City Council – March 2, 2026 Agenda & Minutes

Posted: February 27, 2026 | Updated: March 13, 2026

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                          THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                    MARCH 2, 2026

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, WOLFE, 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 February 16, 2026
  4. Minutes from February 23, 2026 Special Meeting
  5. Approval of Class B Retail Alcohol License to DOLGENCORP, LLC d/b/a Dollar General #2400
  6. Approval of Street Closing for a HOCA Shamrock Run 5K on March 14, 2026 for

Portions of North Elm St between North and South Park Place; and Parade Route for the

5K Walk/Run Event for Portions of 3 rd Ave East, 8th St East, York St, 7th Ave East, 8 th Ave East , 8th Ave West, 2nd St West, and 2nd Ave West

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 ofthe agenda is for comments that are not related to one ofthe 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 speakfrom the podium.)

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

1.¯ Library Director Jordyn Moore to Present the Annual Update on the Library

  1. Gerald Moellers to Discuss Subdividing of Property Located on Airport Road
  2. Resolution Accepting the Scene Shop Project for the Cresco Theatre and Opera House
  3. Approval of Pay Request #10 (Final) for $28,855.00 to Dave’s Complete Construction for the Scene Shop Project
  4. Discuss Large Picnic Tables
  5. Possible Approval of Resolution Approving the Donation of Picnic Tables to Howard County Agricultural Society
  6. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Council Representatives to Sign an Agreement in Accordance with the Terms Agreed to in Negotiations Between the City of Cresco and Local 1068 American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO
  7. Request for Sewer Adjustment for Water not Entering the Sanitary Sewer System from Jane Callahan

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  1. Set Public Hearing for Proposed Property Tax Levy for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2027 (April 6 special meeting at 5:00 pm)

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 FEBRUARY 27, 2026.

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MINUTES

Mayor Fortune called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on March 2, 2026 at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Wolfe, 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 February 16, 2026 meeting; minutes from the February 23, 2026 special meeting; Class B Retail Alcohol License to DOLGENCORP, LLC, d/b/a Dollar General #2400; Street Closing for portions of N Elm St between N Park Pl and S Park Pl and parade route for portions of 3rd Ave E, 8th St E, York St, 7th Ave E, 8th Ave E, 8th Ave W, 2nd St W, and 2nd Ave W for a HOCA Shamrock Run 5K Fun Run on March 14th. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Brenno reported: (a) Water Dept repaired a watermain break by Suzie Q’s. Water temperature is about 40 degrees and rising; (b) Street Dept has been busy with the snowstorm and cleanup. They have also been working on cleaning storm sewer intakes; (c) will need to discuss parking on 7th St W at a future meeting.

Police Chief Ruroden submitted the February Police report.

City Clerk Hill reported: (a) busy finishing up with budget, amendment, and Urban Revitalization Plan; (b) there are less than 20 meters left to change out. We did surcharges on two with final letters sent to the rest; (c) upcoming events at the Theatre include the Root River Jam on March 21, Faith and Four Letter Words on April 1, Joseph Hall on November 21 and Lorie Line on December 22.

Carman provided an update on the Chamber meeting. The pub crawl is scheduled for March 14th. A ribbon cutting for Plantpeddler will take place on March 19th, with the grand opening running March 19–21. The Pheasants Forever Banquet is set for March 28th, and the Wrestling Hall of Fame banquet will be held on April 13th. The HCBT Banquet is scheduled for May 12th with Debi Durham from the Iowa Economic Development Authority speaking, along with Sheriff Busch. Three Family Fun Nights have been scheduled. The first will be May 19 at the Fitness Center, with two additional events planned for later in the summer. The Fair Board has begun fundraising for a new area called “Grandpa Tom’s Barne,” which will feature an interactive space for younger children.

Kriener reported on an Economic Development meeting. Riceville is hosting a trail run fundraiser for their bike trail called the Iron Horse Race. It is a Boston Marathon qualifying event. The Chester Travel Plaza will be doing some major upgrades in the upcoming months.

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

Mayor Fortune recognized three employees with service anniversaries in March and thanked them for their dedication and years of full-time service to the City and residents: Grant Doeppke – Police Dept 3 years; TJ Casper – Fitness Center 3 years; Rita Hrdlicka – City Hall 2 year.

Library Director Moore was unable to attend the meeting. She will attend at a future meeting to present the annual library update.

Gerald Moellers explained that he has recently purchased a property just north of the airport. He would like to sell off some of the property and he would possibly have to follow the subdivision rules and would like Council to waive the requirements. If required, all utilities such as water, sewer, storm sewer and curb and gutter would need to be installed. Council would like to have legal opinion on waiving the requirements prior to making any decision.

Hill explained that the Scene Shop Project is now complete. The original contract price was $614,000, but due to change orders the final cost was $577,100. Fosaaen made a motion to approve the resolution accepting the Scene Shop Project for the City of Cresco Theatre and Opera House. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made a motion to approve the Pay Request #10 (final) for $28,855.00 to Dave’s Complete Construction for the Scene Shop Project. Wolfe seconded and it passed all ayes.

Previously, the Park Board discussed selling the tables due to maintenance and liability issues. Council members where concerned about public use if they were sold. Hill explained that Howard County Agricultural Society would like to obtain the large picnic tables, but also had concerns about renting the tables to the general public. They have been storing and maintaining them for several years and would continue to allow the tables to be used for public events such as the Fly-In Breakfast and Harvest Fest. McConnell made a motion declaring there is no valid public purpose for the City of Cresco to retain ownership and approved a resolution authorizing the donation of the large picnic tables to the Howard County Agricultural Society. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Council Representatives to sign an agreement in accordance with the terms agreed to in negotiations between the City of Cresco and Local 1068 American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Fosaaen made the motion to approve a sewer credit of $95.18 for Jane Callahan for water not entering the sanitary sewer system due to a broken outside water faucet. Wolfe seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made a motion to set a Public Hearing for April 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM for the proposed property tax levy for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. This meeting is to comply with the requirements for the budget process and the only item of business on the agenda will be the Public Hearing. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 5:58 pm. Kriener seconded, and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be March 16, 2026, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Alexander Fortune
City Clerk Nicole Hill

Documents

2026 City Council Agendas, Minutes