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Record of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, August 5, 2025
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 5, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 23:01

Original source
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1:16

Good evening, everyone.

1:18

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

1:22

This is the meeting for August 5th of 2025.

1:25

I'm Mayor Bill Schickle.

1:27

We're delighted to have you with us this evening.

1:29

Thank you for joining us.

1:30

The first item of business is the roll call.

1:33

Diana, would you call the roll?

1:34

Lee.

1:35

Present.

1:36

Adams.

1:37

Latham.

1:37

Present.

1:38

Yesky.

1:38

Here.

1:39

Simmons.

1:39

Present.

1:40

Ms.

1:40

On.

1:40

Here.

1:41

Let the record reflect that all members are present.

1:44

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

1:48

Is there a motion to adopt the agenda?

1:50

So move.

1:50

You have a motion by Councilman Yeshewski.

1:53

Second.

1:53

Second by Councilman Latham.

1:56

Is there discussion?

1:58

All those all those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:00

Aye.

2:01

Aye.

2:01

All those opposed, same sign.

2:04

Next up we have the public forum.

2:06

This is your chance to comment on any agenda item.

2:09

If there's an item on the agenda that you would like to comment on, you may step forward, state the number of that agenda, and the floor is yours.

2:25

Seeing no public comment at this time, I'll close the public hearing.

2:36

Then the appointment of Corey Freeman as a police officer.

4:43

Lighting, traffic signalization, and other improvements.

4:46

Not as much traffic there as on 19th Street, but still a significant artery in Mason City.

5:01

Uh that's a budgeted item.

5:03

Item 12 is a resolution approving an amendment with the agreement with discs and engineering regarding the water tower uh maintenance uh program.

5:12

Item 13 is a resolution accepting work and ordering payment for this is for the home grant uh downtown west part of Mason City where we've been doing major improvements, uh street uh paving, other things in that area.

5:26

Uh this a budgeted item will be paid for out of the road use tax and other funds.

5:32

Item 14 is a approving of contract and bond for the water rehabilitation project.

5:36

That's the water tower down on 43rd Street Southwest.

5:41

Item 15 is dedicating certain lots, three of them in the Paul Feltz plat as public right-of-ways.

5:49

Item 16 is approving a sidewalk service permit for three on a tree downtown, letting people sit outside there.

5:56

Uh, City Administrator Aaron Burnett uh gave preliminary approval to that.

6:00

Uh this will just formalize that.

6:02

And 17 is a port support of an application to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

6:07

This was for 500,000.

6:09

This is for the reconstruction on 12th Street Northwest and Pierce Avenue.

6:13

We plan some a roundabout in there.

6:15

That's a much needed uh safety improvements uh up in that area.

6:19

Members, those are the items on the consent agenda.

6:22

Any that you'd like to act on separately there?

6:24

Six and seven with the exception of items number six and seven.

6:36

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

6:38

So moved.

6:39

Motion by Councilman Masan.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters█████████████████████████████████████37%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████35%
Procedural████████8%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City City Council Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025

Mayor Bill Schickle called the regular meeting to order with all council members present. The council approved the agenda, heard no public comments, and approved a consent agenda with numerous routine items. Separate discussion and votes were held on two capital improvement contracts (19th Street Southwest and Southbridge Mall parking lot) and on the appointment of the next chief of police.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved the agenda unanimously.
  • The consent agenda (items 1–5 and 8–17) was adopted with a 7–0 roll call vote. Items covered included: appointment of Corey Freeman as a police officer; lighting, traffic signalization, and other improvements; a water tower maintenance program agreement; acceptance of work for a home grant downtown; a water rehabilitation project contract; dedication of lots in the Paul Feltz plat; a sidewalk service permit for outdoor seating; and support for a $500,000 Iowa DOT grant for reconstruction of 12th Street Northwest and Pierce Avenue (including a roundabout).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public offered comment.

Discussion Items

  • Item 6 – 19th Street Southwest Improvements: Councilman Adams requested background from city staff (Mark). The project was previously budgeted and involves widening and paving shoulders, adding protected turn lanes, and reconfiguring the Taft Avenue intersection. A traffic study will be conducted. Corridor width constraints exist due to a path and railroad. Construction is expected to begin the next construction season if included in the next capital budget. The resolution was approved unanimously.
  • Item 7 – Southbridge Mall Parking Lot Improvements: The project focuses on the middle third of the lot to match elevation changes from the adjacent hotel development. Lighting will be expanded in a future phase. Parking configuration will largely remain the same, with islands added to guide winter parking. The hotel’s section will use perpendicular parking, separated by a landscaping barrier; overflow parking will be shared. Councilman Lee asked about a clear barrier, and city staff confirmed it will be very apparent. The resolution was approved unanimously.
  • Appointment of Chief of Police: City Administrator Aaron Burnett recommended appointing Captain Michael McKelvey as chief of police, effective February 10, 2026, after current Chief Brinkley retires and uses accrued vacation. Captain McKelvey has 30+ years of service, including roles as patrol officer, field training officer, crime scene investigator, canine handler, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. He attended the FBI National Academy in 2019 and received a first responder hero award in 2020. He expressed gratitude and commitment to finishing his career in Mason City. Council members praised the promotion from within and noted positive public reaction on social media. The motion carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved 7–0.
  • Item 6 (19th Street Southwest contract) approved 7–0.
  • Item 7 (Southbridge Mall parking lot contract) approved 7–0.
  • Appointment of Michael McKelvey as Chief of Police approved 7–0, effective February 10, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. This is the meeting for August 5th of 2025. I'm Mayor Bill Schickle. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. Thank you for joining us. The first item of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Adams. Latham. Present. Yesky. Here. Simmons. Present. Ms. On. Here. Let the record reflect that all members are present. The next item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So move. You have a motion by Councilman Yeshewski. Second. Second by Councilman Latham. Is there discussion? All those all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. Next up we have the public forum. This is your chance to comment on any agenda item. If there's an item on the agenda that you would like to comment on, you may step forward, state the number of that agenda, and the floor is yours. Seeing no public comment at this time, I'll close the public hearing. Then the appointment of Corey Freeman as a police officer. Lighting, traffic signalization, and other improvements. Not as much traffic there as on 19th Street, but still a significant artery in Mason City. Uh that's a budgeted item. Item 12 is a resolution approving an amendment with the agreement with discs and engineering regarding the water tower uh maintenance uh program. Item 13 is a resolution accepting work and ordering payment for this is for the home grant uh downtown west part of Mason City where we've been doing major improvements, uh street uh paving, other things in that area. Uh this a budgeted item will be paid for out of the road use tax and other funds. Item 14 is a approving of contract and bond for the water rehabilitation project. That's the water tower down on 43rd Street Southwest. Item 15 is dedicating certain lots, three of them in the Paul Feltz plat as public right-of-ways. Item 16 is approving a sidewalk service permit for three on a tree downtown, letting people sit outside there. Uh, City Administrator Aaron Burnett uh gave preliminary approval to that. Uh this will just formalize that. And 17 is a port support of an application to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

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