A petition by Indianola residents to challenge the Indianola City Council’s vote to use $2 million in Local Option Sales and Service Tax funds for the Downtown Streetscape Project has been received by the Warren County Auditor’s Office and forwarded to the Iowa State Appeal Board.

The Indianola City Council approved using LOSST funds on the lone Downtown Streetscape Project bid which came in over $2 million over the projected bid in a 7-0 vote in April. Indianola and Warren County voters approved a one cent sales tax to pay for the Water Resource Recovery Facility in 2016, which is currently under construction.

According to a release from the Kirkwood Institute, which is assisting Indianola residents with the challenge, a petition with over 250 signatures was presented including former Mayor Kelly Shaw, and three former council members who were in office at the time of the measure passing. At the time of the LOST measure, the Indianola City Council wrote a letter to the community stating that all funds would go towards the construction of the WRRF, with two current council members in John Parker Jr. and Greta Southall, as well as Mayor Pam Pepper signing.

The Kirkwood Institute said in the release they are aiming to keep the funds from being used for anything but their original use. City council members stated in the April meeting that LOST funds are projected to increase past projections at the time, and using those funds now to complete the streetscape project won’t delay the payments on the WRRF and save the city money now instead of delaying.

City Manager Ryan Waller says the city acknowledges receipt of the petition, and since it is a legal matter the city can not comment. As of now, this will not delay the start of the project.

To view the full press release from the Kirkwood Institute, click below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KhsxR6WqkTGN7OqZnRPgAQ-7P_LCL2qN/view