COUNCIL MEETING
April 22, 2025
5:30 P.M.


PRESENT:   Ahrenholtz, Jackson, Sloan, Wetrich, Zmolek
ABSENT:   None


Mayor Berry presided.


Mayor Craig Berry read proclamation to declare the calendar year of 2025 as the “Year of Great American Main Street Award” in the City of Jefferson and Friday, May 9, 2025, as “GASMA Celebration Day” in Jefferson, Iowa. Mayor Berry presented the plaque to Amy Milligan, President of Jefferson Matters and Councilman Matt Wetrich who is the Executive Director of Jefferson Matters.


Cindy Wise addressed the council in open forum regarding concerns with the City providing funds to a private business that may host a drag queen bingo private event in the future.


On motion by Zmolek, second by Jackson, the Council approved the following consent items: 
(2) April 1, 2025 Special Council Minutes, Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Program application for 607 S. Oak Street,  Tree Removal Assistance agreement for 1407 S. Elm Street (506 S Rushview Drive was removed from the agenda), Sewer Bill Forgiveness at 301 East State Street and 400 South High Street, Gax #9 for Centennial Upper Story Housing Grant 23-HSGU-003, Cloud Wine, LLC , DBA Lucky Wife Wine Slushies, Special Class C Retail Alcohol License for events July 13, 2025 and October 5, 2025 and payment of monthly bills from City Funds.


AYE:    Ahrenholtz, Jackson, Wetrich, Zmolek
NAY:   Sloan


Sarah Morlan, City of Jefferson Finance Officer, provided the Council with a presentation on FY 2025-2026 Budget Adoption.


This is the time and place for the Public Hearing on FY 2025-2026 Budget and Certification of City Taxes. The mayor called for oral or written comments and there were none. On motion by Wetrich, second by  Zmolek, the Council closed the Public Hearing.


AYE:   Zmolek, Wetrich, Sloan, Jackson, Ahrenholtz   
NAY:   None


RESOLUTION NO. 21-25
On motion by Ahrenholtz, second by Sloan, the Council approved Resolution No. 21-25, a resolution approving FY 2025-2026 Budget and Certification of City Taxes. 


AYE:   Sloan, Jackson, Ahrenholtz, Zmolek, Wetrich  
NAY:   None


ORDINANCE NO. 643
On motion by Jackson, second by Sloan, the Council approved third reading and final adoption of an ordinance amending the code of ordinances of the City of Jefferson, Iowa, 2017, by amending tree species specifications and planting regulations.


AYE:   Jackson, Ahrenholtz, Zmolek, Wetrich, Sloan         
NAY:   None










This is the time and place for the Public Hearing on the Plans, Specifications, and Estimated Construction Cost for the Construction of the Fuel Farm Improvement Project at Jefferson Municipal Airport in Jefferson, Iowa. The mayor called for oral or written comments and there were none. On motion by Ahrenholtz, second by Wetrich, the Council closed the Public Hearing.


AYE:   Ahrenholtz, Jackson, Sloan, Wetrich, Zmolek   
NAY:   None


RESOLUTION NO. 22-25
On motion by Zmolek, second by Sloan, the Council approved Resolution No. 22-25, a resolution approving Plans, Specifications, and Estimated Construction Cost for the Construction of the Fuel Farm Improvement Project at the Jefferson Municipal Airport in Jefferson, Iowa. 


AYE:   Zmolek, Wetrich, Sloan, Jackson, Ahrenholtz  
NAY:   None


RESOLUTION NO. 23-25
On motion by Zmolek, second by Jackson, the Council approved Resolution No. 23-25, a resolution accepting bid authorizing the Award of Contract, Contingent upon the receipt and execution of Grant Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration and Approving an Application for Federal Aviation Funding Assistance for the Construction of the Fuel Farm Improvements Project at the Jefferson Municipal Airport in Jefferson, Iowa. Evora Energy, LLC of Grimes, Iowa was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and was 9% below the engineer’s estimate for Base Bid, Alternate Bid ‘A’, Alternate Bid ‘B’ and Alternate Bid ‘C’ at $836,409.51.


