Mason City City Council Regular Meeting – September 6, 2022
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Mason City City Council Regular Meeting – September 6, 2022
The Mason City City Council held its regular meeting on September 6, 2022, at 7:00 PM. Mayor Bill Schickle presided, with Councilmembers Simmons, Yeski, Lee, and Toma present (Councilmember Adams absent). The meeting included proclamations recognizing Filmmaker Week and Constitution Day, approval of a consent agenda with noted items, a resolution supporting a new manufacturing facility by EVCO Holdings LLC/Pritchard Companies, and first readings of zoning and floodplain ordinance amendments.
Proclamations & Recognitions
- Mayor Schickle read a proclamation declaring September 5–11, 2022 as Filmmaker Week in North Iowa for the 15th annual Iowa Independent Film Festival, which will screen 51 films from 17 countries. Representatives from the festival board were recognized.
- A second proclamation declared September 17, 2022 as Constitution Day; officers of the Mason City High School Student Senate were honored.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda (items 3–13) was approved by unanimous roll call vote, with items 11 and 13 pulled for separate discussion. Approved items included: July 2022 financial report (ending fund balance of $49 million, three-payroll month), appointment of Steven Diaz as Swing Worker ($26.97/hr) and Staci Sberal as Laboratory Technician ($26.42/hr), purchase of a high-pressure hot water washer, and professional services contract for the U.S. 65/South Federal Avenue Reconstruction Project ($53,000 for utility design).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made either in person or via Zoom.
Discussion Items
- Item 11 – Highway 65 Reconstruction Engineering Contract: Councilmember Yeski asked about the removal of existing light poles and future lighting plan. City engineer Mark explained that new lighting will be on independently metered city-owned poles similar to the Highway 122 project. The motion to approve carried unanimously.
- Item 13 – Resolution of Preliminary Intent for EVCO Holdings LLC Development: This resolution supports a high-quality jobs application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for a new manufacturing facility at the former Shopco building. Chad Shrek (North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation) and Joe Pritchard (Pritchard Companies, fourth generation) presented the project: manufacturing electric vehicles (street rod golf cars, camper vans, EV components), creating approximately 100 jobs with starting wages of $18/hour and up. The company has a purchase agreement and due diligence is ongoing. Councilmembers asked about environmental impact (minimal, single-shift operation), site attractiveness (creative collaboration, repurposing blighted property), and job quality. The project is a partnership between Pritchard Companies and EVCO, with options in Indiana/Ohio. Joe Pritchard noted the need for future zoning adjustments. Council unanimously approved the resolution.
- Item 14 – Zone Change (600 block of South Adams Avenue): First consideration of an ordinance changing zoning from Z3 General Urban to Z4 Multi-Use. No public comment. Approved unanimously on first reading.
- Item 15 – Floodplain Ordinance Amendment: First consideration to update City Code Title 12 to incorporate new FEMA floodplain maps effective December 15, 2022. Staff member Tricia explained the new maps represent a significant expansion of regulated floodplains and only mandatory changes were included. Councilmember Yeski asked about the impact on a house on Jamestown Road, noting estimated flood insurance costs of $4,000–$7,000/year on a $250,000 home. The diversion ditch in Eastbrook was noted as not affecting the FEMA maps. Approved unanimously on first reading.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (items 3–10, 12) except items 11 and 13 separately.
- Item 11 (Highway 65 utility contract) approved – unanimous.
- Item 13 (EVCO/Pritchard resolution) approved – unanimous. Next steps: IEDA board consideration on September 16, 2022, followed by a formal development agreement with TIF rebate.
- Item 14 (zone change) approved on first reading – unanimous; second/final reading required.
- Item 15 (floodplain ordinance) approved on first reading – unanimous; second/final reading required.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
And good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. This is the meeting for September 6th of 2022. And the first item of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Simmons. Present. Yeski? Here. Lee. Present. Toma. President. Councilmember Adams is absent. And let the record reflect that we do have a quorum present. The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? Most to approve. Second. We have a motion and a second discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. The motion carries. Thank you. We have a full agenda this evening, but first we have a couple of uh special items of business. It's an honor to call forward at this time the representatives from the Iowa Independent Film Festival, which will be holding their fifteenth film festival here in uh Mason City and uh Clear Lake coming up uh this weekend, and it's an honor to uh present this uh proclamation uh at this time. This is the proclamation, I'll be reading it, and I would like to welcome uh members of the Iowa Independent Film Festival Board, Charlie Gandez is the president, Councilman Joshua Mason is the communications director, and Jim and Cindy Brock are uh board members, so so welcome all. Whereas the North Iowa area has a long and rich history of movie making, and whereas the Iowa Independent Film Festival now in its fifteenth year runs this weekend in Clear Lake and in Mason City, starting on Thursday, and whereas on Thursday night the local filmmakers showcase will celebrate the films made within one county uh area of Saragoga County, and whereas the competitive festival will show fifty-one of the 215 films submitted from 17 different countries, and whereas there will be a special open house at Renvoro Media Group facility uh on Thursday for filmmakers and guests. And whereas the films range in length from two and a half minutes to over 100 minutes, representing a range of styles, including uh documentaries, animation, and experiment. And whereas dozens of producers, directors, and actors from all over the world will attend the festival to discuss their films, and whereas nightly networking for directors, actors, and others uh will be made possible during this event. Now, therefore, I Bill Shickle, mayor of Mason City, in conjunction with Mayor Nelson Crab of Clear Lake, who is presenting the same resolution tonight, do hereby proclaim September 5th through the 11th as Filmmaker Week in North Iowa. Let's welcome our guests and show our appreciation. Uh at this time. We have Alexander Shipman and Karim Aldada with us. They are the Student Senate officers at large. And uh gentlemen, welcome. We're delighted to have you with us this evening, and it's an honor to present this proclamation at this time. Where has 235 years ago on September 17th, 1787, delegates gathered in a closed room at Constitution Hall in Philadelphia to sign the greatest vision of human freedom in history? And whereas area students are learning about the enduring relevance of this dramatic moment as they return to our classrooms, and whereas the Mason City High School Student Senate is recognizing for understanding the importance of our Constitution and for your civic leadership, and whereas 235 years ago, after the signing, uh after the signing, in these times of national division, studying the Constitution provides a path forward toward better understanding each other, and whereas that path has also been shown by the citizens of Mason City, providing a shining example of cooperation most recently through the building of the community the community campaign, and with the beautiful downtown murals by local artist Joey Papachi's and volunteers. And whereas it was also shown during Rag Bribe, 400 volunteers, 30,000 guests, and whereas the enduring relevance of our Constitution is also highlighted in the four-part series, the Classroom Podcast, hosted by Mason City residents Eric Ganyangay and Ron Klein. Now, therefore, I Bill Schickle, Mayor of Mason City, do hereby express grateful appreciation and do hereby proclaim Saturday, September 17th, 2022 as Constitution Day in Mason City. Let's show appreciation to our guests. Thank you very much. And now we'll uh proceed with the rest of the agenda. And the first item on the agenda is the uh public hearing. This is your chance to um express your thoughts on any item on the agenda. If you would like to do that, step forward and state the agenda item number.
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