By JEFF ABELL

jabell@thehawkeye.com

The creation of a joint law enforcement center remains the Burlington City Council's top goals for the next two years.

However, the list of priorities determined at a recent goal-setting meeting may change in the coming weeks.

At a meeting Monday, the council agreed to review its list of priorities and submit any changes.

"I'd like to see us take a look at what we came up with and see if there's anything we need to change," Mayor Bill Ell said.

Leading the list of goals is the creation of a countywide law enforcement center, followed by renovating the city-owned train depot and establishing a utility franchise fee.

Since 2008, the county sheriff's office and Burlington police have been laying the groundwork to make a joint facility a reality.

Ell said creation of a law enforcement center will not be completed over the next two years. That being the case, he said, council may want to reassess it as a priority.

At last week's goal-setting session, council members also indicated they wanted to explore establishing a franchise fee for Alliant Energy. If put in place, funds generated would be used for property tax relief and to offset the cost of capital projects.

Under a state law passed in 2009, 5 percent is the maximum amount municipalities can charge utilities in Iowa.

Listed as lower priorities were renovating the Des Moines County Humane Society's animal shelter, establishing a financial program to increase fund balances, remodeling council chambers and code revisions.

The council listed as past accomplishments the Manor Revisited project, Mount Pleasant Street resurfacing, creation of a dog park and the establishment of a quiet zone.

On an unrelated matter, the demolition of a 119-year-old downtown Burlington building considered a safety hazard has been delayed due to the discovery of additional asbestos.

The former Daisianna's furniture store at 617 Jefferson St. has been anticipated to be completed last week.

Asbestos abatement is anticipated to begin this week.

In June, and again in 2006, brick and concrete from the second story of the building fell onto the sidewalk along Jefferson Street.