Mason City City Council Regular Meeting - April 7, 2026

The Mason City City Council convened on April 7, 2026. The agenda listed the meeting at 7:00 P.M. in the Mason City Room of the Mason City Public Library; the supplied timestamp is 2026-04-07 13:00:00+00:00. Mayor John P. Lee opened the meeting with roll call and the unanimous adoption of the agenda. The mayor noted a publishing error: a public hearing on the Legacy Apartments rezoning would instead occur on April 21, so it was not on tonight's agenda. The meeting featured a Fair Housing Month proclamation, a long public forum on two industrial rezoning ordinances, final votes on those rezonings, a speed-regulation ordinance, the City Administrator's monthly report, a consent agenda, and two public hearings.

Consent Calendar

• The council adopted the agenda and later the consent agenda (items 6-26) by unanimous roll-call votes, with two items pulled by Councilman Adams for separate discussion: item 11 (Marketing & Communication Specialist hire) and item 17 (Fire Department billing service agreement with Digitech Computer, LLC).
• Consent agenda items included routine approvals of minutes, claims, permits, the February financial report, multiple board appointments and hires, assessment resolutions, the North Iowa Band Festival street closing resolution, contract awards, urban renewal hearing dates, a K9 grant application, and several property-related resolutions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Rick Carroll (428 25th Street Southwest) asked whether the rezoning would be binding immediately, who would own and control the proposed 1,000-foot buffer along South Monroe, whether the 60% buildable calculation includes the setback, when buffer planning would begin, how development negotiations would be transparent, urged early tree and shrub planting on city-owned property, and requested a timeline for drainage improvements.
• Joanne Hardy (2 Old Farm Road) opposed industrial zoning beside the established Midland Heights neighborhood and near the IOF care center, citing noise, lights, and decreased property values. She criticized the mayor's stated position that the city does not dictate where private investors locate, argued zoning lets the city decide where they do not locate, and raised concerns about data center noise, heat, water use, electricity use, size, tax breaks, and the agreement's prohibition on utility-scale solar generation.
• Joe Derby (Business Manager, Iron Workers Local 67) supported the rezoning, saying it could bring good-paying jobs, allow local iron workers to work in Mason City, start high school graduates at $50,000 per year with full medical, dental, vision, and pension benefits, and generate local spending at restaurants and hotels.
• Bill Hawk (212 4th Street Northeast, former address) supported the rezoning, claiming a data center would roughly double Mason City's tax base, criticized what he called false information from neighborhoods, and noted Iowa has about 100 data processing centers.
• Katie DeMarco (428 27th Street Southwest) opposed the C6 proposal, citing emerging research on data center heat islands from CNN and the Earth Observation Group at the University of Cambridge, and urged the council not to trade residents' property values, peace, and health for company promises.
• Ben DeMarco (428 27th Street Southwest) opposed the project, noting this was the fourth time speakers had voiced opposition, that the voices had been overwhelmingly against it, and that one family would have to move because emissions from the project could endanger their child's life due to a rare illness. He listed promised protections: 1,000-foot buffer, environmental studies, green space, no street extensions between 19th and 29th Streets or Monroe, best-available noise reduction, limited industrial lighting, and no tax incentives.
• Cindy Keller (429 20th Place Southwest, Rolling Acres) opposed the zoning, displayed a park bench plaque in Frederick Hanford Park reading persist, don't quit, and asked the council to vote no or table the proposal.
• Dan Raymaker (503 20th Street Southeast) supported the rezoning as a chance to do something significant for the community, but urged protection for the neighborhood so Monroe and 27th Street are not extended through.
• Stuart Siebo (312 21st Street Southeast) opposed AI and data center development, making statements about AI military scenario studies, a DOJ and FBI lawsuit, water and electricity usage, and accusing the council of not listening.
• Brady Edwards (2140 South Benjamin Avenue, Central Heights) supported the rezoning, citing his work on data centers, an estimated 4,000 workers spending money downtown, and benefits to small businesses.
• Dallas Lee (1139 2nd Street Northeast, Operating Engineers Local 234) supported the rezoning, saying data centers bring thousands of workers and that union workers have families to feed.
• Anatoly Nosivsky (658 South Illinois Avenue) supported the rezoning and a potential data center, saying the city needs jobs and opportunity.
• Cody Schweinfirth (240 Woodbine, Local 234) supported the rezoning, citing work at data centers in Cedar Rapids and Ankeny and tax revenue for park maintenance.
• Kyle Edwards (Iron Workers Local 67) supported the rezoning, saying he worked on nearly every data center in Des Moines and found they are not noisy, and that industry grows communities.
• Ron Surgen (just outside Mason City) supported the rezoning, saying out-of-town workers would generate income for struggling small businesses.
• Terrence Beavers (203 North Hampshire) raised hazard mitigation concerns, citing a recent ammonia leak at Crystal Cold Storage on 15th Street and asking how evacuation of residents and nursing home residents would be handled.
• Travis Hickey (920 North Fillmore) supported the rezoning, citing the city's 50-year population decline, a 29% increase in tax valuations, school district financial trouble, and the need for new revenue and younger residents.

