McConnell on Cresco Council

CRESCO - After a question-and-answer period and looking over qualifications, Cresco City Council members voted unanimously to appoint Richard McConnell to fill the vacancy for the at-large seat left when Steve McCarville resigned due to health reasons.
McConnell gave a list of his skills, which would be beneficial to the City. Some of them included certified operator International Bottled Water Assn., engineering projects, budgeting and business plans, safety and regulatory compliance/wastewater and plants permits and operations management. He was plant manager of Nestle Waters for 17 years and had 15 years in operations for G. Heilman/Stroh Brewing.
In addition, former 20-year-plus council person John Loveless applied.
During the following regular Council meeting McConnell took his seat with the other Cresco City Council members.
• The rest of the meeting was pretty straight forward. After offering the job of Public Works Director to Nate Widell at a work session on Sept. 29, he accepted the position and will be easing into it with the help of the retiring Rod Freidhof. Mayor Mark Bohle signed the offer of employment, sealing the deal.
• Freidhof said the street department is getting ready for winter. “The sand and salt is already mixed up,” he said. The yard waste pick-up started on Oct. 5 for the first week. In regards to this, the City was having a hard time getting rid of wood chips and compost from the tree dump. “Someone asked about it, and we hauled it to him. If it is a reasonable distance for us, we will haul it,” he added.
The EPA made a surprise inspection on meeting day at 4 p.m. “I’m sure we’ll have more information for you at the next meeting. There is another community they are inspecting. I don’t know who that is,” Freidhof said.
• City Clerk Michelle Girolamo has been busy the past few weeks writing some grants and resolutions.
• Council approved a request to get reimbursed from the Iowa COVID-19 Government Relief Fund, which is a second request for August and September. The first request received by the City was for $70,593.75. This second request is for $18,269.44.
• Council agreed to approve the purchase of a refurbished Durapatcher, which is used quite a bit by the street department. There was $75,000 budgeted with trade-in allowance. Freidhof found a 2017 refurbished one for $47,995 minus the trade-in of $8,495 at a cost of $39,500. He admitted they had good luck with the old one, 2011 model.
• The second reading of Ordinance No. 487, Engine Brakes and Compression Brakes Prohibited Noises, was read and approved.
• The Council adopted the Comprehensive Solid Waste Reduction Plan for Cresco.
• Girolamo will renew the dental insurance contract with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for employees.
• Mayor Bohle proclaimed Oct. 7, 2020 as Energy Efficiency Day.
• Budget Amendment #1 for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021 was approved.
• Girolamo will work on paying off a loan due in 2025. By paying it early, it will save the City almost $20,000.
• Each meeting, Council hears what the departments are doing in regards to COVID-19. Freidhof said the pandemic has had a silver lining, as the different departments were forced to cross-train. It had always been on the to-do list, but with the coronavirus, it had to be done.
Library Director Cynthia Kay agreed the employees were able to get more done during the shutdown. But now, everyone is back to regular hours.
The next Council meeting is Monday, Oct. 19.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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