The Mason City Council held its regular meeting on September 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Mason City Public Library. All council members were present. The meeting featured three special presentations, a city administrator's report, a consent agenda (with three items pulled for discussion), and a public hearing on sanitary sewer repairs. All motions carried unanimously.
City Administrator Aaron Burnett provided updates on multiple capital projects (including Highway 122 and 65), noting most are on schedule. He highlighted ongoing recruitments for police, water superintendent, and city engineer positions. Burnett reported that the city received three Workforce Housing Tax Credit awards: one owner-occupied and two rental projects, including the downtown Kirk project. Operations and maintenance crews have managed heavy rain and the emerald ash borer infestation. Looking ahead, staff are reviewing CIP projects and fiscal year revenue trends (CDs, local option sales tax, hotel-motel tax) are positive. He answered no questions.
The consent agenda (items 5–15) was adopted with the exception of items 9, 12, and 14, which were pulled for separate discussion.
And good evening, everyone. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Mason City City Council. We're delighted to have you with us this evening. This is the meeting for September 16th of 2025. The first order of business is the roll call. Diana, would you call the roll? Lee. Present. Here. Latham. Present. Adams. Present. Yeski. Here. Simmons. Present. 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? So moved. We have a motion by Councilman Massan. Second. Second by Councilman Yasheski. Further discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. The motion carries, thank you. Um it's an honor to have three special items tonight. First up, we have sculptures on parade, the best in show announcement. That'll be followed by a proclamation for breast cancer awareness and education month. And finally, a proclamation noting National Disability Employment Awareness Month. And it's my pleasure at this time to introduce someone who has played a key role in our community in the cultural and uh civic life. Um as director of the McNider Art Museum in Mason City, she helps connect people of all ages with ideas, learning, and creativity. Today she brings that same spirit to the uh community engagement for another important part of our culture in Mason City, the sculptures on parade, um, where she is serves as the lead judge. Uh this is the designation of the best in show award. It's a juried honor, uh selected by a panel of artists led by Edith. Um so please join me in welcoming Edie Blanchard. Edie, welcome. Thank you. So this year's award goes to Owling at the Moon. Um, as you see here, we have an example of the work. Um it is located on East State Street, um, across from um kind of uh on the north side of that street, uh, near the old white parking lot. Um it has been created by artists Gary Hovey and Jim Perin. I hope I pronounced that correct. Um, and they have a business in which they create sculpture specifically out of a unique material, which is silverware. So if you take a closer look at this, it's made entirely out of spoons, forks, knives. Um some of them are used as whole pieces, some of them are cut up.