October 7, 2019

Posted: October 4, 2019 | Updated: October 16, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   OCTOBER 7, 2019

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.

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Approval of Minutes from September 16, 2019
  4. Approval of Minutes from September 19, 2019 Worksession
  1. Approval of Pay Request #4 – Final for Croell, Inc. for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction Project for $83,506.28

 

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

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

 

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

 

  1. School Superintendent Ted Ihns to Discuss School Bond Referendum
  2. Set Public Hearing for Budget Amendment #2 for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2019
  3. Awarding of Hotel/Motel Tax Grants for Tourism Projects
  4. Set Interest Rate for Assessments on the 2nd Street East Reconstruction Project
  5. Review Recommendation from WHKS to Accept the 2nd Street East Reconstruction
  6. Resolution Accepting the 2nd Street East Reconstruction
  7. Resolution Ordering Preparation of Final Plat and Schedule of Assessments for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction
  8. Review Final Assessment Plat & Schedule
  9. Resolution Adopting and Levying Final Schedule of Assessments, and Providing for the Payment Thereof for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction
  10. Resolution Fixing Date for a Public Hearing on the Proposal to Convey Real Property to Jeremy and Laura Miller, and Providing for Publication of Notice Thereof
  11. Set Public Hearing to Amend the City of Cresco Code of Ordinances by Adding a New Chapter Pertaining to Solar Energy Systems
  12. First Reading of Summary of Proposed Ordinance 480 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by Adding a New Chapter Pertaining to Solar Energy Systems

 

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 OCTOBER 4, 2019.

MINUTES

Mayor Bohle called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on October 7, 2019, at 7:00 pm at City Hall. Council Members Brenno, McCarville, 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 of the September 16 and 19, 2019 meetings; pay request #4-final for Croell Inc for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction Project for $83,506.28. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Freidhof reported: (a) the Vernon Road project has started. Mehmert Tiling is the subcontractor for Skyline and has installed the 6” tile line on the west side and is installing the watermain this week. Skyline is starting removals and will do the storm sewer this week so everything is on schedule if the weather holds out; (b) the tree inventory was completed and we should be able to download the DNR report to our GIS mapping system so we can edit and keep it updated; (c) quotes were sent out for the removal of the final 69 ash trees in the boulevards; (d) working on the tree grant application; (e) some of the tile lines are done for the sump pump drainage issues. Still working with a couple property owners to get that project finished.

Police Chief Ruroden submitted the monthly police report. The STEP program was conducted over the holiday weekend. Officers are completing online trainings.

City Clerk Girolamo reported she finally finished the budget amendment because new things kept coming up so the public hearing will be postponed to the next council meeting. The Annual Financial Report that is due December 1st is supposed to be released tomorrow. Several programming issues have delayed the release. She will finish it as soon as it’s released because the Auditor needs the submitted report to finish the Audit. She is starting the budgeting process for next year.

Fortune submitted the Theatre Line Up for the next six weeks. In addition to newly released movies each week, there are six live entertainment events scheduled including the Whitesidewalls and a Neil Diamond Tribute. There will also be a horror movie shown at midnight 10/26/19.

School Superintendent Ted Ihns informed the Council on the upcoming School Bond Referendum at the election on November 5, 2019 for $23.6 million. The proposal is to make the elementary school into a Pre-K through 5th grade and the high school would be 6th through 12th grade. Improvements include installing secure entrances in both buildings, add a 6-8 wing, add a half a gym, remodel girls & boys locker rooms, connect the weight room and alternative learning classroom and office to eliminate the portable buildings, move Pre-K from Kessel Kids to the school, and build a new auditorium. Fortune questioned the declining enrollment and capacity issues. Ihns responded that the forecast shows a projected increase in enrollment. The impact on Kessel Kids was discussed. Freidhof questioned if the addition would extend out onto Schroder Drive. The street and utilities would need to be moved and the City would need to consider vacating the street because the City is not in a position to replace it. If this would pass, construction would begin Fall of 2020 and completed by Fall 2022. There was discussion on the property tax levy impacts. A tax calculator and all of the information is available on the School’s website. Ihns did not intend to tell people how to vote but wants all voters to make informed decisions at the election.

Bouska made a motion to set a Public Hearing for October 21, 2019 for Budget Amendment #2 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

This quarter Hotel/Motel Tax of $4,103.75 was received with three grant requests for $5,000. Brenno made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Cresco Tourism Advisory Committee and award grants to: IA Wrestling Hall of Fame $1,500 to update the mural; Santa Parade $400; Kellow House roof repairs $3,000. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to set the interest rate for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction assessments at 3.28% which is 1% higher than the rate the City would have currently paid for a bond. Assessments can be paid interest-free within 30 days of the letter notifying them of their final assessment. Brenno seconded and McCarville, Bouska, Fortune and Brenno voted aye. Carman voted nay. The motion passed by majority vote.

WHKS submitted a notification of project completion for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction. They recommend the Council accept the project construction and authorize final payment to the contractor. Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution accepting the 2nd Street East Reconstruction. McCarville seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution ordering preparation of Final Plat and Schedule of Assessments for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

The Final Plat and Schedule of Assessments for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction project was reviewed. Final expenses were less than the preliminary assessment figures so the 21 property owners’ assessments will be $51,400 lower and the City’s cost is $76,200 less. A notice will be published twice and letters will be mailed to the property owners giving them 30 days to pay. Unpaid assessments will be added to the property taxes to be repaid over ten years with 3.28% interest. Bouska made a motion to approve the resolution adopting and levying Final Schedule of Assessments, and providing for the payment thereof for the 2nd Street East Reconstruction. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made a motion to approve the resolution fixing date for a Public Hearing for October 21, 2019 on the proposal to convey real property to Jeremy and Laura Miller, and providing for publication of notice thereof. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Brenno made a motion to set a Public Hearing for October 21, 2019 to amend the City of Cresco Code of Ordinances by adding a new chapter pertaining to Solar Energy Systems. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Mayor Bohle performed the first Reading of a summary of proposed Ordinance 480 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, by adding a new chapter pertaining to Solar Energy Systems. Fortune made the motion to approve the first reading. McCarville seconded and it passed all ayes.

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

Carman moved to adjourn at 7:39 pm. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.  The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be October 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Mark Bohle
City Clerk Michelle Girolamo

Documents

2019 City Council Agendas, Minutes