October 18, 2021

Posted: October 15, 2021 | Updated: August 29, 2023

AGENDA

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

 

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   OCTOBER 18, 2021

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:  BRENNO, McCONNELL, FORTUNE, BOUSKA, CARMAN

 

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. Approval of Minutes from October 4, 2021
  4. Approval of Minutes from October 4, 2021CIP Worksession
  5. Approval of Special Class C Liquor License with Outdoor Service and Sunday Sales to Fat T’s Café LLC

 

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:

 

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

 

  1. Public Hearing to Amend the Budget for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022
  2. Resolution Approving Budget Amendment #1 for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022
  3. Motion to Award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants for Tourism Projects
  4. Recommendation of Theatre Commission to Appoint David Gosch (to Replace Leigh Myers) for a Term Ending 6/30/2023
  5. Recommendation of Airport Commission to Appoint Rick Sovereign (to Replace Neil Mahr) for a Term Ending 6/30/2023
  6. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into an Agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the Airport Runway Drainage Improvements Project
  7. Discuss Airport Land Lease Agreement
  8. Discuss Private Hangar Requests and Requests for Base of Operations for Aerial Spraying
  9. Motion to Post Recorded Council Meetings on YouTube or Other Social Media Sites
  10. Motion to Approve Revision to Utility Billing Penalty Calculation Policy and Procedures
  11. Discuss Theatre Furnace Quotes
  12. Discuss Issues Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic

 

CLOSED SESSION pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5 (1) ( c ) to Discuss Potential Litigation Matters

 

OPEN SESSION

 

CLOSED SESSION pursuant to Iowa Code 20.17 (3) Strategy Meeting to Discuss Union Negotiations Matters

 

OPEN SESSION

 

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 15, 2021.

MINUTES

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on October 18, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Council Members Brenno, McConnell, Fortune, Bouska, and Carman 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 October 4th meeting and worksession; special Class C Liquor License with outdoor service and Sunday sales to Fat T’s Café LLC. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Widell reported (a) Northway Well started recasing Well #3 on October 5th and it will take 6-8 weeks to complete; (b) salt and sand have been mixed up and put in the shed for the winter season; (c) reminder that leaves cannot be raked into the streets; (d) Perry Novak Electric started repairing the stoplight pole today and hopes to finish next week; (e) started working on the tree grant program.  Anyone interested in a boulevard tree in the spring should notify City Hall as soon as possible to get on the list. Bouska reminded the public that putting too much mulch around trees will kill them.

Bouska congratulated Sam Fotiadis on his promotion to Police Sergeant on October 9, 2021. The police will be retesting candidates this week for one open position.

City Clerk Elton reported (a) Regional Health Services is having a naming and dedication of their South Campus on October 19th; (b) received Fitness Center Relief Grant of $82,120 for loss of revenue due to COVID; (c) Theatre Commission wants to form a six-person committee to work on the proposed scene shop layout and fundraising. Two Committee Members will be from each of the Theatre Commission, Cresco Community Theatre, and Council. Fortune and Carman volunteered for the Council.

Fortune reported the Theatre Commission met and the Theatre will be showing the Rocky Horror Late-Night Showing at 11:59 pm on 10/30/21. They are getting tuck-pointing quotes to replace bricks on the building. Some windows will also be replaced. An SBA Shuttered Venue Grant was received for an initial $44,556 and an additional amount awarded of $22,278 for lost revenue and maintenance projects.

Park/Fitness Center Director Brandon Kerian reported the Park Board was appreciative of the Relief Grant received. The Park Board unanimously approved naming the ballfield at East Park the “Steve McCarville Memorial Field”. This was based on Steve’s outstanding service to the community and his love for kids and adult activities especially at East Park. A public release will be published next week.

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska asked for comments from the audience. Angela Bries followed up on her complaints on nuisance properties at 412 and 414 4th Ave W. She was frustrated by the slow process in addressing the nuisances. She complained that it is a recurring problem every year. Council sympathized with her frustrations and explained that due to a conflict of interest the City will be working with a different attorney on the nuisance complaint.

