Cresco PD receives grant for hybrid vehicle

CRESCO - City Clerk Michelle Elton told Cresco City Council members at the Dec. 6 meeting she had received two grants from Bouska Trust.

One is for $5,000 for the Cresco Police Department to go toward an energy efficient hybrid car. “We will track and compare the differences between a regular vehicle and electric,” she said.

The other grant was $1,700 for spray foam insulation, to be used between the former  scene shop and the theatre building.

• In other business, Leon Langreck asked Council to consider changing some property he owns from being inside to being outside city limits. He had purchased property in 2018 and put a commercial building on the land. He was surprised at the high taxes associated with the property.

Elton told him he would have to go through Planning & Zoning Commission, which would cost $100 to hold a public hearing. She added Council would or would not then approve the request. Langreck opted to get an answer from Council on whether members would approve the request. All five members said they would not approve moving the city limits.

Langreck was later approved for a tax abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan, which will give him an exemption for three years for Valley Storage LLC, contingent on payment of building permits.

Elton also reported Mediacom was raising rates. “They are saying it is a 34% increase. Most packages are going up by around $10.”

Dean and Wendy Lickteig are researching upgrades to the City’s sound system. One option may be to have individual microphones. Currently, it is hard to hear the meetings as they are replayed on YouTube or the Mediacom station.

Elton has been busy working on budgets.

• Public Works Director Nate Widell reported several watermain breaks that were fixed. In addition, Northway installed the 10-inch pipe in Well #3. It was to be back up and running soon.

The brush pile at the yardwaste site was burned to make room for more waste.

• Police Chief Tim Ruroden said the department is getting closer to being able to hire two officers and two reserve positions.

• At a public hearing Elton and council person Alex Fortune both had comments from residents about not wanting to be required to have new totes for garbage and recycling. 

Council members were told to have residents call Hawkeye Sanitation if they have specific concerns.

Council person Dave Brenno comments, “This is new for us. I think many towns are going this way with waste management.”

After the hearing, the second reading was performed and approved.

• Council approved a 28E agreement with Northeast Iowa Community Action for funding.

• Under the Consent Agenda, a Class C Liquor License (LC) with Sunday service  was permitted for Big Daddy Hideaway Corp d/b/a Sweeney’s Lounge. A Tax Abatement under the Urban Revitalization Plan for Kip and Amanda Powers and a designated snowmobile trail in City limits for Dec. 20, 2021 through April 1, 2022 were approved.

Tree surgeon licenses were allowed for Tarzan Tree Service LLC; Total Tree Care LLC; Wilson Custom Tree Trimmers LLC; and Tim Walton d/b/a Tim Walton Tree Service.

Excavator licenses were approved for Mehmert Tiling Inc.; Skyline Construction Inc.; Mudslingers Inc.; and MB Inc. 

• Council person Jan Carman reported from Howard County Public Health the positivity rate for Howard County is 11% for COVID-19. Omicron variant is in surrounding states and expected to be in Iowa soon. Last weekend, only 19 ICU beds were available in the state of Minnesota, which is where Cresco sends many of its transfers. 

Of those hospitalized with COVID, 73% are unvaccinated and, in ICU, 84% are not vaccinated. Everyone is encouraged to register for vaccinations at RHSHC.com under “signup 

genius.”

The next meeting is Dec. 20, and the first meeting in 2022 is tentatively set for Wednesday, Jan. 5.