McGregor gives three-month reprieve for outdoor furnaces
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The McGregor City Council, at its Oct. 20 meeting, approved a three-month extension to delay passage of an ordinance that would prohibit outdoor furnaces in town.
Mayor Lyle Troester said this is relative to Backwoods Bar and Grill and Event Center, which utilizes an outdoor furnace. Complaints surfaced earlier this year accusing the restaurant of burning improper materials such as wet wood and garbage, which contributed to the furnace’s smoldering effect and spread smoke throughout downtown.
Troester said Backwoods has taken steps to limit these issues.
“They have done a propane ignition system to the furnace, which should eliminate the need to throw cardboard in to start the furnace. They have two or maybe three smoke stack extensions on order, and there was a fan issue. The biggest problem was the quality of stuff being burned,” he explained. “There hasn’t been activity to warrant the ability to test the air quality. So it seems reasonable to give them an extension to see if the problem is fixed.”
“It’s to our benefit, and the town’s benefit, to get everyone working together,” he added.
City administrator Lynette McManus said Backwoods plans to use the furnace in December through March.
Urban renewal plan amended
The council approved an urban renewal plan amendment for the Consolidated McGregor Urban Renewal Area,which could facilitate the undertaking of new urban renewal projects using tax increment financing.
Proposed projects include improvements to the city’s riverfront and Triangle Park infrastructure, construction of street and utility improvements on and along Main Street and expansion of the downtown municipal parking lot. Tax incremental financing could also cover the costs of McGregor’s 2022-2026 Small Business Improvement and Redevelopment Support Program, construction of public infrastructure in connection with the city’s Main Street LMI (low to moderate income) Assistance Project, the city’s 2023-2027 Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund Support Program and the 2023-2027 Urban Renewal Administration and Professional Support Program.
Troester described the projects as “wish list” items.
New features will be added to splash pad
The council authorized ordering phase two features for the Turner Park splash pad. The additional features will be installed this spring, in spots where the orange ground sprays are currently located.
The features for this phase will cost nearly $52,000, and McManus said a $30,000 grant from the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation and $8,000 in savings will help fund it.
Stop signs discontinued
In his report to the council, Mar-Mac Police Chief Robert Millin said there are plans to discontinue placing the two temporary stop signs at Garnavillo and Spring and Seventh and Ann, for street crossing near the MFL MarMac Middle School. He consulted with the school on the decision, which he said was due to lack of student use.
“They’ll still be there in the event the school has something going on,” Millin said, “but if no one is using them, they’re more of a traffic hazard than anything.”
