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Record of Proceedings

Mason City Council Meeting - August 20, 2024: Property Purchases, Demolition Plans, and Sewer Rate Ordinance

City Council — Tuesday, August 20, 2024
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 20, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 22:56

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:11

Good evening, everyone.

0:12

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

0:16

Recording in progress.

0:18

Thank you.

0:20

This is the meeting for August 20th of 2024.

0:25

And the first order of business is the roll call.

0:27

Diana, would you call the roll?

0:29

Yeski.

0:30

Here.

0:30

Simmons.

0:31

Present.

0:32

Latham.

0:33

Here.

0:34

Adams.

0:34

Present.

0:35

Lee.

0:36

Let the record reflect that all members are present.

0:39

Next item is the adoption of the agenda.

0:42

Is there a motion to adopt the agenda?

0:44

So moved.

0:45

We've got motion by Councilman Masson, a second by Councilman Lee.

0:49

Discussion.

0:51

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

0:54

Aye.

0:54

All those opposed, same sign.

0:57

The motion carries.

0:58

We'll next move to the public forum.

1:01

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

1:05

If there's an agenda item that you would like to comment on, you can step forward at this time, use the podium and state the number of the item, and the floor is yours.

1:19

Hi, Deb.

1:21

Hi, Mayor Bill and everybody.

1:24

Can you hear me okay?

1:25

Yes, ma'am.

1:26

Okay.

1:27

So good evening.

1:28

My name is Deborah Ryan of 836 12th Street Southeast.

1:34

And I'm here to speak about agenda item number 12 on behalf of myself and for 14 of our 12th Street Southeast neighbors.

1:45

So Mr.

1:46

Burnett, Mayor Shickle, Mr.

1:50

Peterson, Mr.

1:53

Mason, Councilman Masan, Councilman Simons, Councilman Latham, and Councilman Adams.

2:03

You guys have given us the best news possible.

2:08

We are so happy that the 830 12th Street Southeast property is coming down.

2:15

Wow.

2:16

Everybody in the neighborhood's ecstatic.

2:20

We are so grateful.

2:22

And Tom and I are relieved and delighted to know that you're also going to be taking that big tree down.

2:30

We'll sleep a lot better and enjoy the day a lot more.

2:34

A few weeks ago, two city employees came out to that 830 property, and they worked their tails off for two solid days.

2:45

And they took seven loads of junk and vegetation just from around the house.

3:00

So we're here and we're eager to hear what the council has to discuss tonight and their plans for this soon to be empty lot.

3:10

You know, Mason City's mission statement.

3:13

I'm going to read it, is to provide efficient and effective services and infrastructure with sound fiscal policies that create an enjoyable quality of life in a safe and viable way.

3:29

Well, thanks to all of you.

3:31

That's really going to ring true on 12th Street.

3:34

You know, a little appreciation goes a long ways.

3:38

So I'm here to give a big shout out to all of you.

3:43

Thank you.

3:43

Thank you.

3:44

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████39%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████████24%
Urban Forestry Management████████████████████20%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Economic Development█████5%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City Council Meeting - August 20, 2024

The Mason City City Council held its regular meeting on August 20, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. The meeting covered a consent agenda with routine approvals, a public hearing on a vacant property, a separate discussion on purchasing properties to address a failing retaining wall, approval of a bridge railing replacement contract, and the final reading of a sewer rate ordinance. All council members were present.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved minutes from August 6 and August 9, 2024.
  • Claims: Approved claims dated August 8 and 15, 2024.
  • Permits: Approved permits as listed.
  • Appointments: Approved the promotion of Mitchell Smith to Deputy Fire Chief - EMS, and the hiring of Mikkiah Reindl as Human Resources/Records Specialist at $20.80/hour, Pay Grade F, Step 2.
  • Change Orders: Approved Change Orders #8 and #9 with Henkel Construction for the Fire Department Dormitory Addition and Remodel project; a change order with Henkel Construction for the Bike Park Building Package 3; and a two-part change order with Rock Solid Trail Contracting, LLC for the 28550 Bike Park and Trails – Bid Package 1 (including Riverhawk Trail entrance improvements and a stone water crossing in Evans Preserve).
  • Downtown West Home Pilot Program: Approved a resolution authorizing property owner applications and bidding for improvements at 420 6th Street NW (roofing, central AC, porch work, approximately $70,000).
  • Encroachment Permit: Approved a resolution for an encroachment permit for a security fence and recreation enhancements on the south side of Hoover School (1123 8th Street NW).
  • Property Purchases (Item 11): Pulled from consent for separate discussion and vote (see Discussion Items).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Deborah Ryan (836 12th Street SE) spoke on item 12, expressing gratitude on behalf of herself and 14 neighbors for the planned demolition of the dilapidated property at 830 12th Street SE and removal of a large tree. She thanked the council and city staff for their efforts. Mayor Bill Schickle acknowledged her comments and reiterated the council's priority on neighborhood improvement.

