The Waterloo City Council on Monday night presented a Good Neighbor Award to Lance West, received updates on new businesses, and approved a utility relocation as part of the Route 3 road improvement project.

West was nominated for the Good Neighbor Award by Dottie Schillinger. She said West has cut the grass at the bottom part of her yard for 26 years and performed other lawn care duties outside her home.

“The best Christian man and neighbor, he deserves an award,” Schillinger wrote in her nomination letter.

West was presented a certificate of appreciation and awarded a gift certificate to JV’s.

The Good Neighbor Award is presented quarterly at City Hall. Nomination letters may be sent to City Hall or the Republic-Times newspaper office.

In his report, city zoning administrator Jim Nagel confirmed what was reported in Friday’s Republic-Times e-mail update that local businessmen have purchased the commercial property located at 835 North Market Street at auction last Wednesday, and plans are for it to become a locally owned restaurant in the near future.
The last business to be located there was Celebration Station. Prior to that, it had been used as a daycare center, and church, and was once known as Bellefontaine Restaurant.

Nagel told the council that the new owners have “ambitious” plans to open this new restaurant by the end of March 2014, and will also use the basement portion of the building as a banquet facility. He added that the dining facility plans to serve “casual food.”

In other business news, Nagel said the new Little Caesar’s pizza place is close to opening in the strip mall near Denny’s off Route 3.

The council approved Mettler Development as low bidder for the Route 3 utility relocation project in the amount of $591,424.50. City sewer and water lines will be moved as part of Route 3 improvements between North Market and South Market Streets.

The council also approved a professional services agreement with HMG Inc., in the amount of $65,000 for guidance and representation on this project.

The city presented an IMEA electric efficiency program check in the amount of $2,695.70 to Shelby’s Automotive Repair for recently installing efficient lighting.

Sarah Krebel of Bountiful Blossoms was also recognized for her work on the downtown hanging flower baskets.