Posted: April 15, 2022 | Updated: August 24, 2023
AGENDA
NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA
DATE OF MEETING: APRIL 18, 2022
TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING: 5:30 P.M. CITY HALL, 130 N PARK PLACE
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: KRIENER, McCONNELL, 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.
- Approval of the Agenda
- Approval of the Claims
- Approval of Minutes from April 4, 2022
- Approval of Class C Liquor License (LC) with Outdoor Service and Sunday Sales to Howard County Agricultural Society d/b/a Mighty Howard County Fair – Howard County Expo Center (2nd revision of licensed premise map)
- Approval of Special Class C Liquor License (BW) with Sunday Sales and Outdoor Service to Atomic Pizza Pub, LLC d/b/a Atomic Pizza Pub
- Approval of Class C Liquor License (LC) to McAllister Catering, LLC d/b/a McAllister Catering
- Approval of Class E Liquor License (LE), Class B Native Wine Permit, Class C Beer Permit, and Class B Wine Permit to Fareway Stores, Inc d/b/a Fareway Stores, Inc #815
- Approval of Tree Surgeon License for Andera Tree Service, LLC
STAFF REPORTS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.
- Public Works
- Police
- Administration
- Committee Updates
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: (This portion of the agenda is for comments that are not related to one of the items listed on the agenda. Comments can only be received. No formal action by the Council can be taken. Those making public comments will be asked to state their name and address, and to speak from the podium.)
BUSINESS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.
- Shain Kroenecke and John Anderson from Cresco Food Technologies to Discuss Annual Renewal of the Industrial Agreement
- Resolution Electing the Standard Allowance for the ARPA Grant
- Discuss Expenditures for Eligible Projects for the ARPA Grant and Possible Motion to Commit Funds
- Discuss Possible Stop Sign Installation at the Intersection of 5th Ave E and 2nd St E
- Review Quotes and Possible Award of Contract for Theatre Windows
- Review Quotes and Possible Award of Contract for Theatre Tuckpointing
- Review Quotes and Possible Award of Contract for Tree Removal at Wastewater Plant
- Discuss Rate Increases
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 APRIL 15, 2022
MINUTES
Mayor Brenno called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on April 18, 2022, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Kriener, McConnell, 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 from April 4, 2022 meeting; Class C Liquor License (LC) with outdoor service and Sunday sales to Howard County Agricultural Society d/b/a Mighty Howard County Fair – Howard County Expo Center (2nd revision of licensed premise map); Special Class C Liquor License (BW) with Sunday sales and outdoor service to Atomic Pizza Pub, LLC d/b/a Atomic Pizza Pub; Class C Liquor License (LC) to McAllister Catering, LLC d/b/a McAllister Catering; Class E Liquor License (LE), Class B Native Wine Permit, Class C Beer Permit, and Class B Wine Permit to Fareway Stores, Inc d/b/a Fareway Stores, Inc #815; Tree Surgeon License for Andera Tree Service, LLC. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Public Works Director Widell reported (a) CIT will be here this week to do the critical repairs that were detected when they cleaned the sanitary sewers last year. Cleaning of sewer mains will be next month for everything west of Granger Road and Protivin Road; (b) Dixon Engineering will be presenting recommendations for painting and repairs of the water tower following the inspection they performed last year; (c) Michelle and Nate met with Rick and Sandy Hagen to explain subdivision requirements and shared driveway concerns. Hagens will be submitting a proposal for the development of their land and a worksession will be scheduled; (d) bid letting for the bike trail will be July 19th with construction starting in September 2022 and finishing in the summer of 2023.
City Clerk Elton reported: (a) working on the final budget amendment; (b) busy working on at least 13 different projects; (c) we received 11 applications so far with today being the initial deadline for the City Clerk position. Council needs to decide on the hiring process.
Fortune shared the live entertainment lineup for the Theatre with seven events scheduled from April 24th through December 4th.
Mayor Brenno asked for comments from the audience and there were none.
