Everly to conduct codebook update

The Everly City Council on Monday moved forward with plans to update its code of ordinances.

City Clerk Kristi Fliss said the last time the codebook had been updated was around 2010. That’s long overdue, she noted, as a thorough review is typically advised once every five years.

The council approved a proposal from Simmering-Cory, Inc., of Storm Lake, worth $4,900 for a basic city code update plus $600 to add the basic zoning code option for a total of $5,500. Fliss said most updates would pertain to things like utilities rates and other city service fees.

“We don’t do ordinance changes that often,” Fliss said.

In other business, the council approved a 3 percent across-the-board wage increase for city employees beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Additionally, the employee health insurance policy was renewed with an 8 percent cost increase from the previous year.

Fliss also gave an update on flood recovery reimbursement. She remains in contact with FEMA officials, but progress has been slow.

“We’re still moving through that process,” she said. “There really hasn’t been much movement on that since the last meeting [in October].”