Discussion Items

  • Item 11 – Property Purchases on 4th Street NE: Councilman Yashewski inquired about the cost-effectiveness of buying five properties (537, 539, 543, 545, and 549 4th Street NE) to address a failing retaining wall. Aaron (staff) explained that reconstructing the wall would cost $786,900 (timber option, 30-40 year lifespan) to $899,600 (concrete/steel, 75+ year lifespan). By purchasing the properties, the city could create a gentler slope using landscaping blocks, reducing costs. The properties could be moved or demolished, and lots improved for resale or relocation. Councilman Lee noted the location's potential near East Park and the Iowa River Trail, and that owning these lots (plus one already owned) would give the city seven lots for future development. The motion to approve the purchase options (resolutions 11A, B, C) passed unanimously (7-0).
  • Item 12 – 830 12th Street SE (Public Hearing): No bids were received for the property. Councilman Adams asked about timeline and whether demolition would be done by city staff or contracted. Aaron indicated city staff are stretched due to Emerald Ash Borer work, so a private contractor may be used; a crane removal of the tree may be coordinated with demolition after asbestos testing. Long-term, the lot (adjacent to railroad tracks) could be offered to adjoining property owners or used for relocating a house. No formal action was taken.
  • Item 13 – Pierce Avenue NW over Willow Creek Bridge Railing Replacement: Councilman Simmons thanked staff for progressing the project, noting it had been an eyesore. Councilman Yashewski asked about traffic disruption; Aaron stated no interruption or detour is expected on Pierce Avenue (a white corridor). The resolution adopting plans, bid tabulation, and award of contract to Boulder Contracting, Inc. of Grundy Center, Iowa, was approved unanimously (7-0).
  • Item 14 – Sewer Rate Ordinance (Final Reading): The ordinance amending City Code Title 6, Chapter 2 (Sewer Rates) to correct technical errors was moved by Councilman Yashewski, seconded by Councilman Latham, and passed unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar (Items 1-10) approved unanimously, with Item 11 removed for separate action.
  • Resolution for property purchases at 537, 539, 543, 545, and 549 4th Street NE (Items 11A, B, C) – Approved 7-0. The city will acquire options to purchase these properties to enable a less expensive retaining wall solution and potential neighborhood redevelopment.
  • Public hearing on 830 12th Street SE (Item 12) – Closed; no bids received, no further action. Staff will coordinate demolition and tree removal, with possible future sale to adjacent owners.
  • Resolution for Willow Creek Bridge Railing Replacement (Item 13A, B, C) – Approved 7-0. Contract awarded to Boulder Contracting, Inc.
  • Final adoption of sewer rate ordinance (Item 14) – Approved 7-0.
  • Announcement: Pickleball on the streets in front of City Hall during the Farmers Market on Saturday from 9 AM to noon.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. Recording in progress. Thank you. This is the meeting for August 20th of 2024. And the first order of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Yeski. Here. Simmons. Present. Latham. Here. Adams. Present. Lee. Let the record reflect that all members are present. Next item is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved. We've got motion by Councilman Masson, a second by Councilman Lee. Discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. The motion carries. We'll next move to the public forum. This is your chance to comment on any item on the agenda. If there's an agenda item that you would like to comment on, you can step forward at this time, use the podium and state the number of the item, and the floor is yours. Hi, Deb. Hi, Mayor Bill and everybody. Can you hear me okay? Yes, ma'am. Okay. So good evening. My name is Deborah Ryan of 836 12th Street Southeast. And I'm here to speak about agenda item number 12 on behalf of myself and for 14 of our 12th Street Southeast neighbors. So Mr. Burnett, Mayor Shickle, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Mason, Councilman Masan, Councilman Simons, Councilman Latham, and Councilman Adams. You guys have given us the best news possible. We are so happy that the 830 12th Street Southeast property is coming down. Wow. Everybody in the neighborhood's ecstatic. We are so grateful. And Tom and I are relieved and delighted to know that you're also going to be taking that big tree down. We'll sleep a lot better and enjoy the day a lot more. A few weeks ago, two city employees came out to that 830 property, and they worked their tails off for two solid days. And they took seven loads of junk and vegetation just from around the house.

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