City Council – November 3, 2025 Agenda & Minutes

Posted: October 31, 2025 | Updated: November 14, 2025

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                  NOVEMBER 3, 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 October 20, 2025
  4. Approval of Street Closing Permit for Portions of 3rd Ave W, 2nd St W, Alley Between 3rd Ave W and 4th Ave W, and North Elm St for United Methodist Church Fall Dinner on November 24, 2025

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. Chris Troendle from Upper Explorerland to Discuss Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund
  2. Kris Einck to Discuss Request to Vacate Schroeder Drive and Possible

Recommendation to Refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission to Study the

Request and to Make a Recommendation to the Council

  1. Motion to Waive the Building Permit Fee for the Howard Winneshiek Community School District Building Project
  2. Resolution Approving Change Order No. 4 for the Scene Shop Project for the City of Cresco
  3. Approval of Pay Request #6 for $62,867.73 to Dave’s Complete Construction for the Scene Shop Project
  4. Resolution Approving Change Order No. 2 for Wastewater Treatment Plant Age Related Equipment Replacement Project for the City of Cresco
  1. Approval of Pay Request #8 for Blazek Corporation for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Age Related Equipment Replacement Project for $76,549.84
  2. Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Enter into a Third-Party Administration Service Agreement with Employee Benefit Systems (“EBS”)
  3. Motion to Waive November 13, 2025 Late Fees Due to Conversion
  4. Discuss Request and Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendation to Vacate the Alley Behind the 200 Block of North Elm Street
  5. Set Public Hearing for Vacating a Portion of the Alley Behind the 200 Block of North Elm Street
  6. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance No.527 Vacating a Portion of the Alley Behind the 200 Block of North Elm Street
  7. Discuss Request and Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendation to Vacate an Undeveloped Portion of 9th Avenue E
  8. Set Public Hearing for an Undeveloped Portion of 9th Avenue East
  9. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance No. 528 Vacating an Undeveloped Portion of 9th Avenue E
  10. Discuss Request and Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendation to Vacate an Undeveloped Portion of 1 I th Avenue E
  11. Set Public Hearing for Vacating an Undeveloped Portion of 1 1 th Avenue E
  12. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance No. 529 Undeveloped Portion of 1 1 Avenue E
  13. Discuss Amendment to Land Lease Agreement with Alltel Corporation dba Verizon Wireless

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 OCTOBER 31, 2025.

 

MINUTES

Mayor Fortune called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on November 3, 2025 at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Bouska, McConnell, and Kriener were present. Council Member Fosaaen was absent.

Bouska made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from the October 20, 2025 meeting; Street Closing Permit for portions of 3rd Ave W, 2nd St W, alley between 3rd Ave W and 4th Ave W, and North Elm St for United Methodist Church fall dinner on November 24, 2025. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Council Member Fosaaen arrived at 5:32 pm.

Public Works Director Brenno reported: (a) Storm siren in Webster Addition was installed. It will be tested on November 6th; (b) 12th Avenue project is complete. Some areas will need to be reseeded in the spring; (c) salt and sand have been delivered; (d) dirt pile at the airport has been leveled. Still will need to do some clean up due to the fire. Will be expanding the parking area for trucks at the airport; (e) will be hiring to help install water meters. To hire a company to install them would cost an estimated $90,000; (f) last yard waste pickup is November 17th.

City Clerk Hill submitted the October Police report.

City Clerk Hill reported: (a) had training on General Ledger and Utility Billing in the new software last week. The new customer portal is active. We set up all of the autopay customers that we had authorizations on file for; (b) Amber and I will be attending the Iowa League of Cities budget training on November 5th; (c) handed out health insurance renewal information to employees; (d) budget requests are due back on November 13th. Will set up a worksession to meet with department heads; (e) CIP ranking is due back from Council November 3rd.

McConnell reported the Airport Commission met and discussed additional parking for trucks, the possibility of a private hangar being built, and a grant to add additional hangars. He also reported the Park Board met and have begun their fundraising for the new building project.

Bouska reported the Howard County Economic Development meeting. Regional Health Services is opening a clinic in LeRoy, MN and staffing two midwives to provide obstetrics care.

Carman reported the CIDC banquet is November 21st; Jingle in Your Pocket starts November 7th; Santa Parade and Small Town Christmas in Cresco are November 28th at 4pm; Small Business Saturday is November 29th.

Mayor Fortune asked for comments from the audience. Dean Balk thanked the City for the new storm siren in the Webster Addition and for the lower speed limit on 95th Street.

Mayor Fortune recognized Adam Barnes on his service anniversary in November and thanked him for his 11 years of dedication and service to the City and residents.

Chris Troendle from Upper Explorerland explained the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust fund. The NEIRHT receives funding from the State of Iowa and also receives $12,500 from the City of Cresco, funds from Howard County, and other communities. This is reinvesting in our tax base by helping low-to-moderate income families make improvements to their homes and providing down payment assistance to new homebuyers. In 2025, the City of Cresco invested $12,500 and $105,300 in projects have been completed. Council appreciates what a great resource NEIRHT is for residents.

Howard Winneshiek Superintendent Kris Einck requested the Council to vacate Schroeder Dr to allow proper setbacks for the planned addition to the high school. The Council determined that the property serves no public purpose. McConnell made the motion to recommend the Planning & Zoning Commission study the request and make a recommendation to the Council. Fosaaen seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to waive the building permit fee for Howard Winneshiek Community School District for the addition to the Crestwood High School. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to approve a resolution approving Change Order No. 4 for the Scene Shop Project for adding a liquid membrane on side wall, down spout, and painting spray foam totaling $1,435. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to approve Pay Request #6 for $62,867.73 to Dave’s Complete Construction for the Scene Shop Project. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made the motion to approve a resolution approving Change Order No. 2 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Age Related Equipment Replacement Project for the cash allowance for the clarifier steel replacement totaling a negative $23,834.57. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made a motion to approve Pay Request #8 for $76,549.84 to Blazek Corporation for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Age Related Equipment Replacement Project. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the City Clerk to enter into a Third-Party Administration Service Agreement with Employee Benefit Systems “EBS”. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made the motion to waive the November 13, 2025 late fees due to the utility bills being delayed with conversion. Fosaaen seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made the motion to set a Public Hearing for vacating a portion of the alley behind the 200 block of North Elm Street for November 17, 2025. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Fortune performed the first reading of Ordinance No. 527 Vacating a Portion of the Alley Behind the 200 Block of North Elm Street. Bouska made a motion to approve the first reading. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Bouska made the motion to set a Public Hearing for vacating an undeveloped portion of 9th Avenue East for November 17, 2025. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Fortune performed the first reading of Ordinance No. 528 Vacating an Undeveloped Portion of 9th Avenue East. Carman made a motion to approve the first reading. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to set a Public Hearing for vacating an undeveloped portion of 11th Avenue East for November 17, 2025. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Fortune performed the first reading of Ordinance No. 529 Vacating an Undeveloped Portion of 9th Avenue East. Carman made a motion to approve the first reading. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Council discussed a request from Alltel Corporation dba Verizon Wireless to extend the land lease for an additional 25 years. More information is needed and Council would like to have the City Attorney review the lease before making any decisions.

Kriener moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 6:16 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be November 17, 2025, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Alexander Fortune
City Clerk Nicole Hill

 

Documents

2025 City Council Agendas, Minutes