September 8, 2021

Posted: September 7, 2021 | Updated: August 29, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   SEPTEMBER 8, 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 August 16, 2021
  4. Approval of Minutes from August 16, 2021 Special Meeting
  5. Approval of Minutes from August 30, 2021 Special Meeting
  6. Approval of Class C Liquor License (LC) with Sunday Sales and Outdoor Service to Barbara E. Holstrom d/b/a The Pub
  7. Approval of Cigarette/Tobacco Permit Applications for Big Daddy Hideaway Corp. dba Sweeney’s Lounge
  1. Approval of Parade Permit for CHS Homecoming Parade for parts of Schroder Drive, 3rd Ave E, and N Elm Street on September 17, 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. Resolution Approving Loan Agreement for Loan of Funds by the Cresco Industrial Development Corporation and the City of Cresco to Kevin & Carol Lundt d/b/a The Broken Road Grill & Bar, LLC
  2. Hawkeye Sanitation to Discuss Current Contract and Impact of New Totes on Garbage Collection
  3. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign an Amendment to the Economic Development Assistance Contract Between Donaldson Company Inc, the City of Cresco, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority
  4. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign an Iowa Safety Education Program Participant Agreement with Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities
  5. Resolution Accepting the Annual Financial Report of the City of Cresco, Iowa for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and Directing the Clerk to File the Report with the Iowa Auditor of State
  6. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a Joint Agreement – Amendment No. 3. with Howard County for the Howard County Wind Farm Urban Renewal Plan
  7. Review Insurance Quotes and Possible Award of Contract
  8. Discuss Capital Improvement Plan
  9. 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 SEPTEMBER 7, 2021.

MINUTES

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on September 8, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Brenno, McConnell, Bouska, and Carman were present. Council Member Fortune was absent.

Carman made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from August 16th regular and special meeting and August 30th special meeting; Class C Liquor License (LC) with Sunday sales and outdoor service to Barbara E. Holstrom dba The Pub; Cigarette/Tobacco Permit for Big Daddy Hideaway Corp. dba Sweeney’s Lounge; Parade Permit for CHS Homecoming Parade for parts of Schroder Drive, 3rd Ave E, and N Elm Street on September 17, 2021. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Widell reported (a) City of Elma’s wastewater plant was flooded out so they have taken 5,000 gallons of our activated sludge to get their plant up and running again; (b) chipsealing will be finished early next week; (c) the patch was repaired on 3rd Street West but did not find anything out of the ordinary; (d) Dean has been out on medical leave the last few weeks so we’ve been working together to get everything done in the Street Department; (e) Perry Novak Electric will replace the anchor bolt on the stop light pole in the next couple of weeks. This is covered by insurance from the wind storm damage; (f) Northway will be here in the next two weeks to do the well re-casing on Well #3 in Kessel.

Police Chief Ruroden submitted the August police report. They had a very successful National Night Out with good attendance. Officers are busy working on several felony cases.

City Clerk Elton reported (a) she is having computer issues. They wiped it clean, so now is having email problems; (b) working with EMC claims adjuster on the July 27th wind damage claim. We had about $28,000 of damages; (c) Bill and Brandon are installing concrete bean bag boards, paid for by sponsors, in three of the parks; (d) a bid opening was held today for a housing rehab project but no bids were submitted. We may need to forfeit grant funds since we can’t find contractors to work on the project; (e) we applied for a grant for the Fitness Center for lost revenue due to COVID; (f) we already received the Shuttered Venue Grant of $44,000 for the Theatre and can now apply for additional $22,000; (g) Teresa and I will attend the Iowa League of Cities annual conference next week.

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska asked for comments from the audience. Angela Bries asked for an update on the nuisance abatement process for a complaint filed on a neighbor’s property. She also complained about other properties. The complaints were recorded and nuisance abatement letters will be sent.

Jason Passmore introduced Kevin & Carol Lundt. They purchased the Southside Bar and are remodeling the building and preparing to open a new restaurant and bar. They hope to open in the next month or two. Brenno made a motion to approve the Loan Agreement for a loan of $50,000 by the Cresco Industrial Development Corporation and the City of Cresco to Kevin & Carol Lundt dba The Broken Road Grill & Bar, LLC. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Hawkeye Sanitation requested Council to extend the current garbage and recycling contract for an additional five years from the current expiration date of December 31, 2022. They are proposing purchasing 65-gallon totes for all customers for garbage and charge $5 per month rent. Additional prepaid garbage bags can be purchased for $5 each. They are also considering purchasing an additional 65-gallon tote for comingled recycling and charge $5 per month rent. They requested the commitment before they order the totes and the new or modified truck. They are experiencing a lot of issues with bags of garbage ripped open and garbage strewn around. Some customers are leaving excessive garbage and big items for collection. They also spend a lot of time at collection sorting the recycling and leaving the unacceptable items. The Landfill penalizes for unacceptable items hidden in the garbage. The Winneshiek Landfill has some of the highest tipping fees and Cresco waste is required to use that landfill. Totes would be required for all customers and be put out the night before collection days or at least by 6 am. Council understands why Hawkeye Sanitation would like to implement the totes. However, Council was very concerned with an additional charge of $10 per month on top of the garbage and recycling fees. Council requested time to consider the request before committing. It will be discussed again at future council meetings.

Carman made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an amendment to the Economic Development Assistance Contract Between Donaldson Company Inc, the City of Cresco, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Brenno made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an Iowa Safety Education Program Participant Agreement with Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made a motion to approve the resolution accepting the Annual Financial Report of the City of Cresco, Iowa for the fiscal year 2020-2021 and directing the Clerk to file the Report with the Iowa Auditor of State. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a Joint Agreement – Amendment No. 3. with Howard County for the Howard County Wind Farm Urban Renewal Plan. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

The Insurance Committee presented a comparison of property and liability insurance from EMC and ICAP. Carman made a motion to renew the insurance policy with EMC Insurance Companies. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. McConnell made a motion to appoint O’Donnell Insurance as the Agent of Record. Bouska seconded and McConnell, Bouska, and Brenno voted aye. Carman voted nay. The motion passed by majority vote.

Council reviewed the Council and Mayor rankings for the various projects in the Capital Improvement Plan. Council will review the project list again and discuss further at a special meeting on September 20, 2021 immediately following the regular meeting.

Carman reported Howard County has a 6% positivity rate for COVID-19. Visitor restrictions have been reinstated at the hospital and nursing homes. They are recommending booster shots 8 months after the 2nd vaccination shot unless you are immune-compromised.

Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 7:10 pm. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be September 20, 2021, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Bouska
City Clerk Michelle Elton

Documents

2021 City Council Agendas, Minutes