Forest City, IA

December Regular Council

August Regular Council

The Forest City Council will consider resolutions approving a 28E agreement with Forest City Economic Development (FCED) to make its executive director and assistant city employees, and setting dates for a public hearing and bid letting for the 2026 Intake Replacement/Rehabilitation Project. They will also discuss the YMCA childcare program, approve task orders for engineering services, and review a proposal for curb and gutter replacement.

• Resolution 26-27-05: Approve 28E agreement with FCED for employer-of-record services
• Resolution 26-27-06: Designate public posting locations for city notices
• Resolution 26-27-07: Set dates for public hearing and bid letting for 2026 Intake Replacement/Rehabilitation Project
• Task Order No. 19: $15,000 lump sum for SPCC plan updates with DGR Engineering
• Proposal from Groves Contracting for curb and gutter replacement

July Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved the consent agenda and WHKS Change Order No. 7 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements project. A request to restore a parking space in front of Susan Benson Hair Designs was discussed but no action was taken. A resolution and 28E Agreement with Forest City Economic Development was explained and will be brought back after FCED board review. A wage adjustment for Nate Doden to $41.90 was noted.

• Approved consent agenda including agenda, minutes, invoices, and library donation refunds (all ayes, Wooldridge absent)
• Approved WHKS Change Order No. 7 for Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements (all ayes, Wooldridge absent)
• No action on parking space restoration request from Susan Benson
• Tabled resolution and 28E Agreement with Forest City Economic Development pending FCED board review

July Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved the FY2026-27 salary resolution, adopted the Comprehensive Development Plan, and supported a CAT Grant application for the Bear Creek Clubhouse. It also approved several contracts, change orders, and street/parking lot closures. All votes passed with no opposition, with Councilmember Karl Wooldridge absent.

• Adopted Resolution 26-27-01 setting salaries/wages for FY2026-27 (6-0)
• Adopted Resolution 26-27-02, the Forest City Comprehensive Development Plan (6-0)
• Adopted Resolution 26-27-03 supporting CAT Grant application for Bear Creek Clubhouse (6-0)
• Approved FY2027 NIACOG Transit Agreement (6-0)
• Approved $9,495 change order for Digester 2 piping modification (6-0)
• Approved Pay Request No. 20 for $627,480.70 for wastewater plant improvements (6-0)
• Approved $9,576.08 street striping estimate from Weikert Contracting (6-0)
• Approved street closure for Immanuel Lutheran Church on Aug 18, 2026 and theater parking lot closure July 17 (6-0)

June Regular Council

The council unanimously adopted two ordinances affecting electric utility rates: Ordinance 863 adds a 1.2% fuel and purchased power cost surcharge for the first year, and Ordinance 864 raises the base electric rate by 4%. The council also rejected the only bid for the power plant boiler replacement, ending that project.

• Approved consent agenda (unanimous)
• Rejected Steege bid of $963,293 for power plant boiler replacement, ending project (unanimous)
• Approved 3rd reading and final adoption of Ordinance 863, 1.2% fuel surcharge (7-0)
• Approved 3rd reading and final adoption of Ordinance 864, 4% base electric rate increase (7-0)
• Approved Staab Construction Pay Request No. 19 for $484,566.50 (unanimous)
• Approved Puckerbrush street closures July 17-18 and fireworks July 18 (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 25-26-37, FY26 budget amendment (7-0)
• Approved purchase of Kyocera 6054ci copier for $6,310 from Visual Edge IT (unanimous)

June Regular Council

The council approved the second reading of Ordinance 863, implementing a 1.2% surcharge on electrical utility bills for one year to cover purchased power costs, followed by a reduction in the second year. It also approved the second reading of Ordinance 864, raising the base rate for electrical service by 4%. Both votes were unanimous (7-0). The council also approved a road closure on Clark Street for an America 250th event on August 10, 2026, with two members abstaining, and approved a nuisance mowing bid at $40 per hour.

• Approved Ordinance 863 (1.2% electric surcharge) on second reading (7-0)
• Approved Ordinance 864 (4% electric base rate increase) on second reading (7-0)
• Approved Clark Street road closure for America 250th event on Aug 10, 2026 (5-0, 2 abstentions)
• Approved nuisance mowing bid from Rick Burress at $40/hour (7-0)
• Approved consent agenda including licenses and permits (7-0)
• Tabled FY26 budget amendment to June 15, 2026 meeting

May Regular Council

The council gave final approval to Ordinance No. 861 (parks commission) and No. 862 (alternative street vehicles), and advanced first readings of No. 863 (1.2% fuel surcharge) and No. 864 (4% electric base rate increase). It also authorized rebidding the power plant boiler replacement, approved a wastewater change order, and set a public hearing for a budget amendment.

