Posted: November 4, 2022 | Updated: August 24, 2023
AGENDA
NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA
DATE OF MEETING: NOVEMBER 7, 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.
- Approval of the Agenda
- Approval of the Claims
- Approval of Minutes from October 17, 2022
- Approval of Minutes from October 17, 2022 Special Meeting
- Approval of Minutes from November 1, 2022 Worksession
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.
- WHKS to Present the Proposed Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Project
- Public Hearing on Proposed Resolution of Necessity for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Project
- Resolution with Respect to the Adoption of the Resolution of Necessity Proposed for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction
- Resolution Directing Preparation of Detailed Plans and Specifications, Form of Contract and Notice to Bidders on the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction
- Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement – Amendment No. 1 with WHKS & CO. for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Project
- Request for Sewer Adjustment for Water not Entering the Sanitary Sewer System from Anna Schmauss for Legacy Gym
- Resolution Accepting Work for the Airport Runway Drainage Improvements Project
- Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. for Contract Review
- WHKS to Present the Proposed 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project
- Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. Regarding the 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project
- Preliminary Resolution for the Construction of Street, Water, Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer and Other Public Improvements in the City of Cresco, State of Iowa
- Resolution Fixing Values of Lots for the 7th Street West Reconstruction Project
- Resolution Adopting Preliminary Plat and Schedule, Estimate of Cost and Proposed Plans and Specifications for the Construction of the 7th Street West Reconstruction
- Resolution of Necessity (Proposed) for the 7th Street West Reconstruction Project
- Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Sign the Health Insurance Contract with Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Enter into a Third Party Administration Service Agreement with Employee Benefit Systems “EBS”
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 NOVEMBER 4, 2022.
MINUTES
Mayor Brenno called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on November 7, 2022, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Kriener, McConnell, Fortune, and Carman were present. Council Member Bouska was absent.
Carman made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from October 17th Council meeting and special meeting and November 1st worksession. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
Public Works Director Widell reported: (a) sludge results have been received after bulking the big storage tank with lime and will begin land-applying soon; (b) Verizon is ready to proceed with erecting a mono-pole cell tower near our small water tower in 2023; (c) the last yardwaste pick up will be November 14th.
Police Chief Ruroden submitted the October police report. Officer Blake Welper graduated from the academy with the Top Athlete Award. The new charger is now in service and the old K-9 car will be sold at Burke Auction.
City Clerk Elton reported they are working on the budget, projects, and health insurance renewal.
Mayor Brenno asked for comments from the audience and there were none.
Daren Sikkink and Scott Huneke from WHKS presented the proposed Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. They described the proposed project and calendar. Special assessment projects have several required steps to follow and the attorney has drafted the proposed resolutions. The proposed project is located on North Elm Street from 1st Ave to 3rd Ave. The project consists of replacing the existing colored crosswalks, installing ADA compliant pedestrian ramps, and replacing all existing sidewalks, valve boxes, curbs, and gutters. Some water shut-offs and storm sewer intakes may be replaced. The Engineer’s opinion of probable construction costs is $797,980 for the total project of which $251,770 is assessable to 48 property owners leaving the City’s share to be 68%. The average assessment for the 48 properties is $4,900 for 50% of the curb and gutter and 90% of the sidewalk replacement. It is anticipated to go out for bids in April for work to be completed in 2023.
Mayor Brenno opened the Public Hearing on the proposed Resolution of Necessity for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Project. Two written objections were read aloud from Jim & Connie Zahasky and from Dr. Jeffrey Leeper. Barb Prochaska, Phil Henry, and Jeff Leeper questioned why their newer sidewalks need replacing. Sikkink explained that some communities have made exceptions for properties that had recently made improvements. He said the Council could pick a number of years to go back and assess a smaller percentage to those property owners. He said typically they only go back five years and would reduce the sidewalk assessment to 50%. Alex Buls asked if only the curb, bad spots, and colored portions in the sidewalks could just be replaced. WHKS explained that in order for all of the sidewalks to be tied together and ADA compliant they were recommending replacing all sidewalks. Mark Brincks asked about water shut-offs and valve boxes and WHKS verified they would be checked and replaced if necessary. Roy Gorter encouraged the Council to move forward with the project since it has been discussed for several years and needs to be done. The public hearing was closed.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution with respect to the adoption of the resolution of necessity proposed for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction with an amendment to reduce the sidewalk assessment to 50% for properties that had replaced their sidewalks in the past nine years. There was no second to the motion so it failed.
McConnell made the motion and Fortune seconded for adoption of the resolution of necessity proposed for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction as originally presented. Fortune, Kriener, and McConnell voted aye. Carman voted nay. Because this resolution requires 75% of the full council (4 votes) to pass, this motion failed.
A full council is expected to be present at the next meeting, so there would be five voting members. Kriener made the motion to approve the resolution with respect to the adoption of the resolution of necessity proposed for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction to defer for later consideration to a Council meeting to be held on November 21, 2022 at 5:30 pm at City Hall, with jurisdiction retained for further consideration and action at the adjourned meeting. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
The resolution directing preparation of detailed plans and specifications, form of contract and notice to bidders on the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction was tabled until November 21, 2022.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Professional Services Agreement – amendment no. 1 with WHKS & Co. for the Downtown Crosswalk Reconstruction Project. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
A request was received for a credit on sewer charges from Anna Schmauss for Legacy Gym due to a broken boiler that leaked water into the basement. There were no floor drains and the water was pumped out into the alley. Kriener made the motion to approve a sewer adjustment of $126.50 for water not entering the sanitary sewer system. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution accepting work for the Airport Runway Drainage Improvements Project. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. for contract review. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Daren Sikkink from WHKS presented the projected additional costs of splitting the 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project into two smaller projects. The additional estimated cost was projected to be about $265,000 in five years. Council had discussed this at the November 1st worksession and unanimously agreed it should be done at one time as one big project.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. regarding the 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman made the motion to approve the preliminary resolution for the construction of street, water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and other public improvements in the City of Cresco, State of Iowa. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution fixing values of lots for the 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
Kriener made the motion to approve the resolution adopting preliminary plat and schedule, estimate of cost and proposed plans and specifications for the construction of the 7th Street West Reconstruction. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Fortune made the motion to approve the resolution of necessity (proposed) for the 7th Street West Reconstruction Special Assessment Project and set the public hearing for December 5, 2022 at 5:30 pm. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the City Clerk to sign the health insurance contract with Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the City Clerk to enter into a Third-Party Administration Service Agreement with Employee Benefit Systems “EBS”. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman moved to adjourn at 6:50 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be November 21, 2022, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.
Mayor: David J. Brenno
City Clerk: Michelle Elton