December 20, 2021

Posted: December 16, 2021 | Updated: September 11, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   DECEMBER 20, 2021

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:  BRENNO, 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.

 

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Approval of Minutes from December 6, 2021
  4. Approval of Minutes from December 9, 2021 Budget Worksession
  1. Approval of Class C Liquor License (LC) with Sunday Sales and Outdoor Service to Howard County Agricultural Society d/b/a Mighty Howard County Fair – Howard County Expo Center
  2. Approval of Excavator License for:
    1. James Henry dba Henry’s Backhoe Service
    2. Mracek Plumbing, Heating & Electric LLC

 

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

 

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

 

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:

 

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

 

  1. Motion to Appoint Council Member to Fill Vacancy on January 1, 2022
  2. Oath of Office for Mayor and Council Positions for January 1, 2022
  3. Third Reading of Summary of Proposed Ordinance 492 Amending Chapters 105.10, 105.14, 106.02, and 106.08(1) Pertaining to Fees for Recyclable and Non-Recyclable Waste
  4. Approval of Proposed Ordinance 492 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Amending Chapters 105.10, 105.14, 106.02, and 106.08(1) Pertaining to Fees for Recyclable and Non-Recyclable Waste
  5. Request for Sewer Adjustment for Water not Entering the Sanitary Sewer System from Cody Phillips
  6. Motion to Declare a Public Purpose for the $1,250 Payment to Helping Services in Accordance with the 28E Agreement
  7. Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Funds for FY 2022 – December Transfers
  8. Motion to Reschedule the January 3, 2022 Council Meeting to January 5, 2022
  9. Discuss Budget Proposals and Schedule Budget Worksession
  10. Discuss Issues Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic

 

CLOSED SESSION pursuant to Iowa Code 20.17 (3) Strategy Meeting to Discuss Union Negotiations Matters

 

OPEN SESSION

 

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 DECEMBER 16, 2021.

MINUTES

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on December 20, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Brenno, 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 the December 6 and 9, 2021 meetings; Class C Liquor License (LC) with Sunday sales and outdoor service to Howard County Agricultural Society d/b/a Mighty Howard County Fair – Howard County Expo Center (pending proof of Dramshop Insurance); Excavator Licenses for James Henry dba Henry’s Backhoe Service and Mracek Plumbing, Heating & Electric LLC. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Widell reported (a) 7th Street West will be closed for a short time on December 21st; (b) a special yardwaste pick up was done today for the storm damage; (c) the City lost 3-4 trees in Kessel Park but otherwise did not sustain much damage in the storm; (d) thanked the public for working with us to conserve water during the electrical outage since we did not have a backup generator on the south well. The generator is on the north well which is currently down for maintenance. We had plenty of water in the water tower and never lost pressure in the system. Brenno reported that he received several compliments for the City workers and their speedy cleanup after the storm.

City Clerk Elton reported (a) we are still waiting on some paperwork for the conditional offers for the new Police Officers and Reserve Officers; (b) busy with budget and calendar yearend.

Fortune reported the Theatre Commission met and Luther College Opera will be coming to the Cresco Theatre on April 24, 2022. This will be a huge event. An energy grant was received from the Bouska Trust to seal the gap where the scene shop was removed. Rental agreements and rates have been updated. Looking into forming a “Friends of the Theatre” group to help with fundraising, volunteering, and other needs within the Theatre. CCT has requested permission to move their storage container to the gravel pad behind the Theatre especially when it gets closer to their production. The Commission is wondering if Council had any concerns. Nate said it would only be allowed for a temporary time period as other requests have been denied for permanent placements. Council agreed to allow it for a short time prior to, and during, productions but not to allow it permanently.

McConnell reported on the inspection of the ground and records at the airport that Wayne Maas conducted. They will be forwarding a proposed lease agreement for a cement pad and holding tank for Midwest Aerial.

Bouska reported at the Regional Housing Authority meeting that we have nine port-outs that are costing $11,349 per month. This calculates to an average of $1,261 per month compared to a local request that costs about $323 per month. These are people that move from a big city, start collecting here, and then move back to the big city, taking away a lot of Federal funding from local residents.

Bouska reported the Howard County Economic Development met and were informed RHS hired a new surgeon. Howard County did a land exchange in Kendallville which will ultimately become an Amish furniture store. The County is also doing a TIF for a 3rd wind farm.

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska asked for comments from the audience and there were none.

McConnell made a motion to appoint Gary Kriener to fill the Council vacancy effective January 1, 2022. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

David Brenno performed the Oath of Office for Mayor position. Amy Bouska and Gary Kriener each performed the Oath of Office for Council positions. All positions are effective January 1, 2022.

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska performed the third reading of summary of proposed Ordinance 492 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by amending Chapters 105.10, 105.14, 106.02, and 106.08(1) pertaining to fees for recyclable and non-recyclable waste. Brenno made the motion to approve the third reading. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to approve Ordinance 492 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by amending Chapters 105.10, 105.14, 106.02, and 106.08(1) pertaining to fees for recyclable and non-recyclable waste. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Council discussed a letter received from Cody Phillips requesting a credit for water not entering the sanitary sewer. He paid $400 on December 6th, before the due date, so he is also requesting the late penalty on the credited sewer charges. Bouska made the motion to approve the credit of $1,011.46 for sewer and penalty charges. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

The 28E Agreement with Helping Services states that funding will be used for providing substance abuse and domestic abuse services to individuals and families. Brenno made a motion to authorize the $1,250 payment to Helping Services and declared it meets a public purpose in accordance with the 28E Agreement. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve a resolution authorizing transfer of funds for FY 2022 – December Transfers. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made a motion to reschedule the January 3, 2022 Council Meeting to January 5, 2022. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Updated budget worksheets were distributed to Council. Council will review the numbers and will schedule a worksession after the next meeting.

Carman reported the positivity rate for Howard County is 13.8% for COVID-19. Omicron variant is widespread. RHS continues administering vaccines and boosters. Currently 48.6% are vaccinated. There have been 24 deaths. Iowa has breakouts in 19 long-term care facilities. Hospitals are still overwhelmed. Elton reported the Federal Appellate Court Panel lifted the stay of the OSHA Vaccine and Testing Mandate. The City of Cresco will be required to follow the mandates since we will have more than 100 employees. Unvaccinated employees will need to wear masks and perform weekly COVID tests at their own expense. There is still a chance this decision could be appealed.

Brenno made the motion to go into Closed Session at 5:56 pm pursuant to Iowa Code 20.17 (3) Strategy Meeting to discuss Union Negotiations Matters. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Brenno made the motion to go into Open Session at 7:40 pm. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes. No formal action was taken during the closed session.

Fortune moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 7:40 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Bouska
City Clerk Michelle Elton

2021 City Council Agendas, Minutes