The Harlan City Council, Tuesday, approved a change order to the Harlan Police Department’s construction project. The Council approved an $11,000 addition to the new structure for a basement along with $1,500 for radon detection. The Council had previously discussed the cost of the basement at their last meeting, August 20th. The council approved costs because it was relatively low, and will give the Police Department extra room on the main floor.

Also discussed at that meeting were the private donations given to the city of Harlan towards the Harlan Community Foundation. The item was forwarded to City Attorney Todd Argotsinger who informed the Personnel and Finance Committee on August 30th, that it was perfectly legal for the city to accept the funds and pay the funds to the Foundation.

At the same Committee meeting, Superintendent Justin Wagner gave the city an update on the Harlan Community Education Foundation fundraising efforts. Wagner told the committee the Music department has raised half of their goal, $50,000 while the STEM program is fully funded with $456,000 raised out of $450k needed. The Merrill Field Renovation Project is sitting at $823,000 out of $1.5 million. The Foundation is meeting with the Vision Iowa Grant board on Wednesday, September 11th. Any money from the Vision Iowa Grant will be used on the Merrill Field Project.

During the City Administrator’s report, Terry Cox told the Harlan City Council the 2013 RAGBRAI awards money has been divided up to organizations. The city returned $10,000 to the Hotel/Motel Committee, $5,000 to the Shelby County Fair Board, Education Foundation and the Harlan City Parks/Pool. The SCCO, little league, Concerned Inc. and West Central Community Action received $2,000 while the Harlan Police Reserves $1,000. In all a total of $37,730 was awarded to 22 organizations.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)