Knoxville City Council backs Workforce Housing tax-incentive application for Origin Homes project

The Knoxville City Council on July 6 approved a resolution supporting a Workforce Housing Tax Incentive Application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) from Origin Homes 2026, LLC, a step the city recorded as part of its effort to facilitate a new housing project in Knoxville.

Council Member Chris Nichols moved to approve the resolution; Council Member John Gotta seconded. The resolution passed on a roll-call vote, according to the minutes. The motion provides the city's formal support for an application that Origin Homes 2026, LLC will submit to the IEDA.

The council entered the resolution as a discrete item in the meeting minutes alongside routine consent business. The minutes do not record a vote tally by name. The resolution does not itself authorize funding by the city; it signals municipal support for the developer's application to the state program.

Votes at a glance from the July 6 meeting: the council approved the amended consent agenda (motion by Council Member Dan Losada, seconded by Council Member Chris Nichols); the council approved a Class E retail alcohol license for Fareway Stores, Inc.; a tax abatement resolution for new construction at 404 S. Seventh St and a commercial-improvement abatement; and an urban revitalization tax abatement and minimum-assessment agreement for the Dennis Albaugh Suites in coordination with the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. The council also approved a license-to-occupy agreement with the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce (motion by Council Member John Gotta, seconded by Council Member Dawn Rankin) and approved payment of claims (motion by Council Member Dawn Rankin, seconded by Council Member Dan Losada). Those consent items were included in and approved through the amended consent agenda or passed separately on roll call as noted in the minutes.

Mayor Brian Hatch presided over the meeting. City Manager Heather Ussery and City Clerk Jodie Wyman were listed as present in the minutes. The meeting record shows no public comments were offered at the public-comment period.

The minutes do not specify the next procedural step for the city beyond recording the council's support for the IEDA application; the application itself will be submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority by Origin Homes 2026, LLC, per the resolution language. The council adjourned at 7:17 p.m.