Shain Kroenecke and John Anderson from Cresco Food Technologies presented an update on changes being made before the annual renewal of the Industrial Agreement. The name has been changed to Aveka Group, Cresco Facility. They have made changes in management, culture, and personnel. They have received four official odor complaints in 2022. They are working on a new technology to help eliminate the odor chemically and are currently in the testing stages. They may raise the lower stack also. In 2019, they installed a second scrubber that helped but they are continuing to address the odor issues. They had five violations in 2021and also some low dissolved oxygen (DO) issues. An oil and grease issue caused problems at the lift station which CFT paid to clean up. They are updating the sampler and installing an inline BOD/COD/DO meter. A permanent wastewater facility coordinator has been hired. They are also considering installing an oil skimmer. Council was concerned with the rising level of selenium in the sludge. Test results should be received next week and appropriate actions will be taken based on the levels. Council appreciated the updates and encouraged them to keep the Council and city residents informed of steps they are taking to control the odor issues. The Council will schedule a tour of the facility to see the sampling and upgrades that have been implemented to reduce the risk of violations to their Industrial Agreement.
Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution electing the Standard Allowance for the ARPA Grant. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
Elton presented a proposal to apply the ARPA grant to infrastructure expenditures. A report must be filed for March 2021 – March 31, 2022 indicating what funds have been expended or committed during this time period. The remainder does not need to be committed until December 31, 2024. She proposed committing $50,000 for the sanitary sewer critical repairs and $30,000 for the grit classifier at the WWTP. She also proposed allocating $15,000 for the water department valve replacements and $15,000 for upgrading the watermain to six-inch on Highway 9. This will leave about $450,000 to be allocated to future infrastructure improvements including water tower painting. McConnell made the motion to approve the recommendation to apply $110,000 to the water and sewer projects identified. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Council discussed a request to install a stop sign at the intersection of 5th Ave E and 2nd St E. Council inspected the intersection and did not think a stop sign was required and that drivers must approach all intersections with caution. The Police Chief reported that the majority of accidents occur at controlled intersections with stop signs. Bouska made the motion to deny the request to install a stop sign. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
The Cresco Theatre received $66,835.13 for an SBA Shuttered Venue Grant for lost revenue. This grant allows the City to use it to replenish the general fund or for projects such as window replacement and tuckpointing.
Three quotes were received for window replacement at the Theatre: Em Dub Construction $33,153.42; Decorah Mobile Glass $31,664.98 plus will need a contractor for any framing; Mason City Glass $48,168.00. Staff and Council felt there would need to be some framing work done and Decorah Mobile Glass requested a contractor be onsite during installation which would increase their estimated cost. Fortune made the motion to approve the quote from Em Dub which included the framing. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Three quotes were received for tuckpointing at the Theatre: Surety Waterproofing LLC 31,480 for tuckpointing; Riehle Decorating $23,500 for waterproofing only; Vinton Tuckpointing $97,736 for tuckpointing plus $18,167 for waterproofing. Staff does not believe the waterproofing of the entire exterior is necessary at this time. Carman made the motion to approve the quote from Surety Waterproofing. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Two quotes were received for tree removal at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for the security fence project: Wilson Custom Tree $3,800 plus $25 per stump for grinding (approximately 80 stumps); Mehmert Tiling $3,980 with stump removal. Carman made the motion to approve the quote from Mehmert Tiling. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Rate increases for water and sewer was discussed. Based on inflation and increased cost of all expenses including the Union Contract raises of 5.9%, Bouska suggested a 6% increase just to cover the union agreement. This would result in a combined increase of 88 cents per thousand gallons and therefore a minimum bill would increase $1.31 per month. Kriener was concerned with the impact on residents due to the polar vortex and higher garbage rates that Hawkeye Sanitation will be charging plus the impact of inflation. Bouska agreed that the impact on customers will be undesirable but the City will go backwards if we don’t cover at least the contractual increase in costs. Carman made the motion to implement a 6% increase for water and for sewer rates. Bouska seconded and McConnell, Carman, Bouska, and Fortune voted aye. Kriener voted nay. The motion passed by majority vote.
Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 6:57 pm. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be May 2, 2022, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.
Mayor: David J. Brenno
City Clerk: Michelle Elton