During the Special City Council Meeting on Monday night for the City of Marshalltown, after reviewing expenses the city could cut, they looked at some revenue generators.  One option was to look at a Utilities Franchise Fee. In the fall of 2023, a special election was held for a 5% Franchise Fee, which failed.

That is City Administrator Carol Webb, who was not here in 2023 during the previous vote. Going the Ordinance route, if the Franchise Fee was petitioned for a vote, that special election would most likely take place in September of this year.  The petition would not allow this to be on the general election; it would force this issue to be on a special election that would cost the City about $15,000.

City Councilors Marco Yepez-Gomez and Sue Cahill both were in favor of getting the Franchise Fee on the general election this November.  The City can do that if they do not go the ordinance route and have it be petitioned.

Councilor Jeff Schneider wants to see this happen sooner rather than later

No official vote was taken, but Mayor Ladehoff did confirm that everyone was nodding their head in agreement to pursue a 3% Franchise Fee this calendar year.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB