April 1, 2019

Posted: March 29, 2019 | Updated: October 5, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   APRIL 1, 2019

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING:             7:00 P.M. AT CRESCO CITY HALL

 

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED

GOVERNMENTAL BODY WILL MEET AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SET OUT ABOVE.    THE TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR SAID MEETING IS AS FOLLOWS:

 

ROLL CALL:  BRENNO, McCARVILLE, FORTUNE, BOUSKA, CARMAN

 

ACT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed under the consent agenda will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a request is made prior to the time council votes on the motion.

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Approval of Minutes from March 18, 2019
  4. Application for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for:
  1. Linus & Lori Balik
  2. Richard & Linda Schorr
  1. Approval of Class B Native Wine Permit (WBN) to Plantpeddler Inc d/b/a Plantpeddler
  1. Approval of Pay Request #4 for $20,041.20 to Cresco Building Service Inc for the City of Cresco Fire Department Storage Facility

 

STAFF REPORTS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

  1. Public Works
  2. Police
  3. Administration
  4. Committee Updates

 

BUSINESS:  There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

 

  1. Mark Kubik and other downtown business owners to discuss downtown sidewalk issues.
  2. Request for Sewer Adjustment for Water not Entering the Sanitary Sewer System from Narren Brown
  3. Awarding of Hotel/Motel Tax Grants for Tourism Projects

 

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:

 

ADJOURN:

 

THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN AT THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 21, CODE OF IOWA AND THE LOCAL RULES OF SAID GOVERNMENTAL BODY.  POSTED MARCH 29, 2019.

MINUTES

Mayor Bohle called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on April 1, 2019, at 7:00 pm at City Hall. Council Members Brenno, McCarville, Fortune, Bouska and Carman were present. No council members were absent.

Carman made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes of the March 18, 2019 meeting; tax abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Linus & Lori Balik and Richard & Linda Schorr; Class B Native Wine Permit (WBN) to Plantpeddler Inc d/b/a Plantpeddler; Pay Request #4 for $20,041.20 to Cresco Building Service Inc for the City of Cresco Fire Department Storage Facility. McCarville seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Freidhof reported (a) we have been sweeping streets and dealing with some soft spots around town; (b) we should be getting the new dump truck this month; (c) called in the one calls for the street light project on Highway 9. WHKS was here to help us with the plan specs required by the Iowa DOT; (d) the house at 218 5th Ave East has been demolished; (e) we closed on 321 4th Ave Southwest and it will be demolished tomorrow; (f) they plan to start concreting the 2nd Street East project in a couple weeks and hoping to be done by the end of April if the weather cooperates; (g) Mike Born & Rod attended a Biosolids conference. There are lots of interesting ideas being bounced around for nutrient reduction. Everything needs to be approved by the DNR before implementation; (h) the Gross-Wen reactor at the wastewater facility for the pilot project has encountered a lot of problems again and we have decided to terminate the project. Gross-Wen has been good to work with and they did refund all of our initial costs in the project. The science makes sense but for some reason it is just not working at our plant; (i) we had solar panel damage again at the Evans Park. Four solar panels as well as two light covers at the tennis court were damaged. We found lead-weight marbles that appear to have been slung out of a sling shot. We are considering putting surveillance equipment down there. This is the third time that solar panels have been vandalized. Police are working on it.

Police Chief Ruroden reported that it has been a busy March. They are working on a few investigations. Two officers attended narcotics training. Working on the Eddie Eagle program that will be starting next week. It was a good month working with the school.

Fortune reported the Theatre murder mystery dinner fundraiser was a huge success; thanks to many volunteers especially from the Theatre Commission and Cresco Community Theater. The play and the food were both fantastic. Cresco Bank & Trust donated the initial startup expenses. With that donation as well as a large individual donation and CUSB matching donation, it looks like the marquee will be paid for. Initially this was the plan, but the City had to finance it due to unexpected additional costs. The City will now be repaid with the donations received. Future shows that Wendy has booked at the Theatre include an Elvis impersonator, a ventriloquist and the Whitesidewalls. Many groups are coming due to referrals from Elkader as the Cresco Theatre is becoming a landmark for live performances. This has been a goal of the Theatre Commission.

Mayor Bohle attended the open house for the Howard County community housing study. They are still working on the final report.

Mark Kubik and other downtown business owners were not able to attend the meeting to discuss downtown sidewalk issues. Bouska commented that she just received a complaint today about the residential sidewalks being in really bad shape.

A written request was received from Narren Brown for a sewer adjustment for water not entering the sanitary sewer system due to a broken pipe. It was unclear how the water was pumped out and there was no floor drain. Fortune made a motion to credit sewer charges of $236.13 only if it can be verified that there was no floor drain. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

McCarville made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Cresco Tourism Advisory Committee and award grants to: Mighty Howard County Fair $3,500; Cresco Iowa Speedway 4th of July Fireworks $2,500; Family Fun Nights $1,000. This quarter available Hotel/Motel Tax funds were $5,151.26 with three requests for $7,000. The remainder will be paid out of Hotel/Motel Tax reserves. The committee also recommended using reserve funds to finance any shortfall of the new marquee sign in Beadle Park. Majority is being paid by a donation from the Howard County Business and Tourism banquet auction proceeds. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Mayor asked for comments from the audience and there were none.

Bouska moved to adjourn at 7:13 pm.  Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.  The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be April 15, 2019 at 7:00 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Mark Bohle
City Clerk Michelle Girolamo

Documents

2019 City Council Agendas, Minutes