Posted: July 2, 2020 | Updated: September 11, 2023
AGENDA
NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA
DATE OF MEETING: JULY 6, 2020
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.
- Approval of the Agenda
- Approval of the Claims
- Approval of Minutes from June 15, 2020
- Approval of Minutes from June 15, 2020 Worksession
- Approval of Street Closing Permit for Cresco Ridiculous Day for Portions of North Elm Street on July 16, 2020
STAFF REPORTS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.
- Public Works
- Police
- Administration
- Committee Updates
BUSINESS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.
- Motion to Award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants for Tourism Projects
- Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Funds for FY 2021 (July & Recurring Transfers)
- Resolution to Defer Revolving Loan Fund Payments
- Request for Sewer Adjustment for Water not Entering the Sanitary Sewer System from Allen Vrieze
- Recommendation of the Airport Commission to Appoint Bryan Schmitt for a Term of Three Years Expiring 6/30/2023
- Recommendation of the Airport Commission to Appoint Neil Mahr for a Term of Three Years Expiring 6/30/2023
- Application for Permit for Supervised Display of Fireworks from Kevin Magic for July 7, 2020 at 1115 Cambridge Street
- 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 2, 2020.
MINUTES
Mayor Bohle called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on July 6, 2020, at 7:00 pm. Council Members Brenno, McCarville, Fortune, Bouska, and Carman were present. No council members were absent.
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/nit-ewqw-ygf or by telephone +1 413-276-7208 (PIN: 632 119 323#).
Brenno made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes of the June 15, 2020 meeting and worksession; street closing permit for Cresco Ridiculous Day for portions of North Elm Street on July 16, 2020. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Public Works Director Freidhof reported Building Permits from January to June were up 130% from 2019. They were up 38% over 2018 and 35% of 2017.
Police Chief Ruroden submitted the June Police Report.
City Clerk Girolamo reported: (a) the update on the Housing Rehab Project with the first house completed except some roof repairs, the second house is almost finished, the third house will go out for bids in July, the last three houses are ready for the initial inspections; (b) the Auditors will be here next week with at least a portion of the audit performed in-person; (c) a worksession will be held July 14th at 5 pm to discuss possible ordinance changes regarding the residency requirement for public works and police employees; (d) fiscal yearend financial reports were submitted. The actual loss of $132,724 was considerably less than the budgeted $928,226 loss. There were three projects that will be carried over to next year including the well recasing, sump pump drainage, and housing rehab. Fund balances remain healthy with over $7 million in reserves. Over 60% is invested in CD’s but still earning less than 1%. Revenues came in at 97% of budget this year but anticipate next year to see more effects from COVID-19. Expenses were 89% of budget.
Bouska reported on the Housing Committee meeting. There is help for renters from Iowa Finance Authority at the website iowahousingrecovery.com. They will cover up to four months of rent for eligible households. Port-Outs have increased to fourteen. The Regional Housing Trust Fund has 17 houses and can do two more in Howard County. They had an interesting discussion regarding Oelwein’s rental inspection program.
Bouska reported Howard County Economic Development met. The Clinic has been started in Elma. Sweetcorn Days in Lime Springs has been cancelled. Regional Health Services now has a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a visiting orthopedic surgeon.
Carman reported the Chamber met and discussions were held regarding whether to hold summer events. Iowa is still rolling out grants for small businesses.
McCarville reported the Airport Commission met and are appointing two new members to replace Romane Matthias and Kim Bentz whose terms expired. They are discussing quotes received for building hangars. Members were concerned with the Amish quote; whether they can be bonded and if they carry workers comp and liability insurance. They are still working on different options and also figuring out the rent that needs to be charged.
Hotel/Motel Tax of $2,971.30 was received this quarter with one application received for $2,203.86. Fortune made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Tourism Committee and award Hotel/Motel Tax Grant to: Cresco Theatre for outdoor theatre equipment for $2,203.86. McCarville seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing transfer of funds for FY 2021 (July & recurring Transfers). Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution to defer Revolving Loan Fund payments for three months due to COVID-19. McCarville seconded and it passed all ayes.
Brenno made the motion to approve a sewer credit of $31.14 for water not entering the sanitary sewer system due to a broken outdoor faucet for Allen Vrieze. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Bouska made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Airport Commission to appoint Bryan Schmitt for a term of three years expiring 6/30/2023. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.
Brenno made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Airport Commission to appoint Neil Mahr for a term of three years expiring 6/30/2023. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Council discussed many complaints regarding fireworks over the weekend of the 4th. They will review the Iowa Code and consider not allowing the sale nor use of fireworks within the city limits for next year. Council unanimously agreed that a Tuesday night, weeknight after the holiday, would be disruptive. Bouska made the motion to deny a Permit for Supervised Display of Fireworks for Kevin Magic on July 7, 2020 at 1115 Cambridge Street. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
The Cresco Public Library will be closed for at least two weeks. There was an exposure to COVID-19 and, although no employee has tested positive, Public Health has encouraged us to close as a precaution. Council unanimously agreed that City Hall should be closed due to increased number of cases in Howard County. They also encouraged the public works departments to be split up into isolated teams again to avoid an outbreak of an entire department. We will continue to monitor the Fitness Center and Theatre and will close if social-distancing becomes too difficult or we have other concerns.
Fortune made the motion to resume charging the 10% penalty for past-due utility bills on July 13, 2020. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.
Mayor Bohle asked for comments from the audience and there were none.
Bouska moved to adjourn at 7:35 pm. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be July 20, 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