OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mason City Council Regular Meeting – August 6, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, August 6, 2024
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 6, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 46:36

Transcript — Verbatim
1:42

And good evening, everyone.

1:43

Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council.

1:46

This is the meeting for August 6th of 2024.

1:50

I'm Mayor Bill Schickle.

1:51

We're very happy to have you with us this evening.

1:53

The first item of business is the roll call.

1:56

Diana, would you call the roll?

1:58

Lee.

1:59

Adams.

2:00

Present.

2:00

Latham.

2:01

Here.

2:01

Yesky.

2:02

Here.

2:03

Simmons.

2:04

Present.

2:08

Is absent.

2:09

Let the record reflect that we do have a quorum present and uh Councilman Massan will be checking in by Zoom.

2:16

Is he on, Aaron?

2:18

Ms.

2:19

Councilman Massan, can you hear us?

2:23

Okay.

2:23

All right.

2:24

Thank you, Councilman.

2:25

The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda.

2:29

Is there a motion to adopt the agenda?

2:30

So move.

2:31

We have a motion by Councilman Yusheski.

2:34

Second.

2:34

Second by Councilman Latham.

2:37

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:40

All those opposed, same sign.

2:42

The motion carries.

2:44

Next we'll move to the public forum.

2:45

This is your chance to comment on any item on the agenda.

2:49

If there's an item on the agenda you would like to comment on, uh please approach the podium, state the number, and the floor is yours.

3:00

Seeing no public comment at this time, we'll move to the next item of business, which is the city administrators monthly report.

3:11

Thank you, Mayor and Council.

3:13

Uh just want to run through uh a few items and then answer any questions uh regarding the report.

3:19

Uh first off, just wanted to mention the uh housing efforts we continue to work on.

3:24

Uh the home grant projects, you'll see that those have come through the the council, several of those have been completed.

3:40

Uh occupied dwellings.

3:42

So a lot of positive momentum there and continuing those efforts into uh furthering those efforts with the EPA grant that came before the council at the previous meeting, uh hoping to secure those housing funds to to further those efforts in a wider target area.

3:59

Um but really starting to see those that success.

4:02

Uh you'll notice there's actually some signs that have been placed out in front of some of those properties to show uh the improvements in that neighborhood.

4:09

Uh furthermore, uh talking about city projects, uh we've had the river walk is making substantial uh improvements.

4:17

We've run into some issues with uh rubble that was buried uh in the ground that had to be removed and the the soils had to uh be remediated in those areas, but uh still making great progress.

4:29

Uh still on uh the same timeline, so even though we've run into a little bit of headwind there, uh still should be able to be opened uh next year.

4:39

Uh the fire department and police department are both progressing very well.

4:42

Uh those projects, the police department's getting obviously closer to completion.

4:47

The fire department, we've seen uh some of the block walls go up and and uh starting on the dormitory.

4:53

So uh a lot of the work has been inside up until uh recently where they're now you can start to see that uh those improvements going vertical.

5:02

Um of the things I wanted to uh to also highlight was just economic development projects.

5:08

The city works diligently, city staff works diligently on providing information for all these economic development projects and prospects that come across.

5:16

You know, many in the biofuel, excuse me, biofuels sector and uh you know, everything from data centers to all sorts of different projects providing information and really exciting to see that level of interest.

5:30

You know, obviously some of those come across the finish line, some don't.

5:33

You know, one of those examples would be the Amazon uh building that uh the mayor and I were actually out that way just today, and that's uh that's really starting to make uh headway.

5:43

Um the buildings up and a lot of work going on in that space.

5:46

It'll be a great addition to the community.

5:49

And um, you know, along those lines, uh I've mentioned the EPA grant.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Public Safety███████████████████19%
Urban Forestry Management████████████████16%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████12%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Economic Development██████6%
Public Engagement███3%
Affordable Housing██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City Council Regular Meeting – August 6, 2024

The Mason City City Council held its regular meeting on August 6, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. Mayor Bill Schickle presided. Roll call showed Councilmembers Lee, Adams, Latham, Yesky, Simmons present; Councilman Massan joined via Zoom. The agenda was adopted unanimously. No public comments were made. The meeting included a City Administrator’s monthly report, approval of a consent agenda, separate votes on the June 2024 Financial Report and the 2024 Pavement Marking Program, and a final reading (second reading) of an ordinance amending sewer rates.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda (Items 2–21, except Items 5 and 15 pulled for separate action) was approved by a unanimous roll‑call vote. Items included: approval of July 16, 2024 minutes; claims dated July 18, 25, and August 1, 2024; permits; June 2024 financial report (later pulled); appointments (David Sjostrand to Zoning Board of Adjustment, Don Case as Wastewater Operator, Brian Garl as Street Maintenance Worker); resolution approving year‑end transfers; resolution authorizing $5,215,000 General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2024A; resolution levying unpaid charges assessments; resolution for sanitary sewer repairs (public hearing September 3); change order #1 for Police Department remodel; Downtown West Home Pilot Program application for 122‑124 N. Madison Ave; resolutions accepting work for pavement marking (pulled), street rehabilitation, High Line Trail; resolutions for bidding on downtown pedestrian ramp compliance, cemetery storm sewer improvements, Taft Avenue water main loop; and an economic development grant to Mason City Foundation.

