Posted: January 6, 2023 | Updated: August 24, 2023
Agenda
NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA
DATE OF MEETING: JANUARY 9, 2023
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 December 19, 2022
- Approval of Minutes from December 28, 2022 Worksession
- Approval of Class E Liquor License to Casey’s Marketing Company d/b/a Casey’s General Store #2511
- Approval of Application for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Aaron & Melissa Hvitved
- Approval of Application for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Kristopher & Erica Sajdak
- 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.
- Discuss Gatlin Keehner Academy Contract and Reimbursement
- Jason Passmore Update on Revolving Loan Funds and IEDA Community Catalyst & Remediation Grant Program
- Motion to Award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants for Tourism Projects
- Motion to Declare a Public Purpose for the $20,000 Payment to Howard County Business & Tourism in Accordance with the 28E Agreement
- Motion to Declare a Public Purpose for the $8,000 Payment to Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund in Accordance with the 28E Agreement
- Request for Sewer Adjustment for Water not Entering the Sanitary Sewer System from Phillip and Kim Ollendieck for Dulcie Ollendieck
- Request for Sewer Adjustment for Water not Entering the Sanitary Sewer System from Matt Munkel
- Discuss Hawkeye Sanitation Dumpster Contract
- Discuss Proposed Budget Requests for FY2024
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 JANUARY 6, 2023.
MINUTES
Mayor Brenno called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on January 9, 2023, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Kriener, Fortune, Bouska, and Carman were present. Council Member McConnell was absent.
Bouska made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from December 19 and 28, 2022; Class E Liquor License to Casey’s Marketing Company d/b/a Casey’s General Store #2511; Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Aaron & Melissa Hvitved and for Kristopher & Erica Sajdak; Tree Surgeon License for Andera Tree Service LLC. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Public Works Director Widell reported: (a) Mehmert started on the bike trail reconstruction project so it is closed from the yardwaste site to the south. Updates will be posted on the City’s and Howard County Conservation’s Facebook pages; (b) reminder that snow cannot be piled within 20 feet of intersections.
Police Chief Ruroden submitted the December Police report which was relatively quiet. They are working on filling the open police officer position. A $2,000 donation for Active Shooter vests was received from a local business.
Deputy City Clerk Hill reported (a) we have received $3,200 from Interstate Power for a grant for half of the HVAC audit report that Twin Rivers Engineering did for inventory of furnaces and air conditioners; (b) received $1,384.76 rebate from Alliant Energy for the EV Charging Station. This will pay the 10% local share for the grant we received. That makes the EV Charging Station 100% paid by the grant and rebate; (c) reminder that the next council meeting is January 23rd; (d) having a conference call tomorrow with our financial advisor regarding bond issuance and bond rating; (e) busy with calendar year end; (f) we are currently looking at options for copier leases.
There were no committee updates.
Mayor Brenno asked for comments from the audience and there were none.
Former Cresco Police Officer Gatlin Keehner requested the Council to either reduce the repayment amount or extend the repayment schedule. He owes the City for 100% of the cost to send him to the 20-week Police Academy since he resigned immediately following his graduation. Kriener stated that if any exception was made it would set a precedence for future officers and understood his situation but didn’t feel any adjustment should be made. No formal action was taken by Council to change the repayment terms of the signed contract.
Jason Passmore updated the Council on the status of the IEDA Community Catalyst & Remediation Grant Program that the City is the Grantee for the Vernon Springs Brewery. He also discussed the City’s Revolving Loan with Broken Road which has stopped repayments after the closure. The City has a mortgage on the property behind the bank and also personal guarantees from the owners. The property is currently for sale. He also reported that $149,400 was loaned out last year from the community’s various revolving loan funds which created 23 new jobs and retained 20 jobs. Currently there is about $876,000 loaned out and earning interest with monthly repayments. The Chamber & HCB&T have updated their websites. The Howard County supervisors have allocated $250,000 of ARPA funds to start a revolving loan fund for providing incentives to build housing mainly for spec houses and rental properties.
Hotel/Motel Tax of $7,415.02 was received this quarter with two applications received for $6,000. Fortune made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Tourism Committee and award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants to: Driftrunners $3,500 for Snowfest and $2,500 for 2022 Marketing Support. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
The 28E Agreement with Howard County Business & Tourism states that funding will be used for advancing economic and community development and improving tourism in Howard County and the City of Cresco. Carman made a motion to authorize the $20,000 payment to Howard County Business & Tourism and declared it meets a public purpose in accordance with the 28E Agreement. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
The 28E Agreement with Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund states that funding will be used for providing access to well-maintained, safe, and affordable housing for individuals and families with limited resources in Northeast Iowa. Carman made a motion to authorize the $8,000 payment to Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund and declared it meets a public purpose in accordance with the 28E Agreement. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman made the motion to approve a sewer adjustment of $302.15 for water not entering the sanitary sewer system for Dulcie Ollendieck. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
Kriener made the motion to approve a sewer adjustment of $99.13 for water not entering the sanitary sewer system for Matt Munkel. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Council discussed Hawkeye Sanitation’s proposed changes for the commercial garbage collection. The updated proposal would extend the current agreement for an additional year – ending December 31, 2027. It would apply to all residential, light commercial, heavy commercial garbage and recycling customers. Garbage collection would begin at 4 am; the City would go back to billing all commercial and residential customers; the Recycling Center would be open Monday night for 24 hours; Heavy Commercial rebate of 50% of the difference billed in 2022 of $30/yd/pickup to $20.35/yd/pickup. Bouska made a motion to approve the proposal with the following changes: the contract effective dates January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2027; 4 AM collection only for commercial customers, residential customers will remain at 6 AM; and the Recycling Center to be open 4 daylight hours on a weekend day rather than Monday nights. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes. The wording in the contract will be updated by the City Attorney and Hawkeye Attorney with the Council approval on January 23, 2023.
Council discussed the proposed budget for FY2024. Final adjustments will be made so the first public hearing can be set at the next council meeting.
Carman moved to adjourn at 6:15 pm. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be January 23, 2023, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.
Mayor: David J. Brenno
City Clerk: Michelle Elton