The Mason City City Council met on August 18, 2026, at the Mason City Public Library. The meeting included proclamations, recognitions, a consent agenda, a public hearing, and action items. All votes were unanimous. Key topics included an overdose awareness proclamation, wellness month, recognition of the Newman Catholic baseball team and Mandi Pralle, denial of a liquor license, grant applications for St. John Baptist Church, and approval of the Highland Park Golf Course irrigation project.
No members of the public spoke during the public forum.
The consent agenda (items 5–7, 9–13, 15–17) was adopted unanimously after pulling items 8 and 14 for separate discussion. Approved items included:
I will now call the meeting of the Mason City City Council to order. Clerk, call the role. Adams. Present. Here. Yeski. Here. Heinz. President. Latham. President Simmons. Present. Thank you very much. Is there a motion a second to adopt the agenda tonight? No move. Second. Musheski Masan. Clerk, please call the roll. Yeski? Yes. Masan. Yes. Simmons. Yes. Adams. Yes. Latham. Yes. Hines. Yes. All right. Thank you very much. We'll move on to special items. Tonight we got uh a couple of proclamations and couple recognitions here. Um first one. Um, if you can come up with um anyone else who would like to be part of this recognition and the work you guys do. Come on up, thank you very much. Whereas Mason City recognizes the harm caused by drug overdose and remembers the lives lost in families and communities forever affected. And whereas International Overdose Awareness Day, observed, August 31st, calls us to remember those we have lost, reduce the stigma surrounding substance use and recovery, and strengthen efforts to prevent future deaths. And whereas overdose affects families and communities throughout North Iowa, we recognize the health care professionals, first responders, recovery advocates, Cerro Gordo Public Health, and North Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition and Crisis Intervention and others working to save lives and support recovery. And whereas recovery is made possible through treatment, resources, encouragement, and the support of families, professionals, and community, but lasting change also requires personal courage, responsibility, and the decision to take that first step toward a different future. And whereas those affected by substance use are our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, co-workers, neighbors and friends, deserving of compassion, support, and the opportunity for recovery. Now, therefore, I, John P. Lee, Mayor of Mason City, do by do hereby proclaim Monday, August 31st, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day. In Mason City, Iowa, encourage our community to remember those we have lost, support those who are struggling recovering, and work together to prevent overdose and save lives in the future. Thank you for the work you do. If I can have Tammy Herzl and anybody else with the why. And whereas some of the most powerful steps toward better better health are also among the simplest: walking, biking, playing, spending time outdoors, stepping away from our screens, connecting face to face with family, friends, and neighbors, and making movement and human connection a natural part of our everyday lives. Also, whereas Mason City is committed to becoming a community where healthy choices are easier by investing in our parks, our trails, recreational opportunities, walkable neighborhoods, pedestrian connections, and public spaces that invite people to get outside, move, gather, and connect. Whereas organizations such as Mason City, Family YMCA, along with health care providers, schools, businesses, community organizations, families, and individuals throughout all of North Iowa, help create opportunities for people of every age and ability to pursue healthier and more active lives.