COVID update given at Cresco Council mtg.

CRESCO - Council member Jan Carman reported on the positivity rate of COVID-19 in Howard County during the Nov. 1 Cresco City Council meeting.

As of that week, the positivity rate in Howard County was 10%, and the virus was very active in the schools and community. She reported three vaccinations are available for the public, and Regional Health Services was hoping to give Pfizer shots to five to 11-year-olds soon. In addition, four deaths in the county were attributed to COVID in the prior month.

• In other happenings, Police Chief Tim Ruroden is working on an offer to an officer from Oregon. In addition, the department was doing three more interviews. 

In related news, the Council allowed an extension of time for Ruroden to use his vacation carry-over. Due to staff shortages over the past two years, he has accumulated too many hours to carry over. He now has until Dec. 31, 2022 to use up his hours. He is hoping to get a full roster of officers to allow him time off. Council person Alex Fortune joked, “I’m worried about your fishing poles. You need to use them more.”

• Council approved a street closing around the Methodist Church (portions of 3rd Ave. W., 2nd St. W., alley between 3rd Ave. W. and 4th Ave. W. and North Elm St.)  on Nov. 22 to allow for a drive-by Swiss steak dinner.

• Public Works Director Nate Widell reported on work on the sanitary sewer behind CUSB Bank and concrete project (including work on the City Hall sidewalk). The well at the old outdoor swimming pool is being re-cased. It should be done by the first of December.

• City Clerk Michelle Elton noted she keeps writing stuff down on her to-do list, but it doesn’t get any shorter during this busy time of year.

She said Brian Balk was retiring from the fire department after 30 years of service. She is also contacting department heads to start work on the upcoming budget.

She is in contact with Pat Callahan for Capital Improvement Projects, Ahlers & Cooney on the tax abatement program and Howard County Auditor Julie Chapman on redistricting after the census.

The week before, there was an IPERS audit and a workers comp audit scheduled for that week.

• A public hearing was set for Nov. 15 to enter into a five-year contract with Hawkeye Sanitation.

• Elton was surprised to report the insurance cost only went up 6.32% this year, since it rose double digits for several years. Council authorized her to sign the contract.

• Water meters in the City of Cresco need to be upgraded because nobody makes that model anymore. In addition a new accounting software needs to be purchased.

• Due to problems during the COVID pandemic, employees were given an extension until June 30, 2022 to get certified for water and wastewater certifications.

• Elton emotionally announced Mark Bohle had resigned as mayor after 12 years on the previous Friday, Oct. 29. It was later learned he had passed the afternoon of Nov. 1.

Amy Bouska will continue as mayor pro-tem, until council person Dave Brenno, who won the mayoral seat on Nov. 2, takes office on Jan. 1, 2022. At the Nov. 15 meeting, council members were to start the process of appointing a person to finish Brenno’s term on Council.