City Council October 6, 2025 Agenda & Minutes

Posted: October 2, 2025 | Updated: October 15, 2025

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   OCTOBER 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.

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Minutes from September 15, 2025
  4. Minutes from September 29, 2025 Worksession
  1. Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) with Outdoor Service to Pub No 7 LLC (Eric MacDuff and Lester Seelye) d/b/a Pub No 7
  1. Approval of Street Closing for a Spooky Sprint 5K on November 1, 2025 for Portions of 3rd Ave East between 3rd St East and 4th St East; and Parade Route for the 5K Walk/Run Event for Portions of 3rd Ave East, 8th St East, York St, 7th Ave East, 9th St East, 8th Ave East, and 2nd St East
  2. Approval of Application for Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for S & P Premier Properties
  1. Approval of Pay Request #7 for Blazek Corporation for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Age-Related Equipment Replacement Project for $124,895.36
  1. Approval of Pay Request #5 for $115,425.59 to Dave’s Complete Construction for the Scene Shop Project

 

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. Kelly O’Donnell and Jerry O’Donnnell to Present Insurance Renewal
  2. Trent Orth to Discuss Plans for 225 North Elm Street
  3. Scene Shop Fundraising Update
  4. Resolution Authorizing Transfer of Funds for FY 2026 (Budget Amendment #1 Transfers)
  5. Resolution Approving Loan Agreement for Loan of Funds by the Cresco Industrial Development Corporation and the City of Cresco to Mike & Donna Vsetecka d/b/a Billmyer Furniture & Flooring
  6. Resolution to Approve and Adopt the Annual City Street Financial Report from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
  7. Resolution Approving the Street Finance Report
  8. Review Applications and Cresco Tourism Advisory Committee Recommendations and Award of Hotel/Motel Tax Grants

 

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 2, 2025.

Mayor Fortune called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on October 6, 2025 at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Fosaaen, McConnell, and Kriener were present. Council Member Bouska was absent.

McConnell made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from the September 15, 2025 meeting; minutes from the September 29, 2025 work session; Class C Retail Alcohol License (LC) with Outdoor Service to Pub No 7 LLC (Eric MacDuff and Lester Seelye) d/b/a Pub No 7; Street Closing Permit for portions of 3rd Ave E between 3rd St E and 4th St E, and Parade Permit for portions of 3rd Ave E, 8th St E, York St, 7th Ave E, 9th St E, 8th Ave E, 2nd St E for Spooky Sprint themed 5K on November 1, 2025; Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for S & P Premier Properties;  Pay Request #7 for $124,895.36 to Blazek Corporation for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Age Related Equipment Replacement Project; Pay Request #5 for $115,425.59 to Dave’s Complete Construction for the Scene Shop Project. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Brenno reported: (a) new signage has been placed on Canterbury St by Kessel Kids; (b)Howard County will begin reshaping 12th Ave next week; (c) chipsealing and painting have been completed for the year; (d) Aging Equipment Project should be complete by the end of November; (e) fall yard waste dates will be October 13th and 27th and November 3rd and 17th.

Police Chief Ruroden submitted the September Police report.  Animal calls are up for the month with stray animals. Officers will be participating in the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau program. This will cover overtime expenses for extra enforcement and provide funds for a more precise radar system.

City Clerk Hill reported: (a) Community Foundation grant cycle is open until October 15th; (b) Lightning hit the theatre. Wendy is working with contractors to get things fixed, but it maybe a few weeks until things are fully operational; (c) Don Marlette live event was well attended by people from several other states; (d) Mitchell Hall and Tennessee Trio will be here October 25th; (e) we are currently entering all accounts payable and receipts into new software Caselle. Payroll will be converted next week, with General Ledger and Bank Rec towards the end of October; (f) Service Line Warranties of America is changing their campaign for insurance coverage for water and sewer line coverage. Letters will guide residents to a website with the City of Cresco listed as a partner. Water service line coverage is $5.75 per month and $7.75 per month for sewer service line coverage; (g) Amber attended Clerk School last week. Niki will be attending IMFOA conference next week; (h) water department will be flushing hydrants October 8-10.

McConnell reported that the Airport Commission met and the airport lean to is now completed. He also reported that the Park Board has formed a committee to start fundraising on the new Fitness Center building.

Mayor Fortune recognized three employees with service anniversaries in October and thanked them for their dedication and years of service to the City and residents: Skye Meinecke – Himli – Fitness Center 2 years; Amber Yanes – City Hall 3 years; Aaron Butikofer – Sewer Dept 9 years.

Mayor Fortune asked for comments from the audience. Jason Passmore updated Council on upcoming community events; CCT is doing a “Tribute to Frank Sinatra” at Heritage Event Center on October 10th and 11th; Trunk or Treating will be October 31st; a Spooky Sprint 5K will be November 1st; Jingle in Your Pocket begins November 7th. Ron Bates who lives at 619 2nd Ave W questioned Council about a tile line that runs under the bike trail between his property and A & J’s property on 7th St W does not work and it causes water to pool on his property and it is killing his trees and grass. Brenno will check with the bike trail committee to see if there are funds for the tile line to be repaired. He also inquired about restricting semi and large truck traffic on 2nd Ave W.

Kelly O’Donnell presented the insurance renewal package of $327,071. He presented an option with an increase of the deductible to $10,000 versus $5,000. The premium would decrease by $9,042. The property premium had the largest increase this year while the other categories in the package had small increases. Council would like to review the deductible limits up to $50,000 at the next meeting. O’Donnell will prepare the updated quotes for the October 20th meeting.

Trent Orth was unable to attend and will be on a future agenda.

Theatre Commission Member Gayle Kelm updated Council on the current Scene Shop Project fundraising efforts.

Carman made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing transfer of funds for FY 2026. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Jason Passmore introduced Donna Vsetecka from Billmyer Furniture and Flooring. They have purchased the property directly behind their current building and are preparing to add a new warehouse which would give more furniture on hand and options for their customers. McConnell  made a motion to approve the Loan Agreement for a loan of $40,000 by the Cresco Industrial Development Corporation and the City of Cresco to Mike & Donna Vsetecka dba Billmyer Furniture & Flooring. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to approve the resolution approving the Street Finance Report. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Hotel/Motel Tax of $3,888.05 was received this quarter with four application received for $5,250. Kriener made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Tourism Committee and award Hotel/Motel Tax Grant to the Cresco Community Theatre $2,000 a “Tribute to Frank Sinatra” dinner theatre event; Cresco Chamber $500 for holiday planters; Cresco Chamber $750 for Santa Parade; Driftrunners $1,000 for snowmobile maps.  McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 6:21 pm. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be October 20, 2025, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Alexander Fortune
City Clerk Nicole Hill

Documents

2025 City Council Agendas, Minutes