An agreement with Birch Rural Fire Association to extend its services for an additional five years was approved by the Hastings City Council Monday, prompting City Manager Jeff Mansfield to note the only differences in the new contract and the previous five-year agreement are the dates and the signatures.
“(Hastings Fire) Chief (Roger) Caris tells me it has worked well for the last five years,” he said. “And, many more before that,” Caris added.
A public hearing was set for Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m. to receive comments and determine the need for improvements in the downtown parking special assessment district in 2017. Mansfield said the total for maintenance and repair of parking spaces in the special assessment district this year totals $42,502. The DDA will again pay the difference between the $26,540 assessments in 2008 and assessments this year, an amount of $15,962, he said.
Also on April 24, an hour earlier at 6 p.m., a workshop was set to go over the draft budget for 2017-2018.
In other business, the council approved:
* an ordinance amendment to allow the additions of balconies to downtown buildings in some cases.
* Flexfab’s 9th annual 5K run/walk on June 3 at 9 a.m.
* a Relay for Life Community Rally on May 6 at the Thornapple Plaza
* the installation of a Little Free Library at the Hastings Spray Plaza requested by the Hastings DDA, Hastings Public Library and Hastings High School Building Trades Program.
* a Very Berry Family Event at Tyden Park on June 10 from 9 a.m. to noon, for families with activities and giveaways and information from civic clubs,
The council denied a request from Justin Gulch to hold group fitness classes at Bob King Park, noting commercial enterprises are prohibited in city parks.
