Posted: January 3, 2025 | Updated: January 20, 2025
AGENDA
NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA
DATE OF MEETING: JANUARY 6, 2025
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: CARMAN, BOUSKA, FOSAAEN, McCONNELL, KRIENER
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
- Minutes from December 16, 2024
- Approval of Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) to Cuautla Jalisco II, Inc
- Approval of Street Closing for Portions of 2nd Ave East for the Notre Dame School Lasagna Supper on January 24, 2025
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.
- Brian Stark from Martin Gardner Architecture to Update on the Scene Shop Project
- Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Sign a Right-of-Entry for Construction for the Scene Shop Project with MB Inc (Revised from Resolution #122402)
- Resolution Ordering Construction of the Cresco Theatre and Opera House and Fixing a Date for Hearing Theron and Taking of Bids Therefor
- Discuss Request to Vacate Undeveloped Portion of F Street and Possible Recommendation to Refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission to Study the Request and to Make a Recommendation to the Council
- Motion to Award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants for Tourism Projects
- Motion to Declare a Public Purpose for the $20,000 Payment to Howard County Business & Tourism in Accordance with the 28E Agreement
- Review Stump Grinding Quotes and Possible Award of Contract
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 JANUARY 3, 2025.
MINUTES
Mayor Fortune called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on January 6, 2025 at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Bouska, Fosaaen, McConnell, and Kriener 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 16, 2024 meeting; Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) to Cuautla Jalisco II, Inc; street closing for portions of 2nd Ave East for the Notre Dame School Lasagna Supper on January 24, 2025. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
Public Works Director Brenno reported: (a) Street Department has taken down the Christmas decorations. Some got damaged when we had the wind storm in December; (b) completed replacing the sewer main behind Plantpeddlar; (c) Water Department had a main break at the fairgrounds. In 2024, there were seven water main breaks, compared to ten in 2023 and eight in 2022; (d) had four-inch snow event on December 20th. There was over 100 hours of labor to plow the streets and haul 109 loads of snow away; (e) Hazard Mitigation Plan meeting has been rescheduled to January 7th.
Police Chief Ruroden submitted the December Police report. K-9 Officer EmmyLou is performing well and has been utilized on several occasions.
City Clerk Hill reported: (a) busy with calendar-year end, W-2’s and 1099’s; (b) had the first meeting of the steering committee to update the comp plan. There were 24 people in attendance and good ideas shared for the community survey that will go out; (c) there was no loan forgiveness on the Aging Equipment Project; (d) second budget worksession is January 8th.
Mayor Fortune asked for comments from the audience and there were none.
Mayor Fortune recognized two employees with service anniversaries in January and thanked them for their dedication and years of service to the City and residents: Blake Welper – Police Dept 3 years; Cody Courtney – Street Dept 14 years.
Brian Stark from Martin Gardner Architecture updated Council on the proposed Scene Shop Project. The new addition will be an energy efficient 2,500 square foot building and will include a new green room with private dressing rooms, storage, and a lift. They are ready to proceed with bid letting. The prebid meeting will be January 28th at 10 am for interested contractors with bid opening being February 11th. Council will review the bids at the February 17th meeting. Council questioned the status of the fundraising. Donations of $23,400 have been received along with $145,000 in other grants and pledges. Theatre Commission Member Kelly Bartling explained that the fundraising committee has several upcoming fundraisers such as live events, dinner shows, and a capital campaign fundraiser. The Commission and Fundraising Committee will provide Council a list of upcoming events, fundraising plans, and updated pledges at a future council meeting. Bouska would like Council and Commission members to consider the property tax cost of running the Theatre and building the Scene Shop. The General Fund Tax Levy also funds the Police, Fire, Library, Fitness Center, Parks, and City Hall and there is not enough revenue for all departments so budget cuts will need to be evaluated.
Hill explained that the resolution for right-of-entry was updated to be valid only until December 2025. At that time, MB Inc would like an update of the project and to review the right-of-entry at that time. Carman made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a right-of-entry for construction related to the Scene Shop Project with MB Inc. Fosaaen seconded. Fosaaen and Carman voted aye. Kriener, Bouska, and McConnell voted nay. The motion was not approved.
Fosaaen made the motion to approve the resolution ordering construction of the Cresco Theatre and Opera House Scene Shop and fixing a date of bids therefor. The public hearing will be February 17, 2025. Carman seconded. Fosaaen, Carman, Kriener and Bouska voted aye. McConnell voted nay. The motion passed by majority vote.
A letter was received from Rod and Annette Trachta requesting the Council to vacate the undeveloped portion of F Street. The Council determined that the property serves no public purpose and would never be used for a future street. Carman made the motion to recommend the Planning & Zoning Commission study the request and make a recommendation to the Council. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
Hotel/Motel Tax of $7,240.47 was received this quarter with three applications received for $10,500. McConnell made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Tourism Committee and award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants to: Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame $3,000 for reframing/reducing inductee biographies; $3,000 to the Chamber for 2024 Marketing Support; and Driftrunners $3,000 for Snowfest. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
The 28E Agreement with Howard County Business & Tourism states that funding will be used for advancing economic and community development and improving tourism in Howard County and the City of Cresco. Bouska made a motion to authorize the $20,000 payment to Howard County Business & Tourism and declared it meets a public purpose in accordance with the 28E Agreement. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Brenno reported three quotes for stump grinding were received: Wilson Custom Tree Service $.84 per inch; Walton Tree Service $.89 per inch; Uprooted Tree Service $3.00 per inch. Kriener made a motion to award the contract to Wilson Custom Tree Service. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 6:29 pm. Kriener seconded, and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be January 20, 2025, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.
Mayor Alexander Fortune
City Clerk Nicole Hill