RIVERSIDE

The property tax rate in Riverside will drop more than 10 cents for the next fiscal year.

The Riverside City Council, during its regularly scheduled session Monday, set a public hearing of April 1 for the proposed tax rate. The public hearing will be at 6 p.m., followed by the Council’s regular meeting.

Cole Smith, City Administrator, told the Council that the proposed rate for Fiscal Year 2025, which begins July 1, 2024, is $7.94 per $1,000 of value. The rate is determined through a number of calculations that include state code and Riverside’s tax base.

The property tax rate for FY24 is $8.10.

Still to come is the city’s FY25 budget, which has been discussed in work sessions by the City Council since January. This year’s budget is about $3.4 million.

The city’s property tax rate is in addition to a Highland Community Schools tax rate of $13.

Digital Board

The Council agreed to enter a partnership with Highland Schools that would result in a digital message board being installed near the city’s fire station on Highway 22.

The Council, by a 3-1 vote, approved a commitment of up to $38,951 for the message board, pending an application for a Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant by Highland Schools for the same amount. The board is estimated to cost more than $77,000.

The Council opted for a smaller version of the board, which would cut down a Riverside sign at the top of the board.

City Councilperson Tom Sexton voted against the resolution, commenting that the size and location of the message board may distract or get in the way of drivers’ vision pulling out of Casey’s, which is located next to the fire department.

“I just don’t like the idea of a sign being there,” Sexton said.

City Councilperson Ryan Rogerson said there should be enough room for the board to be located in a spot where it isn’t a problem.

“There’s only so much we can do about distraction,” he said.

If the project moves ahead, designs of the board will come in front of the Council at a later date.

Siren Replacement

In a twist of irony, the Council tabled a $15,000 request from Washington County Emergency Management at the same time that rumbles of thunder could be heard from a heavy thunderstorm hitting Riverside on Monday night.

The county is asking for financial assistance from cities as it replaces the countywide siren system used in cases of severe weather to warn residents of tornado warnings.

A number of Council members, including mayor Allen Schneider, agreed to table the request pending more specific information on the siren replacements by Washington County Emergency Management. Instead, the Council approved a Letter of Support for the siren replacements.

Among other Washington County cities, Wellman and Washington have made $15,000 commitments.

Book Nook

Members of Girl Scouts Troop #9632 appeared in front of the Council to propose installing a book nook at Hall Park as a service project.

Books would be placed there so that they could be read by people using the park.

The Council approved the project.

“I really appreciate you doing this,” Rogerson told Scouts leader Terri Kraus and the troop members. “I think it’s a really good idea.”

Council Action

The Council approved a payment of $23,180 and a change order of $2,800 to Bowker Pinnacle Mechanical of Cedar Rapids for work completed at the city’s water treatment plant and the Riverside Boat Ramp.

The Council approved a proposal by LL Pelling of North Liberty, costing up to $27,040, for repairs and maintenance on a number of city streets.

The Council approved a request by City Manager Cole Smith to attend the Iowa Muncipal Management Institute in Iowa City in late March.

Next board meeting: The City Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. March 18.