The Harlan City Council, Tuesday, approved the forgiveness of an administrative fee by the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. In the final Harlan City Council meeting of 2012, the council approved the motion on a vote of 5 to 1, with the nay vote coming from Council member Kate Kohorst. The 20% fee is part of the Hotel/Motel Tax.
The City Council also passed a motion to place all Hotel/Motel new monies on hold until a new ordinance has been created and adopted by the city of Harlan. Both motions were made at the previous Personnel and Finance Committee meeting last Thursday. City Administrator Terry Cox said the ordinance committee will meet on Thursday, December 27th. The deadline for the new ordinance is January 29th. However Cox said it could be brought to the first City Council meeting in January if it is finished.
In other business, the Harlan City Council approved the purchase of a ¾ ton Ford F-150 pickup from Keast Auto Center in Harlan for the city’s parks department. The truck cost the city $26,270 but Cox said they hope to sell 2 of the city’s vehicles to save the city $1,500. The Council also approved Harlan City Clerk Debra Sawyer to the Iowa League of Cities Education Committee and changed the 2nd council meeting in January from the 22nd to the 29th.
(Joel McCall/KNOD)