Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - June 6, 2024
Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - June 6, 2024
Note: The transcript states the meeting occurred on June 4, 2024; however, the provided instruction specifies June 6, 2024. This summary uses the mandated date.
Mayor Bill Schickle called the meeting to order. Roll call established a quorum: Councilmembers Lee, Adams, Simmons, and Latham were present. The agenda was adopted as amended, with the annual comprehensive financial report removed due to a clerical discrepancy.
Consent Calendar
- Approved as a block (items 1–14 and 17), with items 15 and 16 pulled for separate discussion. Routine approvals included:
- Minutes, claims, permits, hiring of Kelsey Hammersted (police officer) and Chris Earhart (central storekeeper).
- Purchase of equipment for the water utility department.
- Resolution to purchase an Arborist high-ranger truck for operations/maintenance.
- Levying of unpaid assessments to the county treasurer.
- Fixing wage increase for non-bargaining employees at 4.25% and setting compensation for elected officials.
- Resolution for construction of Murphy Park Trail Bridge ($1.6 million), amendment for Prairie Rock Trail work (funded by local option sales tax and Destination Iowa grant), and final payment for construction of the High Line Trail (funded by Land and Water Conservation Grant, Destination Iowa grant, and local option sales tax).
- Contract and bond for Mason City Bike Park ($2.2 million), part of the Prairie Rock Trails project.
- Encroachment permit for three rotating sculptures on Parade Downtown.
- Motion and second; roll call vote: all ayes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- None.
Discussion Items
- Item 15 – Forgivable Loan for River City Roller Rink: Resolution authorizing a $30,000 forgivable loan for improvements (seating for up to 100×100 seats, arcade area, electrical work) at the historic building (1978). Councilman Latham clarified the restriction: no alcohol sales (except brewpub where alcohol is produced on-site) and no tobacco/vape stores for the seven-year forgiveness period. Stephen explained the loan is forgiven monthly; if the borrower repays early, the restriction lifts proportionally. Councilman Latham noted the property could be used for any purpose after repayment. Motion carried unanimously.
- Item 16 – Forgivable Loan for Zane Properties: Resolution for a $30,000 forgivable loan at 1323 North Federal Avenue, adjacent to Cook's Cafe. Councilman Adams sought clarification on alcohol restrictions. Stephen reiterated the same conditions as item 15, citing proliferation of liquor stores on North Federal. Councilman Latham stated the owner plans three separate businesses without liquor and intends to sell the building as an investment. Motion carried unanimously.
- Item 18 – Final Reading of Sewer Rate Adjustment: Motion by Councilman Yushewski, seconded; approved unanimously.
- Item 19 – Final Reading of Storm Sewer Fees Ordinance: Motion by Councilman Latham, seconded; approved unanimously.
- Item 20 – Stormwater Management Reduction Credit Policy: Adoption of a policy granting credits to businesses with stormwater mitigation plans. Councilman Yeshewsky asked about credit determination. Stephen (engineering) explained the first three years will involve self-certification, followed by inspections. Credits are based on impervious surface area: 4,500 square feet equals one Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). For example, 45,000 sq ft = 10 ERUs = 10 × $2.92 per month. Residential properties are charged a flat rate of one ERU ($2.92 per month starting July 1). Motion approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda adopted as amended.
- Consent calendar approved (items 1–14, 17) with items 15 and 16 pulled.
- Item 15 (River City Roller Rink loan) approved unanimously.
- Item 16 (Zane Properties loan) approved unanimously.
- Item 18 (Sewer rate final reading) approved unanimously.
- Item 19 (Storm sewer fees final reading) approved unanimously.
- Item 20 (Stormwater credit policy) approved unanimously.
All votes were unanimous with no opposition recorded. The meeting concluded with announcements: groundbreaking for the river walk on Thursday at 10 a.m. south of the mall, and Friday Night Live event.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the meeting for June 4th, 2024. Mayor Bill Schickle. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. The first item is of business is the roll call. Pam, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Adams. Present. Here. Simmons. Present. Here. Latham. Here. Let the record reflect that we have a quorum present. The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda with one modification. We will not have the annual comprehensive financial report tonight because of a clerical discrepancy. Most to approve as amended. We have a motion to approve the agenda as uh amended. Is there any second? We have a motion and a second discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, the same sign. The next item of business is the public forum. This is your chance to comment on any item that is on the agenda. If there is an agenda item that you would like to comment on, uh please uh come to the podium, state the number of the agenda, and uh the floor is yours. Hearing no public comment at this time, I'll close the public hearing and we'll move to the regular consent agenda. Some regular items, the minutes, the claims, the permits, then the hiring of Kelsey Hammersted as a police officer. That's item number five. Item six is hiring Chris Earhart as the central store keeper. And the next item on the agenda is approving the uh purchase of equipment for the water utility department. Item number eight is a resolution approving uh the purchase of a Arborist high ranger truck for the uh uh operations and maintenance division. Next we have levying of assessments for unpaid charges to the county treasurer for collection with property taxes. Item number ten is fixing the uh wage increase for non-bargaining employees at four point two five percent. Uh resolutions A and B there and uh and setting the uh compensation for elected officials. Um and those pay ranges are right within the range of that our bargaining unit uh received earlier. Item 11, 12, and 13 are related. Uh resolution approving a contract and bond for the construction of the Murphy Park Trail Bridge. Uh this came in at uh 1.6 million. This will be a great extension of the strip road across Illinois and running through Murphy Park with a footbridge there and extending all the way eventually to the High Line Trail. Next step in our uh prairie rock trails improvements. Item 12 is approving an amendment uh to the pressure professional services agreement with uh WHKS. Um this is also for the Prairie Rock Trail work uh to be paid for with a local option sales tax and the destination Iowa grant. And then item uh 13 is accepting work and ordering payment for the construction of the high line uh trail. That's the final payment uh there. And that money is coming from the land and water uh construction grant and the destination Iowa grant along with the local option sales tax.
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