Shafer said a city grant writer would be an asset, but RPC provides more services than grant writing.

“Before hiring a grant writer, I think we need to have a session with RPC to go over their services carefully,” Uehling said.

Aistrope agreed and moved to table the matter for further study.

Councilman Keith Caviness asked how many years the city has had an RPC membership.

Uehling estimated the membership started in the 1970s.

On the roll-call vote, Meyers, Addison and Caviness rejected tabling the RPC membership and Niner and Aistrope voted for it.

“I think we have reason to question [the membership] and need to get into a discussion with RPC,” Uehling said.

The mayor suggested he and City Administrator Joe Helfenberger sit down with the Regional Planning Commission and review what the membership provides.

Caviness said he thought it was important “to be on the same page.” He questioned “arbitrarily” dropping an annual membership.

Councilman Bob Meyers said it’s the third time the RPC membership has come before the council. Money for a city grant writer isn’t in the budget, he added.

A council majority — Niner, Addison and Aistrope — rejected the resolution for the RPC membership. Meyers and Caviness voted for it.

Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com