AYE:   Jackson, Zmolek, Sloan, Wetrich, Ahrenholtz  
NAY:   None


RESOLUTION NO. 24-25
On motion by Zmolek, second by Jackson, the Council approved Resolution No. 24-25, a resolution approving Greene County Community School District Application for Plat of Survey. 


AYE:   Zmolek, Sloan, Ahrenholtz, Jackson, Wetrich  
NAY:   None


On motion by Ahrenholtz, second by Wetrich, the Council approved to move forward on the concept for the former Middle School Housing Re-development Project. Chris Deal is asking for final financing from the city of a $300,000 Forgivable Loan and 10-year Tax Abatement. 


AYE:   Jackson, Ahrenholtz, Wetrich, Zmolek
NAY:   Sloan


On motion by Wetrich, second by Jackson, the Council approved a façade grant for Art on the Fly LLC (Jolene Peters) for $47,500 enhancements at 116 N Wilson Street (now the office of Bolton & Menk).


AYE:   Zmolek, Wetrich, Jackson, Sloan, Ahrenholtz
NAY:


On motion by Ahrenholtz, second by Zmolek, the Council approved change order #26 to Shank Constructors, Inc. in the amount of $226,321.59 for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project.


AYE:   Sloan, Jackson, Ahrenholtz, Wetrich, Zmolek      
NAY:   None


Chad Stevens, Building Official/Code Enforcement for City of Jefferson updated Council on Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Study.






On motion by Wetrich, second by Sloan, the Council moved to go into Closed Session 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to the individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. 


AYE:   Ahrenholtz, Jackson, Sloan, Wetrich, Zmolek   
NAY:   None


On motion by Jackson, second by Wetrich, the Council moved to return to the open session.


AYE:   Ahrenholtz, Zmolek, Wetrich, Sloan, Jackson   
NAY:   None


No further action was taken. 


On motion by Jackson, second by Ahrenholtz, the Council Adjourned at 7:28 p.m.


