City Council – August 18, 2025 Agenda & Minutes

Posted: August 15, 2025 | Updated: August 26, 2025

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   AUGUST 18, 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.

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Minutes from August 4, 2025
  4. Minutes from August 12, 2025 Goal Setting Session
  5. Approval of Street Closing for Fun Run/Walk on August 22, 2025 for Portions of 1st Ave West; and Parade Route for the Walk/Run Event for Portions of 1st Ave West, 8th St East, 3rd Ave East, and North Elm St
  6. Approval of Special Class C Retail Alcohol to Cresco Chamber of Commerce d/b/a Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest
  1. Approval of Class B Retail Alcohol License to Kwik Trip, Inc. d/b/a Kwik Star #428 (change of ownership)

 

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: (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.

  1. Discuss Request from Cresco Community Theatre to Waive Rental Fee
  2. Discuss Request to Vacate Undeveloped Portion of the Alley Behind 228 N Elm Street and Possible Recommendation to Refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission to Study the Request and to Make a Recommendation to the Council
  3. Discuss Request to Vacate Undeveloped Portion of 9th Avenue East and Possible Recommendation to Refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission to Study the Request and to Make a Recommendation to the Council
  4. Discuss Request to Vacate Undeveloped Portion of 11th Avenue East and Possible Recommendation to Refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission to Study the Request and to Make a Recommendation to the Council
  5. Review Airport Shed Quotes and Possible Award of Contract
  6. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Enter into an Agreement for Codification Services with Local Government Professional Services, Inc DBA Iowa Codification
  7. Recommendation of Boards and Commissions to Appoint Members for a Term of Three Years Expiring 6/30/2028:
    1. Planning and Zoning Commission to Reappoint Richard Schorr
    2. Planning and Zoning Commission to Appoint Codey Hayek
  8. Motion to Declare a Public Purpose for the $12,500 Payment to Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund in Accordance with the 28E Agreement
  9. Second Reading of Proposed Ordinance No. 518 to Amend Chapter 69.09 Sections 01, 02, 03, and adding Section 05, 06, and 07 in the City of Cresco Code of Ordinances Pertaining to Parking Regulations
  10. Discuss City Hall Closed Dates for Conversion
  11. Discuss Nonfunctioning Water Shut Off’s and Auto-Disconnect Water Meters

 

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 AUGUST 15, 2025.

MINUTES

Mayor Fortune called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on August 18, 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 August 4, 2025 meeting; minutes from the August 12, 2025 goal setting session with a correction to Kriener’s arrival time; street closing for Color Fun Run/Walk event on August 22, 2025 for portions of 1st Ave West; and parade route for the 5K walk/run event for portions of 1st Ave West, 8th St East, 3rd Ave East, and North Elm St; Special Class C Retail Alcohol License to Cresco Chamber of Commerce d/b/a Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest; Class B Retail Alcohol License to Kwik Trip Inc d/b/a Kwik Star #428 (change of ownership). Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Brenno reported: (a) public works staff have been dealing with the excessive rain and several trees that went down; (b) met with Lucas and Julian from Hawkeye Sanitation on a dumpster and roll off ordinance; (c) attended the hazardous mitigation meeting on August 6th. That was the last one before adopting the plan; (d) would like to update the mowing and weed ordinance to put a notice in the newspaper once a year and not have to send reminders and to have residents trim the alley trees. The current ordinance for trees has the homeowner being responsible for the first eight feet of the boulevard trees and would like to add the alleys.

Police Chief Ruroden had nothing to report.

City Clerk Hill reported: (a) monthly financials were included in the packet. Busy working on the Annual Finance, Street Finance, and Urban Renewal Reports; (b) goal setting session went well. A draft version of the Comprehensive Plan will be prepared and reviewed this fall; (c) audit went well; (d) getting ready for conversion; (e) next meeting will be Wednesday, September 3rd.

Mayor Fortune asked for comments from the audience. Jason Passmore updated Council on many events planned for Harvest Fest August 22-24th.

Kelly Bartling with the Cresco Community Theatre requested the rental fee be waived for the Wizard of Oz performances. She explained that all of the profit will be given back to the city as a donation for the Scene Shop Project. City Clerk Hill explained that CCT is already given a discounted rate for the use of the building, and the rental fee is put into their operating fund to offset operating expenses. Kriener made a motion to deny the request but would like to have CCT come back for the next meeting to provide an update on fundraising. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

A letter was received from Mike and Donna Vsetecka requesting the Council to vacate the undeveloped alley behind 228 N Elm St. The Council determined that the property serves no public purpose and would never be used for a future alley. McConnell made the motion to recommend the Planning & Zoning Commission study the request and make a recommendation to the Council. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

A letter was received from Gatlin and Ashlyn Keehner requesting the Council to vacate an undeveloped portion of 9th Avenue East. The Council determined that the property serves no public purpose and would never be used for a future street. Bouska made the motion to recommend the Planning & Zoning Commission study the request and make a recommendation to the Council. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

A letter was received from Jeffrey Freidhof requesting the Council to vacate an undeveloped portion of 11th Ave East. 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. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Council reviewed two quotes for constructing a lean-to at the airport to store a lawn mower. Brady Norman of B & K Contractors raised concerns about recent changes to the project specifications. Fosaaen made a motion to ensure that all contractors receive the same specifications and that the quotes be reviewed again once that is done. Carman seconded the motion, and it passed and it passed all ayes.

Carman made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to enter into an agreement for codification services with Local Government Professional Services, Inc DBA Iowa Codification. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made a motion to approve the recommendation of the respective Boards and Commissions and appoint members for terms of three years expiring June 30, 2028 as follows: Planning and Zoning to reappoint Richard Schorr; and Planning and Zoning to appoint Codey Hayek. Fosaaen seconded and it passed all ayes.

The 28E Agreement with Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund states that funding will be used for providing access to well-maintained, safe, and affordable housing for individuals and families with limited resources in Northeast Iowa. Carman made a motion to authorize the $12,500 payment to Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund and declared it meets a public purpose in accordance with the 28E Agreement. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Mayor Fortune performed the second reading of the summary of proposed Ordinance 518 which amends chapter 69.09 sections 01, 02, 03 and adding section 05, 06, and 07 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Cresco, Iowa, pertaining to parking regulations. Bouska made the motion to approve the second reading. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Hill explained that with the upcoming software conversion, staff would like to close City Hall to make sure everything balances. Council is in favor of it and will discuss dates when it gets closer.

Hill explained that there is a property with a delinquent water bill that the water shut-off valve has become entangled with a boulevard tree. Due to the tree, its root ball, and nearby fiber lines, the Water Department believes it’s not feasible to repair or replace the shut-off valve. This would also require the City to remove a healthy tree at the City’s expense. The proposed solution is to install a new meter that allows City Hall staff to disconnect the water remotely. The property owner would still be responsible for the cost of the new meter. Council will evaluate requests for electronic shut-off meters individually, on a case-by-case basis. Bouska made the motion to purchase the electronic shut-off meter and bill it to the homeowner for account 4019005. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 6:45 pm. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be September 3, 2025, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Alexander Fortune
City Clerk Nicole Hill

Documents

2025 City Council Agendas, Minutes