Discussion Items

City Administrator’s Monthly Report – Administrator Aaron reported on housing efforts (home grant projects completed, EPA grant application submitted for $16‑17 million to expand target area), river walk progress (rubble/soil remediation but still on track for opening next year), police and fire department construction progress, economic development (Amazon building underway, biofuels/data center inquiries, downtown apartments leasing fast). Council questions addressed:

  • Energy Freedom development (biofuel): Administrator stated they are working with farmers on stover contracts and with railroad; several hurdles remain before groundbreaking.
  • Fireworks enforcement: Chief Brinkley reported 130 calls, 12% contact rate, 21 warnings, 2 citations; volume up about 10 from last year, third best year since legalization.
  • Ash tree removal: Council discussed the 2,800‑tree inventory (now under 1,000 city‑right‑of‑way trees). City crews average 80‑90 trees/month; timeline 2‑3 years. Elmwood Cemetery has 153 trees to remove. Administrator noted the EPA grant could accelerate removal and help low‑income homeowners with private tree costs. Councilman Latham expressed concern about cost burden; Administrator cautioned that full city funding would likely require tax increases but suggested assessing costs over time.

June 2024 Financial Report (Item 5) – Approved separately. Councilman Yesky asked about arena financial performance. Administrator and Finance Director cited ongoing learning from pandemic opening; high utility costs; lease with hockey being renegotiated (current lease runs through March 2025). Councilman Yesky also asked about ambulance service; Chief Brinkley said revenue timing is variable, and out‑of‑county call volume has decreased, improving financial outlook. Councilman Adams noted reduction in out‑of‑county costs. The report was approved unanimously.

2024 Pavement Marking Program (Item 15) – Approved separately. Final cost $203,103, about 7% over contract. City Engineer Mark explained the increase came from adding parking lots that needed painting since the contractor bid low. Councilman Adams asked about the cost overrun; Mark stated the contractor was a previous vendor with better quality, and the city added work because it had budget room. Councilman Latham asked for the dollar amount. Approved unanimously.

Ordinance Amending Sewer Rates (Item 22) – The council considered an ordinance correcting a rate table discrepancy discovered after the March rate increase. The correction aligns the minimum charge table with the actual calculation (administrative fee plus two units of usage). No material impact on bills; a 5/8‑inch meter user would see an $0.83 per month difference. Councilman Lee moved to waive only the first reading instead of both first and second. A motion to waive first and second readings failed (4‑2? Actually the vote was 4 yes, 2 no, but Mayor declared it failed – possibly a miscount; however the council then proceeded to waive only the first reading). A motion to waive the first reading passed unanimously. The ordinance was then approved on second reading (unanimous).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda (Items 2–21 except 5 & 15) approved unanimously.
  • June 2024 Financial Report approved unanimously.
  • 2024 Pavement Marking Program payment authorized unanimously.
  • Ordinance amending sewer rates (Title 6, Chapter 2) passed on second reading (unanimous) after waiving first reading only.
  • The council noted that the motion to waive both first and second readings failed despite 4 votes in favor; procedural details were not clarified.
  • The meeting concluded with a public recognition of Bill Stangler for over 50 years of quiet public service and contributions to Mason City’s infrastructure and quality of life.

Meeting Transcript

And good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the meeting for August 6th of 2024. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. We're very happy to have you with us this evening. The first item of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Adams. Present. Latham. Here. Yesky. Here. Simmons. Present. Is absent. Let the record reflect that we do have a quorum present and uh Councilman Massan will be checking in by Zoom. Is he on, Aaron? Ms. Councilman Massan, can you hear us? Okay. All right. Thank you, Councilman. The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So move. We have a motion by Councilman Yusheski. Second. Second by Councilman Latham. All those in favor signify by saying aye. All those opposed, same sign. The motion carries. Next we'll move to the public forum. This is your chance to comment on any item on the agenda. If there's an item on the agenda you would like to comment on, uh please approach the podium, state the number, and the floor is yours. Seeing no public comment at this time, we'll move to the next item of business, which is the city administrators monthly report. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh just want to run through uh a few items and then answer any questions uh regarding the report. Uh first off, just wanted to mention the uh housing efforts we continue to work on. Uh the home grant projects, you'll see that those have come through the the council, several of those have been completed. Uh occupied dwellings. So a lot of positive momentum there and continuing those efforts into uh furthering those efforts with the EPA grant that came before the council at the previous meeting, uh hoping to secure those housing funds to to further those efforts in a wider target area. Um but really starting to see those that success. Uh you'll notice there's actually some signs that have been placed out in front of some of those properties to show uh the improvements in that neighborhood. Uh furthermore, uh talking about city projects, uh we've had the river walk is making substantial uh improvements. We've run into some issues with uh rubble that was buried uh in the ground that had to be removed and the the soils had to uh be remediated in those areas, but uh still making great progress. Uh still on uh the same timeline, so even though we've run into a little bit of headwind there, uh still should be able to be opened uh next year. Uh the fire department and police department are both progressing very well. Uh those projects, the police department's getting obviously closer to completion.

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