January 5, 2022

Posted: January 1, 2022 | Updated: August 24, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   JANUARY 5, 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.

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Approval of Minutes from December 20, 2021
  4. Approval of Minutes from December 20, 2021 Worksession
  5. Approval of Class E Liquor License, Class C Beer Permit, and Class B Wine Permit with Sunday Sales to Casey’s Marketing Company d/b/a Casey’s General Store #2511
  6. Approval of Tree Surgeon License for Rogne Spray 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 Award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants for Tourism Projects
  2. Mayor to Appoint Mayor Pro-Tem
  3. Appoint Council Members to Committees
  4. Resolution Authorizing the Termination of Agreements Between Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission and the City of Cresco, Iowa for CDBG Housing Rehab Grant Administration and Technical Services
  5. Motion to Proceed with Requesting Proposals for Grant Administration and Technical Services to Assist with a CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program
  6. Motion to Pledge $8,000 to Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund for Iowa Finance Authority Funding Application for 2023
  7. Discuss Issues Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic

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 29, 2021.

MINUTES

Mayor Brenno called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on January 5, 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 the December 20, 2021 meeting and worksession; Class E Liquor License, Class C Beer Permit, and Class B Wine Permit with Sunday sales to Casey’s Marketing Company d/b/a Casey’s General Store #2511; Tree Surgeon License for Rogne Spray LLC. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Widell reported (a) watermain break on 7th Street East and 5th Ave E was repaired yesterday after Municipal Management located the leak; (b) Northway is getting close to completion on Well #3; (c) Street Department busy with plowing and hauling snow. Residents are reminded not to push snow on neighbor’s property. Snow should also not be blown into the streets or to push it across plowed streets as it causes frozen ruts.

Police Chief Ruroden submitted his December report showing about 4,000 calls for the year. A new Police Officer will start January 17th and attend the Academy in March. Paperwork is finished on the hiring of the two Reserve Officers. Everything is going good now.

City Clerk Elton reported (a) W-2 forms have been distributed; (b) working on 1099 forms and other yearend reports; (c) working on the budget for 2023 and a budget amendment for the current year 2022.

Carman reported two part-time employees were hired to fill the open Library position. They will work evenings and Saturdays. Library was closed due to electrical outages and the weather on two days. December 30th staff training was extremely successful. Saturday Story-Times have occurred but not well attended, so they are considering pausing the program for a while amidst rising COVID cases in the area. Library events over winter break were well attended. More attendees were at the December program than they had for all the other months combined for this fiscal year. Laptops, I-Pads, and hot spots have been ordered that will be funded by the ARPA grant. Moore will be meeting with the Howard County Library Association and the Howard County Supervisors later this month.

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

Hotel/Motel Tax of $6,883.35 was received this quarter and two applications were received for $6,650. McConnell made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Cresco Tourism Advisory Committee and award grants to: Driftrunners Snowmobile Club $4,000 for Snowfest; HC Business & Tourism for a Bronze Statue $2,400. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Mayor Brenno appointed Amy Bouska as the Mayor Pro-Tem.

Council Members were appointed to committees and board liaisons as follows:  Public Works – Kriener, Fortune, Widell, Elton, Brenno; Fire – McConnell, Kriener, Brenno; Tourism – Bouska, Carman; CIDC – McConnell, Brenno; Chamber – Carman; HCED – Bouska; Revolving Loan – Elton; IRP – Kriener, Brenno; Park & Rec – McConnell; Library – Carman; Theatre – Fortune; Airport – McConnell, Widell; Board of Adjustments – Widell; Planning & Zoning – Widell; Public Safety – Brenno; Upper Explorerland Regional Housing Authority Board – Bouska; Housing Committee – Bouska.

Bouska made the motion to approve a resolution authorizing the termination of agreements between Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission and the City of Cresco, Iowa for CDBG Housing Rehab Grant Administration and Technical Services. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made a motion to proceed with requesting proposals for Grant Administration and Technical Services to assist with a CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made a motion to pledge $8,000 to Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund for Iowa Finance Authority Funding Application for 2023. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman reported the Omicron variant is here and is more contagious but less severe. People with boosters appear to be less apt to become infected. Working with businesses sorting out the OSHA mandates and new CDC guidelines. Howard County has an 8% positivity rate for COVID-19. One area facility is in outbreak status.

Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 5:57 pm. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be January 17, 2022, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

Mayor: David Brenno
City Clerk: Michelle Elton

 

Documents

2022 City Council Agendas, Minutes