitors lavished praise on the city’s trail system, calling them one of Iola’s biggest selling points.
“This is something we’re going to have to focus on,” he said. “I was kind of against it before we went to First Impressions. These are people coming from out of town, looking for those things.”
City Administrator Sid Fleming will draft a formal proposal for the Council to consider.
Part of the plan must include educating the public, either through mailings, newspaper, radio or social media.
Councilwoman Nancy Ford suggested a postcard, perhaps sent out at the same time the next round of utility bills go out.
The city has nearly 6,500 water or electric meters on which charges could be assessed. If 75 percent of the customers opted to pay the $2 monthly fee, it would generate more than $58,000 annually, Fleming noted.
IN A RELATED matter, Fleming noted a pedestrian bridge spanning Elm Creek along South Washington Avenue is almost complete. Crews from B&B Bridge Company, St. Paul, still have yet to remove crushed limestone rock they used to dam up the creek in order to operate a crane to place the bridge. The rock will be used as screenings on opposite ends of the bridge. Those areas are prone to wash-outs, Fleming noted.
“We’re taking advantage of having that material,” he said.
PHOTO: A pedestrian bridge spanning Elm Creeek along South Washington was completed last week by B&B Bridge Company, St. Paul. The bridge should be open to the public sometime this spring. Here, Iolan Danny Oswalt inspects the span. REGSITER/RICHARD LUKEN
