Early council approves drainage funding steps, adopts pigeon-and-dove ordinance and water-bond resolution

Mayor Sharon Ann Irwin called a special meeting of the Early City Council to order at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17, 2021, and the council moved through several routine and project-related items.

The council approved building permits #783 and #784 after a motion by Councilor Brian Pickhinke, seconded by Councilor Steven Mason; the show-of-hands vote was unanimous (Ayes: Pickhinke, Cougill, Schmitt, Langner, Mason). The meeting then focused on planned drainage-district upgrades. Councilor Pickhinke moved and Councilor Mason seconded that City Attorney Dave Jennet draft a purchase agreement and negotiate with a landlord to potentially acquire land for a storm basin to support the drainage project; that motion passed on a 4–1 vote, with Councilor Tim Langner recorded as the sole nay.

Councilor Bill Cougill moved and Councilor Mason seconded designating the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) as the primary funding source for the Drainage District Project; the motion passed unanimously. The council then authorized ISG of Storm Lake to represent the city and prepare the CDBG grant application for the drainage upgrades, on a motion by Councilor Pickhinke seconded by Councilor Cougill; that motion passed unanimously.

Council members discussed Ordinance No. 326, a proposed water-rate increase, but took no action. Separately, Councilor Pickhinke offered Ordinance No. 327, which would add a new section to the municipal code regarding pigeon and dove lofts. After a favorable roll-call first reading (Ayes: Pickhinke, Cougill, Langner, Mason, Schmitt), the council voted to waive the second and third readings; the ordinance passed on first and final reading and Mayor Irwin declared it adopted.

On a related financial item, Councilor Pickhinke offered Resolution 21-17, authorizing a loan and disbursement agreement and providing for issuance of Water Revenue Bonds, Series 2021. The council approved the resolution on a roll-call vote (Ayes: Pickhinke, Cougill, Schmitt, Mason, Langner) and the mayor declared it adopted.

A motion by Councilor Pickhinke, seconded by Councilor Cougill, to adjourn carried, and the meeting ended at 8:07 p.m. The city clerk recorded the proceedings.