Cresco Council approves RLF for Broken Road Grill, Bar

CRESCO - The Cresco City Council approved a Revolving Loan Fund to aid in the purchase and remodel of the former Southside Bar & Grill at 107 2nd Ave. SE, along Highway 9.

Owners Kevin and Carol Lundt introduced themselves to the council. Carol said, “We named Broken Road Grill and Bar after a Rascal Flatts song that means a lot to us. We are trying to remodel it and maybe open next month if all goes okay.”

Kevin added, “We want people to walk in and get a ‘Wow’ moment.”

• In other business during the Wednesday, Sept. 8 meeting, Angela Bries asked how the City Attorney was doing in sending letters to nuisance properties in her neighborhood. She had complained at the July 19 meeting.

Public Works Director Nate Widell said the attorney is taking care of it, but he didn’t know the status. 

Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Bouska thanked Bries for bringing the problem to the City’s attention and asked others to report items. “Don’t sit and get frustrated [when you see a problem]. Report it to Nate.”

• Council members approved a joint agreement with Howard County for the Howard County Wind Farm Urban Renewal Plan.

A third wind farm went up about a year-and-a-half ago. The County had set up a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) on wind turbines when they first showed up nearly 10 years ago. TIFs allow the county to borrow against future property taxes generated over the next 10 years.

The “extra” money has been used to fix roads and bridges. The money for Cresco has been authorized for the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail and other roads in the county.

• Council approved the mayor to sign an Iowa Safety Education Program Participant Agreement with the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities. Widell stated the water/sewer/streets departments use the OSHA program a lot for safety education. 

• The Annual Financial Report for the City of Cresco was approved.

• City Clerk Michelle Elton explained to Council insurance premiums have risen 16% in the past two years, so she decided to get quotes from another company The Iowa Communities Assurance Pool (ICAP), a member-owned and operated group self-insurance program for Iowa public entities. The current company used by the City of Cresco is EMC.

The insurance committee of Elton, Deputy Clerk Teresa McGee and council members Jan Carman and Rich McConnell met with Cindy Butikofer of CIA and a representative for EMC and Gerald and Kelly O’Donnell and Sandi Reinhart of V&V Insurance and the ICAP representative.

Elton noted both policies had positives and negatives. It was also mentioned the current policy was not insuring the Fitness Center at replacement value, which would need to be rectified.

Council all voted to keep EMC insurance. On a vote of 3-1 (McConnell, Bouska and Dave Brenno to Jan Carman, Alex Fortune absent) it was approved to switch agents from CIA to V&V.

• Council members discussed the Capital Improvement Plan, comparing each council member’s thoughts on the importance of each project. Members will meet again after the Sept. 20 meeting to go over it again.

• Council approved Class C Liquor License with Sunday Sales and Outdoor Service to The Pub; a tobacco permit for Big Daddy Hideaway Corp. doing business as Sweeney’s Lounge; and a parade permit for Crestwood Homecoming on Sept. 17.