Posted: July 18, 2025 | Updated: August 1, 2025
NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA
DATE OF MEETING: JULY 21, 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 July 7, 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.
- Resolution Accepting the 7th Street West Reconstruction Project
- Resolution Ordering Preparation of Final Plat and Schedule of Assessments for the 7th Street West Reconstruction Project
- Review Final Assessment Plat & Schedule
- Resolution Adopting and Levying Final Schedule of Assessments, and Providing for the Payment Thereof for the 7th Street West Reconstruction Project
- Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. for the 2025 Amended and Restated Urban Revitalization Plan
- Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Enter into a Minimum Assessment Agreement with Brenton and Sarah Holten
- Motion to Approve Application for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Cynthia M Hoines Trust
- Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Enter into a Minimum Assessment Agreement with Cynthia M Hoines Trust
- Resolution Approving Change Order No. 2 for the Scene Shop Project for the City of Cresco, Iowa
- Motion to Hire Samantha Munkel for the Custodian Position
- Discuss Projects Not Completed and Possible Budget Amendment
- Recommendation of Library Board of Trustees to Appoint Karn Friedges for a Term of Three Years Expiring 6/30/2028
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 JULY 18, 2025.
MINUTES
Mayor Fortune called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on July 21, 2025 at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Bouska, Fosaaen, McConnell, and Kriener were present. No council members were absent.
Bouska made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from the July 7, 2025 meeting. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Public Works Director Brenno reported: (a) the public works staff had a safety training on backhoe safety, respiratory hazards, and general equipment safety; (b) Street Dept is chip sealing and they will be replacing the storm sewer by Subway this week; (c) sidewalk in front of Leutholds was replaced last week under warranty from the Downtown Crosswalk project; (d) emailed out information on how other cities handle dumpsters and roll offs on streets; (e) reminded the public to not flush the “flushable” wipes in the toilets and to keep grass clippings off the street.
Police Chief Ruroden had nothing to report for the police department.
City Clerk Hill reported: (a) updated the ward maps on the website; (b) first online open meetings training will be August 15th from 12-1:30 pm. This is a new requirement for all members of governmental bodies that were appointed after July 1, 2025; (c) the next hazard mitigation meeting is August 6th at 5:30 pm; (d) August 12th will be a goal setting open house from 4-7 pm for the comp plan update. This is open to the public and encourage all to attend.
McConnell reported on the Park Board meeting. They interviewed for the open board position. They have completed their alarm system upgrade and new carpets have been installed in the lobby and hallway area. They are looking at replacing the tiles around the spa area next. A local employer unfortunately stopped allowing membership fees to be deducted from paychecks, which resulted in the loss of several members. Council will be provided an update on the new building project this fall. There are 189 24/7 memberships. They also discussed allowing the pickleball players to have a shed at the court and the board was not in favor of it. Council will be provided an update on the new building project this fall. Two options for replacing the playground equipment at Evans Park and making it more accessible were given to Council.
Mayor Fortune asked for comments from the audience and there were none.
Scott from WHKS explained that the 7th Street Reconstruction Project has been completed. They recommend the Council accept the project construction and authorize final payment to the contractor. Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution accepting work on the 7th Street West Reconstruction Project. Fosaaen seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman made the motion to approve the resolution ordering preparation of the final plat and schedule of assessments for the 7th Street West Reconstruction. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
The Final Plat and Schedule of Assessments for 7th Street West Reconstruction project was reviewed. Final assessable expenses were less than the preliminary assessment figures. The affected property owners’ assessments will be approximately 12% lower than the preliminary estimate. 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 5.1% interest.
Fosaaen made the motion to approve the resolution adopting and levying final schedule of assessments, and providing for the payment thereof. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Kriener made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Engagement Agreement with Ahlers and Cooney, PC to perform services for the 2025 Amended and Restated Urban Revitalization Plan. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a minimum assessment agreement with Brenton and Sarah Holten. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Bouska made the motion to approve a Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Cynthia M Hoines Trust. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.
Kriener made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a minimum assessment agreement with the Cynthia M Hoines Trust. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Kriener made the motion to approve a resolution approving Change Order No. 2 for the Scene Shop Project for revisions to the fire wall and additional connection support totaling a negative $9,335.00. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.
McConnell made the motion to hire Samantha Munkel for the custodian position for $15.00/hour. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.
City Clerk Hill explained budgeted expenses came in for each department as follows: Fitness Center 96%, Park 90%, Library 97%, Police 95%, Theatre 78%, Fire 96%, Water 93%, and Sewer 83%. Some are lower than expected due to projects that didn’t get completed.
Council reviewed the list of projects that were not completed in the last fiscal year. McConnell made a motion to do a budget amendment for this current fiscal year 2026 to finish the projects. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Kriener made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Library Board of Trustees to appoint Karn Friedges for a term expiring 6/30/28. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.
Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 5:57 pm. McConnell seconded, and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be August 4, 2025, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.
Mayor Alexander Fortune
City Clerk Nicole Hill