City plans to fund seven outside agencies

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

Of the nine outside agencies to request money from the city, seven will likely receive funds.

After the Charles City Council’s regular voting session Monday night, the council met to discuss the city’s general fund and funding requests from outside agencies.

The Learning Center

The Learning Center (TLC) requested $10,000 to help fill a shortfall in its budget.

Several council members were not enthusiastic about putting funds toward the center.

“Looking into their services, it’s already not affordable for my family,” said Charles City Council member Michael Hammond.

“They are a tremendously valuable asset to the community, but this is also the only group on here that competes with private businesses,” Hammond said. “Are we propping up a business to potentially shut others down?

“If we’re going to fund this once, it’s going to be ongoing,” Hammond said. “Is this an asset or is this a business we’re sponsoring?”

Council member Jerry Joerger agreed with Hammond that the city could get involved in permanently funding TLC.

“I would like to respectfully decline this, but really try to be available to do whatever we can to support them,” Joerger said.

Pam Ost, TLC director, said she was disappointed to find out they would not be getting the funding from the city, but thought reintroducing the group to the City Council was a good thing.

“We are looking at our future and working very hard to continue to meet the needs of the community of Charles City,” Ost said in a phone interview after the budget session. “We have done most everything we can to cut our current expenses.

“Even though we may not have received funding this year, I think the conversation was good,” she said. “I think it allowed us to let the city know what TLC is doing right now.”

Floyd County Community Foundation

Some council members weren’t sure about continuing to give funds to the Floyd County Community Foundation.

Council member DeLaine Freeseman had wondered at a previous meeting when the Foundation would be able to fund itself.

“They do get some outside funding,” said Charles City Administrator Steven Diers. “I think that’s going to be an ongoing amount to operate there that they’d like to look to.”

“It’s been (funded yearly with) $10,000 since I’ve been here,” Diers said.

Hammond said, “I’d just like to see a plan. I’m comfortable leaving it where it’s at.”

The money the city gives to the Foundation goes to pay for the local development associate, said Charles City Mayor Dean Andrews.

“In my opinion, we get a lot from that,” Andrews said. “I don’t think you’re ever going to see the request go away.”

Andrews suggested that by funding the Foundation the council was putting money into something that wouldn’t be there otherwise. No other organization would take up the mission that the Foundation has, he said.

“I agree it’s a good thing for the community,” Freeseman said, but added, “This entity needs to look at securing funds from some other sources.”

Council member Keith Starr said he wasn’t comfortable removing the funding this year, but would like to go through the year and talk to members of the organization about the council’s concerns to give them a chance to adjust.

After discussing the subject the council decided to continue to fund the Foundation.

Healthy Harvest