Aveka management attends Cresco Council

CRESCO - New management at Aveka Group, Cresco Facility (former name Cresco Food Technologies) addressed Cresco City Council members at the April 18 meeting.

“Besides changing the name, we changed the culture at the plant with personnel changes,” said Shain Kroenecke.

He addressed the odor issues, saying the company continues to work on getting it more under control. The City of Cresco has a form for complaints on its website under forms. 

Kroenecke stated, “I received four complaints since the first of the year. I replied to each one.” He suggested the odor must be getting better since there were only four, but council was quick to say that isn’t so. They felt residents are just living with it.

He did say they are working on technology in the lower stack. “Our other options are raising it to the 100 foot mark,” he explained.

In 2021, the company had five sewer violations with the City of Cresco and had to pay for an oil and grease issue at the lift station.

John Anderson plans to stay in touch with the City and update the council on any more issues.

• In other business, Public Works Director Nate Widell noted CIT was to be in town the following week to do critical repairs to the sewer mains. Next month, they will be cleaning sewer mains for everything west of Granger and Protivin roads.

The East Park water tower needs to be painted on the outside.

Bid letting for the bike trail project will be July 19. Construction should start this fall and finish in summer 2023.

• City Clerk Michelle Elton reported 11 applications for the City Clerk position were received.

• It was announced, there was live entertainment scheduled for nearly every month between April and December.

• Elton proposed using about $110,000 for the water department and sanitary sewer from funds issued to the City from the American Rescue Plan Act for 2022. “They want the funds to go to infrastructure,” she said. Council voted to put $50,000 for sanitary sewer; $15,000 for valve replacement in the water department; $15,000 for upgrading the watermain to a six-inch pipe on Highway 9; and $30,000 for a grit classifier at the wastewater treatment plant.

• A resident requested a stop sign be installed at 5th Ave. E. and 2nd St. E. Mayor Dave Brenno noted, “Police Chief Tim Ruroden said more accidents happen at controlled intersections.”

Councilperson Amy Bouska was opposed to another stop sign. Council voted down the request.

• The Cresco Theatre & Opera House received a grant of nearly $67,000 from the SMA Shuttered Venue Grant for lost revenue during COVID. Council voted to replace windows and do tuckpointing with the funds.

• Mehmert Tiling was approved to remove trees at the wastewater treatment plant.

• Council agreed, on a vote of 4-1 (Gary Kriener, nay — “I just think it’s too much,” he said.) to raise water and sewer rates each 6%.

• Liquor, wine and beer permits were issued to the Howard County Expo Center, Atomic Pizza Pub, McAllister Catering and Fareway Stores.

• Andera Tree Service was approved for a tree surgeon license.