The Mason City City Council met on April 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. The meeting included proclamations honoring Mayor Bill Schickle for becoming the longest-serving mayor in city history and celebrating Arbor Day, as well as reports, consent agenda approvals, public hearings on the budget and property sales, and a final reading on ward boundary changes.
City Administrator Aaron Roussell reported:
Approved unanimously (7-0) with the exception of item 6, which was pulled for separate vote. Items approved en bloc:
Councilman Adams asked Fire Chief about the five vacancies. The chief confirmed there are five openings (one longstanding, one resignation, three retirements of officers). The hires bring the department to 39 firefighters. Approved unanimously (7-0).
Final reading of an ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 9, Section 5 of the City Code to adjust boundaries for the 2nd and 4th wards due to the Tractor Supply annexation. Unanimous approval (7-0).
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. Thank you for joining us tonight. The first order of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Latham. Simmons. Present. Adams. Present. Lee. President. Here. Yesky. Here. Let the record reflect that all members are present. The next item of business is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? I make a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of one proclamation that Aaron's delivering here. A second. We have a motion and a second on the table. Further discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. All those opposed, same sign. Next, I have a very special proclamation to uh read this one first, Mr. Mayor. Go ahead. All right. Mr. Mayor, I'm not sure if you're aware, but you recently become the longest serving mayor in Mason City history. So we have a proclamation here that uh Mr. Mason brought forward that I'd like to read and present to you on behalf of the City Council here. So it reads, whereas the City of Mason City has had 45 different mayors since the first D.B. Mason in 1870, and whereas the Honorable Ken Q served 4,384 days as the mayor from 1974 to 1985. And whereas the Honorable George E. Menden served 5,844 days as the mayor from 1954 through 1969. And whereas three people have served multiple non-consecutive terms as mayor, including William Shickle, F. M. Norris, and T.A. Potter, and whereas William Shickle has now served a record 5,000 918 days and counting as the mayor of the city of Mason City, Iowa. Whereas the City of Mason City has greatly benefited from Mayor Shickle's service and guidance since his first term in 1990. Now therefore I, Paul Adams, Mayor Pro Tim, and the City Council of City of Mason City do hereby proclaim April 13th through the 19th in Mason City as Mayor William Schickle Week and encourage citizens of Mason City to invest their time and talents in our local community. Thank you, Mayor. It's not easy to do. Wow. Thank you so much. You know, it's uh it is an honor of a lifetime to serve all of you and to serve the the people of Mason City. So I don't know that I've ever received a proclamation, so given how quite a few of them, but so thank you all so much. Hey and you got a week instead of just a day.