• Adopted Ordinance No. 861 creating council-appointed Parks & Recreation Commission (6-0)
• Adopted Ordinance No. 862 updating Alternative Street Vehicle rules (6-0)
• Approved first reading of Ordinance No. 863, 1.2% fuel surcharge (6-0)
• Approved first reading of Ordinance No. 864, 4% electric base rate increase (6-0)
• Authorized rebid of Power Plant Boiler Replacement, bid opening June 9, 2026
• Approved Change Order No. 6 for wastewater plant, $80,965
• Approved not replacing removed bump out at J & Clark and removing southwest corner bump out
• Approved purchase of 2026 Durango for police, $39,542

May Regular Council

The Forest City Council unanimously approved the second readings of Ordinance No. 861 (Parks & Recreation Commission) and Ordinance No. 862 (Alternative Street Vehicles), and adopted Resolution 25-26-34 for the countywide hazard mitigation plan. A resolution authorizing LMI funds for housing incentives was tabled pending state legislation review. The council also approved a $13,080 website software proposal from Municipal One and Pay Request No. 18 for the WWTP project.

• Approved consent agenda unanimously
• Approved Ordinance No. 861 (Parks & Recreation Commission) 2nd reading (7-0)
• Approved Ordinance No. 862 (Alternative Street Vehicles) 2nd reading (7-0)
• Adopted Resolution 25-26-34 (hazard mitigation plan) (7-0)
• Tabled Resolution 25-26-35 (LMI funds for housing incentive)
• Approved EECS software update unanimously
• Approved Pay Request No. 18 (Staab Construction) unanimously
• Approved Municipal One website software proposal ($13,080) unanimously

April Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved the FY27 budget unanimously, along with first readings of ordinances revising the Parks & Recreation Commission and defining Alternative Street Vehicles. The council also approved a $14,790 pool drainage bid, a $1,500 marketing internship stipend, and updated check signers. No bids were received for the power plant boiler replacement, and no action was taken on a vicious dog ordinance complaint.

• Approved FY27 Budget unanimously
• Approved first reading of Ordinance No. 861 (Parks & Recreation Commission) 7-0
• Approved first reading of Ordinance No. 862 (Alternative Street Vehicles) 7-0
• Approved $14,790 low bid from LaHarv for pool drainage work
• Approved $1,500 stipend for marketing intern from Waldorf University
• Updated authorized check signers for Park & Rec ESPN Fund and Platinum Horizon Account
• Approved City-Wide Clean-Up event for Boy Scout Troop 418
• No action taken on vicious dog ordinance complaint

April Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved a $16,580.96 sewer cleaning contract, a $672,752.95 wastewater plant pay request, and an auditor contract. It also advanced a TIF-funded down payment assistance program and set a public hearing for the FY27 budget. An ordinance on alternative street vehicles was tabled.

• Awarded sewer cleaning/televising contract to VisuSewer for $16,580.96 (approx. 9,400 ft)
• Approved Pay Request No. 17 to Staab Construction for $672,752.95 (WWTP improvements)
• Advanced TIF down payment assistance program (up to $20,000 for homes up to 5 years old)
• Set FY27 budget public hearing for April 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM
• Accepted TP Anderson Financial Services as independent auditor

March Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved a $294,381.48 contract with Border States for 69 KV circuit breakers for the power plant substation, and set dates for public hearings on the FY2027 property tax levy and the Power Plant Boiler Replacement Project. They also authorized bidding for the boiler replacement project. No action was taken on the Emerald Ash Borer treatment update or public forum comments.

• Approved consent agenda (agenda, minutes, invoices) (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 25-26-31 setting April 6, 2026 public hearing on FY2027 property tax levy (4-0)
• Opened and closed public hearing on 69 KV circuit breakers (4-0)
• Approved Resolution 25-26-32 awarding $294,381.48 contract to Border States (4-0)
• Authorized bidding for Power Plant Boiler Replacement Project, bid opening April 14, 2026 (4-0)
• Approved Resolution 25-26-33 setting April 20, 2026 public hearing on boiler replacement (4-0)

March Regular Council

The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 25-26-29 adopting the Iowa LOSAP Program. It also approved Resolution 25-26-30, setting a public hearing for March 16, 2026, on the intent to dissolve the Board of Park Commissioners. Other actions included adding a check signer and acknowledging a pay change.

