Mason City Council Regular Meeting - August 4, 2026
Mason City Council Regular Meeting - August 4, 2026
The Mason City Council held a regular meeting on August 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The council adopted the agenda, heard one public comment, approved the consent agenda with two items pulled for separate discussion, appointed a new city engineer, approved a contract amendment for the North Pierce Avenue roundabout project, held a public hearing and approved a utility easement vacation, and adopted a final ordinance updating recycling regulations.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of July 21, 2026
- Claims dated July 23 and 30, 2026
- Resolution levying assessments for charges on certain properties (Item 4)
- Resolution levying special assessment for tree removal (Item 5)
- Resolution accepting work for 2026 Pavement Marking Program (Item 6)
- Resolution dedicating right-of-way East of N Illinois Ave - South Birch Dr Trail (Item 8)
- Two resolutions for 12th Street NW Turn Lane Improvements: acceptance of work and ordering final plat and schedule of assessments (Item 9a, 9b)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rugby (partial name given, no address provided) spoke regarding Consent Agenda Item 3 (appointment of city engineer). He requested information on the qualifications of the candidate and the recruitment process, noting that the proposed salary ($144,019) appeared on the high end for a city this size. He asked for details to be able to inform constituents.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Appointment of City Engineer (Krysten Foster): Councilman Ushewski noted that the item had been pulled. City Administrator Aaron (surname not given in transcript) explained the recruitment process, noting that the position had been vacant for about a year. The recommended salary of $144,019 (Grade S, Step 9) was set using a third-party market study and is comparable to peer cities. He emphasized that engineer recruitment is difficult, especially for a management role requiring leadership and public communication skills. Councilman Adams asked about the start date (August 25, 2026). Council members expressed appreciation for the recruitment and noted the challenge of hiring from the private sector. The candidate previously worked for Minnesota DOT and two county engineering positions. Councilman Simmons added that Foster’s experience and motivation aligned with the city’s needs.
- Item 7 – Amendment No. 4 with WHKS & Co. for N. Pierce Avenue & 12th Street NW Roundabout: Councilman Simmons pulled this item. The amendment includes an archaeological study required by federal ICAP funding for a site without prior archaeological review. Councilman Hassan asked about the project timeline (letting February–March 2026, construction spring 2027). A citizen inquired about potential flooding in the field west of Casey’s; Staff confirmed the project will not worsen existing drainage conditions but will not improve the naturally wet area. Project includes storm sewer installation.
- Item 11 – Ordinance Amendment on Recycling (Final Passage): Councilman Adams requested an update from Sanitation Director Jim (last name not given). The new automated collection system is in its fifth week. Trucks return by 2:30–3:30 PM on 10-hour days. First week required additional labor; three of four trucks had mechanical issues (one still out, loaner from Elliott). Drivers now favor the trucks. Issues include bags placed on top of carts (50% fall off, creating mess), mailboxes hit (three to date), and cul-de-sac access when cars are present. Recycling contamination has improved after tagging carts with non-recyclable items. Council thanked the sanitation crew for their work.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (items 1,2,4,5,6,8,9) with items 3 and 7 pulled.
- Item 3 (appointment of Krysten Foster as City Engineer) approved unanimously.
- Item 7 (Resolution approving Amendment No. 4 with WHKS & Co.) approved unanimously.
- Public hearing (Item 10, vacation of utility easements at 1036 4th Street SW) – no public speakers; resolution approved unanimously.
- Item 11 (Ordinance amending Title 4, Chapter 2 – recyclables and container specifications) approved on final reading unanimously.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
I we're running the uh official meeting, the seven o'clock meeting, August fourth, twenty twenty-six, uh, city council meeting to order. Uh clerk, call the role. Adams present. Latham. Present. Simmons. Hassan. Heinz. Present. Yesky. Here. Um record show. Everyone's present. Is there a motion a second to adopt the agenda? So moved. Second. Um, I hear it. Simmons. Um, you got it right now. Clerk call the role. Yeshewski. Yes. Simmons. Yes. Hines? Yes. Hassan. Yes. Adams. Yes. Latham. Yes. Um, we'll move on to the public forum here. The mayor and city council welcome comments from the public only on the agenda items during the public forum. You are asked to give your name, address, and the gender item that you are referring to. Please keep your comments concise and limited to three minutes. I got one. It's not so much for me, but it's because I've been asked questions on it. Um, so on agenda item number three. Um, it's easy to go online and see what an average person in a city this size gets paid. Um, and see that this is on the very high end of it. So I guess it it's um not so much for me, but kind of go over what her the qualifications are and stuff like that, how how it what the process was to finally get to actually hire hiring her because it seems like this position has been vacant for a while. I just want to be able to sound somewhat smart when I tell people what's going on. So thanks. Thank you, Rugby. Appreciate it. Anyone else? One minute, two claims. Three. Um, point hire Chris and Foster, City Engineer.
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