Commercial Club fund transfer on hold

A proposal to dissolve the Everly Commercial Club and transfer remaining monies to city coffers has hit a delay.

Mayor Brad Behrens reported at Monday's city council meeting that legal counsel is still reviewing the best steps forward. Commercial Club members have decided to dissolve the organization due to low membership and a lack of interest, and then donate its remaining assets to the city to be used for community events.

Behrens said certain legal hurdles must be cleared before any money is moved. He believed the city would need to establish a 501c3 non-profit organization to accept the funds.

"It could be the end of the year before we see anything with that," he said. "We're a ways out on that yet."

City Attorney Dennis Cmelik will continue to work towards developing a solution, Behrens said. If it gets the go-ahead, the city would receive the group's remaining funds and assets, which would go into a separate account. A committee would be established to oversee needs for former Commercial Club-led events like Everly Community Days.

The council would have the authority to approve or deny the committee's spending proposals, according to previous discussion. Behrens said the group would not be completely responsible for planning events like Everly Community Days, but would hold the purse for some attractions like a free meal or bouncy houses.

The mayor hopes the dissolution of the Commercial Club and subsequent creation of the special committee would lead to more community involvement. The planning of many events like Everly Community Days has been largely left up to the Commercial Club, and the few members who remain have grown tired of planning everything for so long.

• Sewage pond upgrades nearing completion

Engineer Brian Schmidt reported that work at the city's sewage treatment ponds is barreling towards the finish line.

Lining work is finishing up, but it's in "a holding pattern" until new material arrives, he said. Electrical work is also almost finished, and fence installation is slated for completion possibly next week.

"In a couple of weeks, there won't be much left except for punch list items," Schmidt said.

Behrens said he'd like to see the ground get seeded as soon as possible, Schmidt did too, but it's dependent on cooperative weather and the progression of work.

"We'll just have to see," he said. "There's been quite a bit of work lately."

If everything lines up, the bulk of work on the $3.88 million project could be completed by the end of June, according to discussion. The upgrades will bring the sewage treatment ponds into compliance with state regulations.

• Long grass, 'the official flower of Everly' lead to complaints

Everly residents with long grass will get it mowed for them at a cost soon.

Behrens said the city will start sending abatement notices this week to homeowners with grass longer than ordinance permits. Those who don't comply will get their yards mowed and receive a subsequent charge. With the exception of property zoned Undeveloped Residential Areas, all grass inside city limits must not exceed eight inches in length.

City Council Member Cheri Hoye asked if the city could enforce similar requirements regarding dandelions, claiming "there is more yellow than green" in some local yards.

Behrens noted that if the property owner's grass is short enough, it's not worth pursuing. He also said certain city properties have weed problems and it would be hypocritical to go after residents with the same issues.

"You'd be going after pretty much everybody," Behrens said, also joking that dandelions are "the official flower of Everly."

Additionally, Behrens reported that Cmelik will soon be summoned to send notices to homeowners that aren't incompliance with the city's nuisance and junk ordinances.