Elmwood approves grant for cafe

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Weekly Post

ELMWOOD – The Elmwood City Council council discussed and approved a $3,500 Elmwood Business Sustainability Grant to the Uptown Café at its Jan. 19 meeting. The grant is from the state’s DCEO Local CURE economic stability grant, and Elmwood will be reimbursed for that amount. The grant is for businesses that were shut down due to COVID mitigations or reduced to take-out service.

The council also discussed at length the sale of a 14-foot wide piece of the city’s parking lot that is adjacent to the Masonic Horeb Lodge. The Masons want to add the property to their building because they will be replacing the back of the Lodge, which was damaged during a wind storm.

The city’s proposed purchase amount is $3,000. The Masons have indicated that they want to begin construction as soon as possible. Mayor Brian Davis requested that Economic Development Director Amy Davis take the proposal to the Masons and to report back at the next meeting.

During committee reports, Councilman Bob Paige said there has been interest in repairing the fire alarm and noon whistle. The Elmwood Fire Department would pay half of the cost. Davis raised a concern that repairing the system only seems to last two years before repairs are required again. Paige said he would obtain the repair cost and bring it to the next council meeting for further discussion and possible action