November 1, 2021

Posted: October 29, 2021 | Updated: September 6, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   NOVEMBER 1, 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 October 18, 2021
  4. Approval of Street Closing Permit for Portions of 3rd Ave W, 2nd St W, Alley Between 3rd Ave W and 4th Ave W, and North Elm St for United Methodist Church Swiss Steak Dinner on November 22, 2021

 

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. Police Chief Tim Ruroden Request for Extension of Vacation Carryover
  2. Set Public Hearing to Enter into a New Contract with Hawkeye Sanitation for Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Services
  3. Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Sign the Health Insurance Contract with Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  4. Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Sign Agreement with gWorks for Software Update
  5. Resolution Extending the Deadline for Water and Wastewater Certifications
  6. 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 OCTOBER 29, 2021.

MINUTES

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on November 1, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Brenno, McConnell, Fortune, Bouska, and Carman were present. No council members were absent.

City Clerk Elton reported that Mark Bohle resigned from his position as Mayor on October 29, 2021 due to health conditions. He thanked everyone for the support and stated that he enjoyed working with the various councils, staff, and the public over the past 12 years. The Council appreciated his years of service and wished him the best.

Carman made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from October 18th meeting; street closing permit for portions of 3rd Ave W, 2nd St W, alley between 3rd Ave W and 4th Ave W, and North Elm St for United Methodist Church Swiss Steak Dinner on November 22, 2021. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Widell reported (a) Skyline is doing a point repair on the sanitary sewer in the alley behind CUSB. This was identified as the most critical repair by the CIT inspection. The storm sewer and intake is also being replaced since it crumbled when they started working on it. They will let it settle over the winter and will pour concrete next spring; (b) concrete projects should be completed this week. The City Hall sidewalk is the final project and entailed moving the intake and reshaping the street to try to help with the ponding in the intersection; (c) Northway Well has been trying to remove a pipe that is at the bottom of Well #3 but all attempts have been unsuccessful. The DNR is allowing us to leave it there and just finish re-casing the well. It will take about 4 more weeks to complete.

Police Chief Ruroden submitted the October report. He’s still working on the conditional offer made to the officer from Oregon. They will be conducting three interviews this week.

City Clerk Elton reported (a) Brian Balk is retiring from the fire department after 30 years. Everyone thanked him for his dedication and years of service; (b) Firefighter’s Pancake Supper is tomorrow night with dine-in or carryout options available; (c) started working on the budget to distribute to department heads for their initial requests; (d) working with Pat Callahan on cash flow projections for the CIP; (e) working with Ahlers & Cooney on the amendment to the Tax Abatement program; (f) had an IPERS audit last week and will have a workers comp audit this week; (g) working with Julie Chapman on new maps for the wards based on the census. The boundaries affect the County Supervisors and the City Council Members so Julie is doing most of the work; (h) computers are starting to come in from the IT Grant we received. Wendy will be doing the grant reporting and setting up the computers; (i) there are 29 additional projects on my list to do.

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

Police Chief Tim Ruroden requested an extension of time to use his vacation carryover due to staff shortages the past two years. Carman made the motion to allow the Police Chief an extension to use his 136 hours of vacation, so by December 31, 2022 he needs to be down to 120 hours. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made a motion to set the Public Hearing for November 15, 2021 to enter into a five-year contract with Hawkeye Sanitation for solid waste disposal and recycling services. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

The Wellmark BC/BS renewal premium, including the City’s self-funding premiums, increased 6.32% with the same coverage, deductible, and out-of-pocket. Brenno made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the City Clerk to sign the health insurance contract renewal with Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

The water meters need to be upgraded since they no longer make the ones we have and we are almost out of our inventory. There is a one-time fee of $3,500 to set up our accounting software to interface with the Badger Beacon Software. Brenno made a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the City Clerk to sign the agreement with gWorks for the Software Update. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made a motion to approve a resolution extending the deadline for employees to obtain Water and Wastewater Certifications until June 30, 2022. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman reported that the positivity rate for Howard County is 10% for COVID-19 so it is very active in the schools and community. All three vaccinations are available for the public and hopefully will soon be able to give Pfizer shots to 5-11 year olds. Four deaths in the county in the past month are attributed to COVID.

Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 5:44 pm. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be November 15, 2021, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Bouska
City Clerk Michelle Elton

Documents

2021 City Council Agendas, Minutes