OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Mason City Council Regular Meeting – September 16, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, September 16, 2025
BodyMason City, Iowa
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:54

Transcript — Verbatim
1:08

And good evening, everyone.

1:09

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

1:12

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

1:15

This is the meeting for September 16th of 2025.

1:19

The first order of business is the roll call.

1:21

Diana, would you call the roll?

1:23

Lee.

1:24

Present.

1:25

Here.

1:25

Latham.

1:26

Present.

1:27

Adams.

1:27

Present.

1:28

Yeski.

1:29

Here.

1:29

Simmons.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Let the record reflect that all members are present.

1:34

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

1:37

Is there a motion to adopt the agenda?

1:40

So moved.

1:40

We have a motion by Councilman Massan.

1:42

Second.

1:43

Second by Councilman Yasheski.

1:46

Further discussion.

1:48

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

1:50

Aye.

1:51

Aye.

1:51

All those opposed, same sign.

1:53

The motion carries, thank you.

1:55

Um it's an honor to have three special items tonight.

1:59

First up, we have sculptures on parade, the best in show announcement.

2:02

That'll be followed by a proclamation for breast cancer awareness and education month.

2:08

And finally, a proclamation noting National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

2:16

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.

2:25

Um as director of the McNider Art Museum in Mason City, she helps connect people of all ages with ideas, learning, and creativity.

2:34

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.

2:48

Uh this is the designation of the best in show award.

2:53

It's a juried honor, uh selected by a panel of artists led by Edith.

2:58

Um so please join me in welcoming Edie Blanchard.

3:01

Edie, welcome.

3:04

Thank you.

3:07

So this year's award goes to Owling at the Moon.

3:11

Um, as you see here, we have an example of the work.

3:13

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.

3:24

Um it has been created by artists Gary Hovey and Jim Perin.

3:28

I hope I pronounced that correct.

3:30

Um, and they have a business in which they create sculpture specifically out of a unique material, which is silverware.

3:37

So if you take a closer look at this, it's made entirely out of spoons, forks, knives.

3:43

Um some of them are used as whole pieces, some of them are cut up.

3:47

And so one of the things that the committee does is it looks at the overall sculpture.

3:53

We look at the difficulty.

3:55

Um, we look at the subject matter, what are they um you know, saying implying their use of theme, what's the material, um, how is their craftsmanship, use of space, positive, negative, you know, all those fun art things.

4:09

And so the committee um decided to award it um the best in show for this year.

4:16

Um, I'd like to acknowledge the other people that served as artists, other artists that served as committee members.

4:21

Um Professor Kong Ho, who is a professor of art at NIAC, Professor Marty Geiger Ho, who is a professor of art also at NIAC, and with the specialty of sculpture, and curator Mara Linsky Deegan, who serves as the curator of the McNider Art Museum, and myself.

4:41

And so as I mentioned, we have a creature, we judged everything.

4:45

And i I I will say it's very difficult.

4:48

Um there are wonderful sculptures that are brought in here every year by the committee that are are really phenomenal and amazing.

4:55

And so um it was difficult to narrow it down, but the award does go to owling at the moon.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Workforce Development████████████████16%
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Affordable Housing██████████10%
Public Safety████████8%
Youth Programs███████7%
Arts And Culture██████6%
Mental Health Awareness█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Mason City Council Regular Meeting – September 16, 2025

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.

Special Items & Proclamations

  • Sculptures on Parade – Best in Show Announcement: Edie Blanchard, lead judge and director of the MacNider Art Museum, announced the winner: “Owling at the Moon,” created by artists Gary Hovey and Jim Perin. The sculpture is made entirely from silverware (spoons, forks, knives) and is located on East State Street. The judging panel included Professor Kong Ho, Professor Marty Geiger Ho (both from NIACC), and curator Mara Linsky Deegan.
  • Proclamation – Breast Cancer Awareness, Education & Screening Promotion: Mayor Shickle proclaimed October as Breast Health Awareness Month. The proclamation noted that Iowa has one of the nation’s highest cancer rates and that early detection contributed to a 5% decrease in cancer deaths in Iowa over the past year. The proclamation was presented to members of the Pink and Teal Warriors public health group.
  • Proclamation – National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Mayor Shickle recognized the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and presented a proclamation to Sue Faber of Iowa Works. An awareness event was announced for October 7, 2025, at 8:30 AM at the Muse Norris Conference Center.

City Administrator’s Monthly Report

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.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda (items 5–15) was adopted with the exception of items 9, 12, and 14, which were pulled for separate discussion.

Discussion Items

  • Item 9 – RFP for Automated Trucks and Wheeled Carts: Council approved a resolution authorizing solicitation of RFPs for automated sanitation trucks and carts. Brent (finance director) clarified the timeline: the goal is a fall 2026 launch, with truck delivery expected in 9–10 months. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 12 – Forgivable Loan for 203 2nd Street NW: Council approved a forgivable loan to Titan Financial Holdings, LLC for rehabilitation of a property under the Downtown Revitalization Loan Program. The loan amount was corrected to $29,838 (half of the $59,676 estimated project cost). Approved unanimously.
  • Item 14 – Equipment Lease Agreement (Fire Dept. & School District): Deputy Chief Randy Elsburn presented a new EMT program partnership between the Mason City Fire Department, Mason City Community School District, and NIACC. Students will receive college credit; the fire department will provide instructors (paid by NIACC). The equipment lease is funded by a school grant. The program starts second semester 2026 with five students, with potential expansion to firefighter classes. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 17 – Skywalk Construction Management & Parking Agreement: Council approved a skywalk management agreement with Mason City Hotel Associates (Kinseth) and a new parking agreement allowing the hotel to use 54 non-exclusive overflow spots in the mall parking lot. Administrator Burnett noted the parking solution is more efficient than reserved spaces. Closing on the hotel property is expected next week, with a groundbreaking soon after. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 18 – Change Order for Willow Creek Riverwalk: Council approved a change order with Henkel Construction Company for anti-graffiti coating on the riverwalk surfaces (cost not specified but described as small). Administrator Burnett acknowledged an oversight in not obtaining prior approval; the work was already completed. Approved unanimously.

Public Hearing

  • Item 16 – 2025-26 Sanitary Sewer Repairs: No public comment was offered. Council adopted plans, specifications, and the bid tabulation, and awarded the contract to Bob McKiness Excavating and Grading, Inc. The project budget is $1.2 million. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All motions were approved unanimously.
  • Deadline for RFP responses for automated sanitation is October 21, 2025.
  • The EMT program equipment lease is effective for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Hotel closing is anticipated the week of September 22, 2025, with construction to begin immediately.
  • No public forum comments were made.

Meeting Transcript

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.

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