Discussion Items

• Item 2A - RCK Properties rezoning (FINAL): Ordinance changing zoning from Z3 General Urban District to Z6-O Open Industrial District (19.22 acres) and from Z1 Agricultural District to Z6-O Open Industrial District (204.22 acres), subject to a Conditional Zoning Agreement. Councilman Adams read speakers' questions and staff answered. Staff stated the zoning becomes binding once the ordinance is published; the buffer land is privately owned, not city-owned; the zoning agreement is binding on current and future owners; the Development Review Committee will enforce the buffer and plan requirements; no building is allowed within 1,000 feet of residentially zoned property, including Frederick Hanford Park; the buffer's green belt must be established as part of the site development plan; and the drainage plan must be prepared by an Iowa-licensed drainage engineer and show a 10% reduction in post-development discharge rates during the 100-year storm event. Access is limited to South Pierce Avenue, 43rd Street Southwest, or South Federal Avenue, with no extension of Monroe or Midland Heights streets. Utility-scale solar generation for off-site export is prohibited, but solar for on-site use is allowed. Councilman Adams said he could not confirm the 60% buildable figure mentioned by a speaker. Council members emphasized there is no data center proposal before the council, encouraged balanced research, and committed to transparency and protecting the neighboring community if a development agreement comes forward.
• Item 2B - Zoning Agreement with RCK Properties, LLC: Resolution approving the agreement; approved unanimously with no further discussion.
• Item 3A - Indianhead Farms, Inc. rezoning (FINAL): Ordinance changing zoning from Z4 Multi-Use District to Z6 Open Industrial District (79 acres) and from Z1 Agricultural District to Z6-O Open Industrial District (80 acres), subject to the zoning agreement; approved unanimously with no added discussion.
• Item 3B - Zoning Agreement with Indianhead Farms, Inc.: Resolution approving the agreement; approved unanimously.
• Item 4 - Speed Regulations ordinance: Ordinance repealing Title 9, Chapter 4, Section 1 (Speed Restrictions) and adopting a new Section 1; passed on first reading unanimously.
• Item 5 - City Administrator's Monthly Report: Aaron reported the city was named a Tree City USA for the 22nd consecutive year and received the Trees Forever Growth Award for the 11th year, plus a $5,000 Alliant Branching Out replanting grant; Mason City was designated an IMBA Trail Town, one of about 28 nationally and the second in Iowa with Decorah; the Prairie Rock Trails Bike Fest is set for May 29-31 with Wayne's, Red Bull, and Trek; the movie theater restoration is on schedule with equipment installed by end of week, construction finishing May 1-2, and a May 16 opening showing Footloose; the new automated cart collection system rollout is targeted for July 6 with carts arriving in early June; and the city used a green laser grid at East Park to deter geese. The administrator also discussed Mason City's robust community designation in the Iowa League of Cities economic study.

Consent Agenda (Items Pulled for Discussion)

• Item 11 - Marketing & Communication Specialist: Councilman Adams explained the new position is funded from the arena budget but will serve the recreation department, focusing on arena advertising and marketing as management transitions after April 30, and later advising other city departments. Alexis Hauge was hired at Garde J, Step 1 ($30.65/hour). Approved unanimously.
• Item 17 - Fire Department billing services: Deputy Chief Beamer said Digitech Computer, LLC would replace the current biller, saving about $84,000 per year, with a potential 10-15% increase in revenue collections; the city currently collects about 54-56% of Medicaid billables. Digitech would also handle GEMT preparation, streamlining a process currently split between two companies. Approved unanimously.

Public Hearings

• Item 27 - 2026 Pavement Marking Program: No public comment. The council adopted the plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimated cost, and awarded the contract to Quality Striping, Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa (Project No. 26-1002). Approved unanimously.
• Item 28 - General Obligation Local Option Sales Tax Bonds: No public comment. The council approved taking additional action to issue bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $1,500,000. Councilman Massan stated the funds are primarily for the golf course irrigation system replacement, with additional funding for arena equipment replacement. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• The Fair Housing Month proclamation was presented by Mindy Crooks and Cassidy Harris of the Greater Mason City Board of Realtors, proclaiming April 2026 as Fair Housing Month and marking the 58th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.
• Item 2A (RCK Properties rezoning) and Item 2B (zoning agreement) passed unanimously.
• Item 3A (Indianhead Farms rezoning) and Item 3B (zoning agreement) passed unanimously.
• Item 4 (speed regulations) passed on first reading unanimously.
• The consent agenda, including appointments, hires, claims, permits, the February financial report, and numerous resolutions, passed unanimously with items 11 and 17 discussed separately and also approved unanimously.
• Items 27 and 28 passed unanimously following public hearings with no public comment.
• The meeting adjourned with no further business; council members and staff remained available to speak with citizens.