Snow removal, field maintenance and the future of a decades-old agreement are among the issues Alta city leaders are continuing to work through with the Alta-Aurelia Community School District.
The Alta City Council on Monday discussed possible changes to the city’s 28E agreement with the school district, following a school board discussion earlier this month about three requests from Alta.
The agreement currently runs through 2032 and covers shared use of facilities, including the city-owned Alta football field.
The first issue involves snow removal at the gravel parking area near the Alta swimming pool — an area used heavily by Alta Elementary School for student drop-off and pickup.
The school board previously indicated it was open to the school district taking over snow removal there. But Alta council members Monday said they believe the city should continue handling the work because the parking lot is on city property.
Council members Peg Hinkeldey, Bruce McGowan and Pam Henderson weighed in on why they believe the city should continue overseeing snow removal at the site.
Council members also want to take a closer look at other maintenance responsibilities and costs under a revised agreement.
That includes the Alta football field, particularly as the school district’s use of the facilities changes.
The school district is continuing to use the Alta football field for some activities, even though varsity football games and track meets have moved to Aurelia. The school board previously said it was open to the City of Alta using the football field for community activities, including a potential soccer program, as long as those activities do not conflict with the school schedule.
Council members said Monday that any new agreement should clearly spell out who is responsible for maintaining the field and how costs and wear-and-tear will be handled.
The concession stand was another issue discussed. Council members questioned how expenses, staffing and concession proceeds should be handled when school activities are held at the city-owned facility.
The city and school district currently share proceeds from concessions, and council members want those financial responsibilities addressed as part of the broader agreement discussions.
Another major question is the length of any new agreement.
Alta previously asked for a 20-year extension, saying a longer agreement would provide more certainty for the city and its youth programs. But the school board’s recent discussion indicated a preference for something closer to 10 years, with the idea that circumstances can change significantly over two decades.
Hinkeldey, who attended the Sept. 14 school board meeting with fellow council member Laurie Millard, explained the board’s position during Monday’s discussion.
The two sides are also considering how to structure the agreement itself.
Council members discussed continuing with a 28E agreement rather than moving to a lease for the football field. Iowa’s 28E law allows public agencies to cooperate through agreements involving shared services and facilities.
The city and school district have a joint committee made up of representatives from both sides that is expected to continue working through the details. That group includes two school board members, two city council members, Alta Mayor Desi Suter and Alta-Aurelia Superintendent Denny Olhausen.
The committee has met several times in recent years, and Olhausen said the group is intended to work through issues involving the shared facilities before they become larger disputes.
No changes to the 28E agreement were approved Monday. The discussions are expected to continue through the joint committee before any proposed changes come back to the full city council and school board. Alta officials said Monday they are working to schedule another committee meeting for late October.