AYE:   Ahrenholtz, Jackson, Sloan, Wetrich, Zmolek
NAY:   None


The following bills were approved for payment from City funds:
ABC PEST CONTROL SN PEST CONTR 379.22
ACCESS SYSTEMS LEASING CPIER LSE 919.50
ACCO UNLIMITED CORP WA CHEM 8,592.75
ACUSHNET COMPANY GCRSE MERCH 1,311.56
AG SOURCE COOP SERV WA TSTG 1,224.15
ALLIANT ENERGY AP UTILITIES 18,251.54
ANATOMY IT, LLC PA SSL CERT 1,417.76
ANGELA YOUNGERS LB SPEAKER FEE 70.00
BILL MCDOWELL HEALTH INS SINK 1,791.91
BLUE EARTH LABS, LLC WA SUPP 9,622.71
BOMGAARS SUPP 992.02
BUSY BEES TREE SERV 604 S MAPLE (TREE REMOVE) 3,000.00
CARD SERVICE CENTER CREDIT CARDS 3,472.15
CHAD STEVENS REIMB POSTAGE/CLASS 512.97
CINTAS CORP FIRST AID 161.46
COBRAHELP PA ADMIN FEE 15.00
COLLECTION SERVICES CENTR CASE ID 1034974 300.00
COMMUNITY INS AGENCY CYBER & PRIVACY RENEW 279,812.10
COMPASS MINERALS AMERICA WA SALT 4,559.37
CONTINENTAL RESEARCH CORP SUPP 298.91
COON RAPIDS HARDWARE HANK RN WASHER 1,403.99
COSTUME SPECIALISTS LB COSTUME RENTAL 270.00
DAVID TEEPLES RUT BOOTS 80.99
DEMCO INC LB PROG SUPP 81.68
ED M. FELD EQUIPMENT CO. ANIMAL SHELT ALARM MONITOR 105.00
EFTPS FEDERAL WITHHOLDING 21,755.35
ELLIOTT EQUIPMENT CO. SN BUSHING FLANGED 4,752.54
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE SER ENVIRO SITE ASSESSMENTS 5,000.00
FAIRVIEW VETERINARY CLINIC ANIM SHELT - VET EXP 776.50
FAREWAY LB PROG TREATS 86.29
FASTLANE MOTOR PARTS LLC PARTS 4,325.03
GREENE COUNTY LIBRARIAN AS LB - FOUNDATION GRANT 2025 3,000.00
GROW REPAIR LLC RN LED BULBS PKG LOT 1,530.69
HOME STATE BANK ACH 92.64
HOTSY CLEANING SYSTEMS SW SUPERXL 270.00
HOYT, MORAIN & HOMMER, P.C LEGAL GENERAL MATTERS 1,814.50
IOWA COVER CROP CEM GRNDSKEEPER BLEND 268.00
IOWA INFORMATION MEDIA GRO PA LEGALS 593.24
J & M DISPLAYS, INC. FIREWORKS 10,000.00
J & M GOLF GCRSE MERCH 108.15
JANE MILLARD LB REIMB BOOKS;SUPP 59.85
JEFFERSON PUBLIC LIBRARY LB PETTY CASH 50.00
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB PA DUES 133.00
JOHNSON FITNESS & WELLNESS RN  MAINT 837.70
KAREN EASON WA DEP REF 150.00
KIMBALL MIDWEST RUT PAINT 126.60
LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC. RUT PARTS 539.24
LINDA BETSINGER MCCANN LB SPEAKER FEE 150.00
METRO WASTE AUTHORITY SN/RC FEES 7,243.75
MIDLAND POWER COOPERATIVE AP LIGHTS 708.81
MOTOR PARTS PARTS 1,551.12
MUNICIPAL SUPPLY WA METERS 2,197.50
NEESE, INC. SW EMERGENCY HAULING 1,000.00
PER MAR SECURITY SERVICES RN FIRE ALARM MONITORING 90.00
PUB ADVENTURES, LLC FORGIVABLE LN PMT#2 89,775.00
PVS DX, INC WA CHEM 711.12
RACCOON VALLEY RADIO GCRSE - ADV 1,524.37
REGION XII COUNCIL - GOVT RUT TRANSIT 1,013.44
RITE-WAY TOWING & RECOVERY PD IMPOUND - TOW 214.00
ROXANNE GORSUCH REIMB CAF;MILEAGE;MEALS 171.45
SHADRAN SUPP 1,388.99
SHINEON DESIGNS RN RUN T-SHIRTS 460.00
SPRING-GREEN PA MAINT 51.15
SRIXON/CLEVELAND GOLF GCRSE MERCH 1,664.62
STATE HYGIENIC LABORATORY SW TSTG 295.00
STONE SW DOOR HANGERS 90.75
THOMAS JEFFERSON GARDENS HOT/MOT QRTLY PMT FY24-25 5,000.00
TREVOR J. HANSEN PD ACADEMY MEALS 174.21
U.S. CELLULAR PD PHONE 353.61
VERIZON WIRELESS PD PHONE 282.99
ZIMCO SUPPLY CO. GCRSE CHEM 4,860.00
 
FUND TOTALS
001   GENERAL FUND 140,871.89
110   ROAD USE TAX 65,278.31
112   CAFETERIA PLAN 25.00
125   TIF 240.00
128   HEALTH INS. SINKING 1,700.00
134   LIBRARY AGENCY 587.97
149   DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS 89,775.00
600   WATER 88,083.73
610   WASTEWATER 66,880.36
660   AIRPORT 3,402.48
670   SANITATION 49,796.57
671   RECYCLING 9,246.63
GRAND TOTAL 515,887.94