Stan Krider thanked the police for installing a speed sign on 9th Street East which did slow down traffic while it was up. He inquired whether the street department could sweep 9th Street East again due to the roller breakdown while chipsealing.

Jason Passmore reported the Staff Appreciation Luncheon is October 27th at Heritage Events Center. The Chamber/CIDC banquet will be November 19th at the Country Club. This year the Hospital will be doing an online auction in conjunction with the banquet. Dan Evans will be submitting a Downtown Housing Application for a CDBG grant, with the City of Cresco being the pass-thru, for renovations of upstairs apartments on Elm Street. The Workforce Housing Development has a tax credit program for developers building four housing units in three years. The Santa Parade will be November 26th. “Jingle in Your Pocket” starts November 5th. The banks’ contributions will allow $4,000 in prize payouts.

Mayor Pro-Tem Bouska opened the Public Hearing for Budget Amendment #1 for the Fiscal year ending 6/30/22. There were no written or oral comments and the public hearing was closed. Carman made a motion to approve the resolution approving Budget Amendment #1 for the Fiscal year ending 6/30/22. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

Hotel/Motel Tax of $5,820.40 was received this quarter with three applications requesting $3,900. McConnell made the motion to approve the recommendation of the Tourism Committee and award Hotel/Motel Tax Grants to: Prairie Springs Rec Trail $400 for signage promoting the PSRT Endowment Fund and trail information; Howard County Historical Society $2,500 for the Kellow House landscaping project; Cresco Chamber $1,000 for the Santa Parade. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made a motion to approve the recommendation of the Theatre Commission to appoint David Gosch to replace Leigh Myers for a term ending 6/30/2023. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made a motion to approve the recommendation of the Airport Commission to appoint Rick Sovereign to Replace Neil Mahr for a Term Ending 6/30/2023. Brenno seconded and it passed all ayes.

The City was awarded a grant of $110,500 which is 85% of the cost of the project to address the drainage issues on the airport runway. The City must commit to paying the $19,500 matching funds. The match will be paid out of the Airport Trust which includes a $10,000 donation received specifically for runway repairs. McConnell made a motion to approve a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into an Agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the Airport Runway Drainage Improvements Project. Fortune seconded and it passed all ayes.

The three-year land lease for the airport farm rental expires this year. The Airport Commission and Council agreed to have a three-year lease again and to change the payment terms to 100% due on March 1st each year. The ad will be published next week for sealed bids.

The Airport Commission has been approached by individuals wishing to build hangars and also to build a base of operation for aerial spraying. A committee of Airport Commission members and Council will gather additional information of what other airports are doing and to come up with the specs that would be required for future development. McConnell and Bouska volunteered to be on the committee.

Brenno made a motion to post recorded Council meetings on YouTube. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

City staff requested that the penalty be waived for past-due accounts that have been guaranteed by Northeast Iowa Community Action due to the length of processing time required to receive payments. Carman made the motion to amend the Utility Billing Policies and Procedures. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. Bouska reminded the public that there is funding available for low income households to assist with water and heating bills and encouraged them to apply with Northeast Iowa Community Action.

Three quotes were received by the Theatre Commission to replace four furnaces for the main auditorium and also for an A/C and moving a furnace for the green room. The quotes were under budget so the Commission requested permission to replace the 12-year old furnace that was to be relocated. Quotes from Cresco Heating & Vent for $2,739 and Gosch’s Inc for $2,420.60 were reviewed. Carman made the motion to investigate whether one of the new Fitness Center furnaces could be installed instead of buying a new one. If that is not a feasible option, then she recommended accepting the quote from Gosch’s and making the payment now before prices increase on November 1, 2021. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Fortune made the motion to go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5 (1) (c) to discuss potential litigation matters at 6:27 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Brenno made the motion to go into open session pursuant at 6:52 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman made the motion to go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 20.17 (3) Strategy Meeting to discuss Union negotiations matters at 6:52 pm. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes. No formal action was taken during closed session.

Brenno made the motion to go into open session at 7:37 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes. No formal action was taken during closed session.

Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 7:37 pm. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be November 1, 2021, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Bouska
City Clerk Michelle Elton

Documents

2021 City Council Agendas, Minutes