August 3, 2020

Posted: July 30, 2020 | Updated: September 13, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC ELECTRONIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   AUGUST 3, 2020

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING:             7:00 P.M. GOOGLE MEET (see log-in below)

 

Note: Council Members will be utilizing Google Meet to attend the meeting remotely due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The public can attend by logging in to the meeting by computer via

meet.google.com/mgq-rroo-wgk or by telephone 904-601-2202 PIN: ‪530 318 809#

 

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 July 20, 2020
  1. Approval of Class C Beer Permit (BC) with Sunday Sales to Kwik Trip, Inc d/b/a Kwik Star #428

 

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. Public Hearing to Amend Chapter 5.12 in the City of Cresco Code of Ordinances Pertaining to Residency Requirements
  2. Second Reading of Proposed Ordinance 485 which Amends Section 5.12 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, Pertaining to the Residency Requirement
  3. Motion to Approve an Addendum to the Employee Handbook Pertaining to the Residency Requirement for Public Works and Police Departments
  4. Resolution Approving Rate of Pay for the Cresco Community Fire Department
  5. Motion to Approve the Outstanding Obligation Report and Reveiw Long Term Debt Balances and Amortization Schedules
  6. Motion to Change the Date of the September 7, 2020 Council Meeting Due to Labor Day Holiday
  7. Request to Exend the Time to Abate a Nuisance Violation
  8. Discuss Changes to Fireworks Ordinance
  9. Discuss Issues Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic

 

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 JULY 30, 2020.

MINUTES

Mayor Bohle called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on August 3, 2020, at 7:00 pm. Council Members Brenno, McCarville, Fortune, Bouska, and Carman were present. No council members were absent.

Mayor Bohle explained that due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, as to protect the employees, council members, and the public, the meeting is being held electronically. The log-in is available through meet.google.com/mgq-rroo-wgk or by telephone 904-601-2202 PIN: ‪530 318 809#.

Carman made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes of the July 20, 2020 meeting; Class C Beer Permit (BC) with Sunday sales to Kwik Trip, Inc d/b/a Kwik Star #428. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

The police report for July 2020 was presented.

City Clerk Girolamo reported: (a) the Police Chief reviewed State bids for replacement of the trailblazer and has selected the 2020 RAM half ton pickup crew cab with a V-6 engine and four-wheel drive for $24,397; (b) the Census response for Cresco is 75% and 71% for Howard County. On August 11th they will go door-to-door for non-responses. Everyone is encouraged to fill out the Census as it has a huge impact on the City and County; (c) Mediacom will be eliminating the NFL Network from their programming but continue to negotiate with them; (d) City Hall doors are open with traffic pretty slow as most people are using the drop boxes.

Public Works Director Freidhof reported: (a) all departments have been busy. Due to COVID, we are getting cross-training done as we split up the departments and they are enjoying learning new things; (b) Planning & Zoning public hearing is August 5th at 7 pm to review a Special Use Permit request from Cresco Food Technologies for a proposed exhaust stack. They will try to keep on subject and although odor issues need to be discussed that is not the purpose of this public hearing; (c) many classes have been cancelled so everyone is struggling to get their CEU’s. Many will attend a training in Decorah on Thursday and several will attend the fall conferences in Dubuque and Okoboji.

Mayor Bohle opened the public hearing to amend Section 5.12 in the City of Cresco Code of Ordinances pertaining to residency requirements. The residency requirement for public works and police will be removed from the Code of Ordinances and added to the Employee Handbook. There were no written or oral comments and the public hearing was closed.

Mayor Bohle performed the second reading of Ordinance 485 pertaining to the residency requirement. Brenno made the motion to approve the second reading. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Brenno made the motion to approve an addendum to the Employee Handbook requiring Public Works employees to live within 10 miles of city limits as measured by road. The Police Department will continue to be required to live within 2.5 miles of city limits. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution approving the rate of pay for the Cresco Community Fire Department. The rates are the same as approved in 2005 and will be reviewed at the budget meeting with the Rural Trustees and City Fire Committee. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve the Outstanding Obligation Report that is required to be filed showing the debt balances on June 30th each year. The amortization schedules and graphs of future payments were reviewed. Interest rates will be reviewed and consider refinancing as loans become callable. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Brenno made the motion to change the date of the September 7, 2020 Council Meeting due to the Labor Day Holiday to Wednesday September 9, 2020 at 7:00 pm. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Council reviewed a letter requesting an extension of time to abate a nuisance. Council unanimously agreed that the process should continue since they purchased the house five years ago and it has not been improved. However, if they hire a contractor and get it scheduled within the next couple of weeks, then we would allow them time to get it painted before taking it to the Attorney and Court.

Changes to the existing Fireworks Ordinance were discussed. The City must allow vendors that have licenses approved by the State Fire Marshal to sell fireworks during a specified time. Council therefore decided to allow consumer fireworks to be discharged within the city limits only on July 3rd between 9 am and 10 pm and on July 4th between 9 am and 11 pm. Permits would not be required for “Consumer” fireworks but larger displays designated as “Display” fireworks would need a permit. All permit applications for “Display” fireworks must be filed with City Hall at least 30 days prior to the event. Changes to the Ordinance will be written up and presented at the next council meeting.

Council decided to hold the next council meeting in-person unless there is an outbreak of COVID cases in the next few weeks.

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

Carman moved to adjourn at 7:41 pm. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be August 17, 2020, at 7:00 pm at Cresco City Hall unless an electronic meeting is deemed necessary. Telephone and log-in information will be made available for an electronic meeting.

 

Mayor Mark Bohle
City Clerk Michelle Girolamo

Documents

2020 Agendas, Minutes