By Sam Parsons

The Ottumwa city council met earlier this week and held a public hearing for the city’s maximum property tax dollars for FY24.

City administrator Philip Rath walked the council through the numbers, which ultimately reflect a 0.02% increase in the maximum tax levy. He said that the levies for the general fund, emergency levy, and Bridge View Center are already maxed out, but that the rest of the changes were based on projections, such as a projected 8% increase in property insurance costs.

The council also discussed their proposed ordinance regarding UTV usage within the city of Ottumwa. The ordinance has been in the works since November, and the final version of it allows for UTV usage with some stipulations, including that they may only be operated on city streets with a designated speed limit of 35 mph or lower, and during the snow season, they may only be operated on streets that have not been plowed. Other regulations include the disallowance of operation on city trails, parks, sidewalks, or on an operating railroad right-of-way. The first reading of the ordinance was passed and the second reading will be held at the council’s next meeting on February 21.

And the council approved a request from the police department to apply for a grant to help purchase 40 body-worn cameras. The grant, which would be through the Small Rural Tribal Body Worn Camera Program, would reimburse the city for half of the purchase price. The request was approved unanimously.