• Approved consent agenda including minutes, invoices, and liquor license (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution No. 25-26-29 adopting Iowa LOSAP Program (6-0)
• Approved Resolution 25-26-30 setting public hearing for March 16, 2026 on dissolving Park Board (6-0)
• Approved adding Tony Mikes as authorizing check signer (unanimous)
• Acknowledged pay change for Andrew Faber to $46.99/hour effective 01/29/2026

February Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved a resolution to submit an Iowa Transportation Alternatives Program application for the Tim Coffey Trail project, and approved Pay Request No. 15 for the WWTP Improvements project to STAAB Construction in the amount of $514,539.95. They also approved a quote from Rognes Bros Excavating for $2,375.00 per connection to replace about 20 lead service lines in 2026, and moved forward with drafting an ordinance to establish a new Park and Recreation commission. All votes were unanimous except the resolution, which had one absent member.

• Approved Resolution 25-26-28 authorizing Iowa Transportation Alternatives Program application for Tim Coffey Trail (5-0, Wooldridge absent)
• Approved Pay Request No. 15 for WWTP Improvements to STAAB Construction, $514,539.95 (unanimous)
• Approved Rognes Bros Excavating quote, $2,375.00 per connection, to replace ~20 lead service lines in 2026 (unanimous)
• Approved drafting ordinance for new Park and Recreation commission, to be on 03/02/2026 agenda (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda including liquor license for The Spot (unanimous)

February Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved a special election to fill a council vacancy and authorized plans for new 69 kV circuit breakers at the power plant substation. It also approved a biosolid land application lease with Lewis Grain & Livestock and a new Recreation Superintendent job description. The council discussed revising the Park Commission ordinance to make it an advisory body, but took no formal action. No substantive decisions were made on the $400,000 reverse referendum or library consultant report, which were only discussed.

• Approved consent agenda including Shooters liquor license (unanimous)
• Approved biosolid land application lease with Lewis Grain & Livestock (unanimous)
• Approved Recreation Superintendent job description (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 25-26-26 to fill council vacancy by special election (5-0, Tweeten absent)
• Approved Resolution 25-26-27 for 69 kV circuit breakers at power plant substation (5-0, Tweeten absent)
• Acknowledged Tony Mikes as City Administrator starting 03/02/2026 at $125,000/year
• Acknowledged Steve Haugen as Water/Wastewater Superintendent starting 06/01/2026 at $45.63/hour
• Tabled payroll change for Ricky Folkerts to next agenda

January Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved a $1,286,163.20 pay request for the WWTP Improvements project to STAAB Construction, along with several equipment purchases including a $55,000 John Deere tractor, a $36,790 Ford F-150, and a $6,700 hydra bucket. The council also approved the 2026 city appointments and a lease agreement with the Chamber of Commerce. All votes were unanimous.

• Approved consent agenda including Dollar General liquor license (unanimous)
• Approved $55,000 purchase of 2025 John Deere 4075R (unanimous)
• Approved Resolution 25-26 for 2026 City & Mayor Appointments (7-0)
• Approved $1,286,163.20 pay request to STAAB Construction for WWTP (unanimous)
• Approved lease agreement with Forest City Chamber of Commerce (unanimous)
• Approved $6,700 hydra bucket bid from Sanco Equipment (unanimous)
• Approved $36,790 Ford F-150 purchase from Forest City Ford (unanimous)

January Regular Council

The Forest City Council approved a revision to Chapter 82 of the city code for golf car operation, while maintaining Chapter 75 for ATVs and UTVs, which reverts to state code. The council also approved a $747,450.50 pay request for the WWTP Improvements project, accepted a resignation, approved a job posting, and authorized a notice to fill a council vacancy.

• Approved consent agenda including minutes and invoices (6-0, Wooldridge abstained)
• Approved Pay Request No.13 for WWTP Improvements to STAAB Construction for $747,450.50 (unanimous)
• Revised Chapter 82 for golf car operation; kept Chapter 75 for ATV/UTV under state code (unanimous)
• Accepted Daisy Huffman's resignation effective 12/31/2025 (unanimous)
• Approved job posting for Water/Wastewater Superintendent (unanimous)
• Authorized publication of notice to fill council vacancy by appointment (unanimous)
• Approved removing Tony Mikes and adding Marcia Tweeten as check signer; removed Daisy Huffman and added Betty Burress to banking (unanimous)