Regular Council Meeting
March 16, 2026, 6:00 P.M.
Community Media Center
Mayor Jake Ellwood called the meeting to order. Council present were: Candy Langerman, Mary Phelan, Ben Duehr and Scott Brighton. Also present were City Administrator Russell Farnum, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Water /Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden, Library Director Faith Brehm, Parks and Rec Director Jacob Oswald, Ambulance Director Lori Lynch and City Engineer Colton Ingles. Council members Josh Brenneman and Dave Goedken were absent. The public was invited to attend the meeting in person, or to participate in the meeting electronically via “Zoom Meetings” or “Facebook” and were encouraged to communicate from the chat or message.
Brighton moved to approve the agenda. Phelan seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve the consent agenda, Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2026-26 Approving Pay Request #7 to Roger Stephen, Re: Stephen Addition Trunk Sewer Project and for partial payment of retainage to Roger Stephen, Re: Stephen Addition Trunk Sewer Project in the amount of $70,930.67. Phelan seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2026-27 Approving the hiring of a Monticello Ambulance On-Call Driver and setting wage. Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Phelan moved to approve Resolution #2026-28 To Acknowledge the hiring of Monticello Library seasonal employee and setting wage. Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2026-29 Approving Pay Request #22 to Bill Bruce Builders, Inc., Re: Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project in the amount of $845,993.31. Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous. When asked Farnum advised the completion date for this project is June 2027.
Oswald reported Trees Forever no longer requires a Tree Board to get funding or grants. With the Park Board creating Pillars, it will be incorporated into one of them and looking to increase the size of the Park Board. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2026-30 Proposing the discontinuation of the “City Tree Board” and Scheduling Public Hearing pursuant to Iowa Code Section 392.7. Phelan seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2026-31 approving the Purchase of a Hustler zero turn mower for Cemetery from Kromminga Motors. Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Farnum advised the next several easements were for the Sixth Street Ditch Project. Ingles advised they were in contact with DNR and Corp of Engineers to get the permits again for this project. Being the permits were previously approved; it should be quicker to get them re-approved. They are looking at bidding the project in May and contract approval in June. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2026-32 To Accept and Approve a Temporary Construction Easement with Scott Wilcox for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2026-33 To Accept and Approve a Permanent Drainage Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Scott Wilcox for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Phelan seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Phelan moved to approve Resolution #2026-34 To Accept and Approve a Temporary Construction Easement with Ashley Archambault for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Phelan moved to approve Resolution #2026-35 To Accept and Approve a Permanent Drainage Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Ashley Archambault for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Duehr seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2026-36 To Accept and Approve a Temporary Construction Easement with Autumn Wersinger for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Phelan moved to approve Resolution #2026-37 To Accept and Approve a Permanent Drainage Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Autumn Wersinger for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Duehr seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2026-38 To Accept and Approve a Temporary Construction Easement with Keith E. and Janice K. Tackett for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Phelan seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2026-39 To Accept and Approve a Permanent Drainage Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Keith E. and Janice K. Tackett for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Duehr seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2026-40 To Accept and Approve a Temporary Construction Easement with Morgan Eggiman for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Phelan seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Phelan moved to approve Resolution #2026-41 To Accept and Approve a Permanent Drainage Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Morgan Eggiman for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Duehr seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2026-42 To Accept and Approve a Temporary Construction Easement with Scott L. and Patricia Chally for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Phelan moved to approve Resolution #2026-43 To Accept and Approve a Permanent Drainage Easement and Maintenance Agreement with Scott L. and Patricia Chally for the 6th Street Ditch Restoration Project. Duehr seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Ellwood reported he served on the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority Board and Farnum has agreed to replace him as Monticello’s representative. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2026-44 Appointing Commissioners To The Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority From The City Of Monticello, Iowa. Duehr seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Brighton reported the Cemetery Board approved his proposed project to install all weather wall with the names for Veterans buried in Oakwood Cemetery, at no cost to the City. They would no longer be placing the plaques with the flags. They would put the flags up about April and leave them up through Veteran’s Day. Phelan moved to approve the proposed project to install all weather wall with the names for Veterans buried in Oakwood Cemetery, seconded by Langerman. Roll call was unanimous.
Farnum reported Council member Goedken proposes to straighten, re-enforce and clean-up the fence at Oakwood Cemetery. The fence would remain in place and not a complete restoration. Barb Himes, 138 El Camino Real, stated at a previous Council meeting when the fence was discussed, all but two of the neighbors were present. The neighbors have always maintained the fence, which has been there for over 100 years. They have never asked for help or expected the help for the fence. Cemetery Board member Mary Melchert, 1 Spring Farm Lane, stated she was never informed if the fence was on the property line or not. Farnum stated the fence is fully on City property by 6 inches to a foot. Melchert stated the reason she voted against the proposed project was that it was 100 years old. She appreciates what Goedken is doing, but feels it is a Band-Aid approach to keep it together. Brighton moved to approve the Cemetery Fence repairs, as was approved by the Cemetery Board. Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Farnum reported March 25th is the State-wide tornado drill at 10 AM. Farnum has been working on the insurance renewal. Farnum stated America 250 is this year and he is looking to decorate City Hall to commemorate the event. He continues to work on the wage scales and evaluations.
Farnum reported Public Works has been moving snow from the recent storm. They had the street sweeper out prior to the storm. Yard Waste pickup will begin on April 2nd.
Tjaden reported they had a sewer trunk line that was plugged with tree roots and Pirc-Tobin replaced about 40’ of the trunk, which only comes from Merrinole Addition.
Oswald and Brehm reported on various activities for their respective departments.
Lynch advised a fulltime EMT is stepping down to parttime, so will be looking for a fulltime EMT.
Hinrichsen reported the annual audit for FY 2025 will be released tomorrow.
Phelan reported Park Board discussed the many programs and activities happening. Tree Board will be incorporated into the Park Board. Phelan reported the Library Board worked on updating the job descriptions.
Brighton reported the Cemetery Board discussed the fence, flags and mower, that was on the agenda tonight.
Brighton moved to go into Executive Session to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property. The minutes and the audio recording of a session closed under this paragraph shall be available for public examination when the transaction discussed is completed. Phelan seconded the motion. Roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to open the open session, Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous. Duehr moved to direct staff to proceed as was discussed, Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to go into Executive Session to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. Langerman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Phelan moved to open the open session, Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous. No action was taken.
Brighton moved to adjourn at 7:30 P.M.
Jake Ellwood, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk/Treasurer