Cooperstown public meetings in 2023
17 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
City Council
The City Council approved a Flex PACE buydown program for Kirk Zink to support improvements to the apartment building south of the school. The agreement requires yearly payments over a 10-year period, with the full $23,350 to be repaid to the city at the end of the tenth year.
- $23,350 Flex PACE buydown for Kirk Zink
- Apartment building improvements south of the school
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council approved minutes, reports, and payments, adopted the Capital Improvement Plan, and approved building and local permits. Council member Seth Hanson resigned effective immediately due to moving outside city limits. The council also discussed insurance premium increases and a potential property damage claim.
- Adopted Capital Improvement Plan as presented
- Approved building permits for Charles Dehoff and Justin Parsons
- Approved local permits for GCC Archery, Atchison Rifle Club, and Knights of Columbus
- Council member Seth Hanson resigned effective November 6, 2023
- Approved payment of bills totaling $210,666.17
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council held a special meeting to approve several routine items. They approved the 2024 final budget with a property tax levy of $221,676.12 for the general fund, a police services contract with the sheriff for 2024, a building permit for Trinity Lutheran Church, a liquor license renewal for Di's Oasis, and a local permit for Michael Eslinger Medical Benefit. All items were approved by motion.
- Approved 2024 final budget with property tax levy of $221,676.12 for general fund
- Approved police services contract with Sheriff Robert Hook for Jan 1-Dec 31, 2024
- Approved building permit for Trinity Lutheran Church
- Approved liquor license renewal for Di's Oasis
- Approved local permit for Michael Eslinger Medical Benefit
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council will consider adopting the 2024 final budget and hear from Sheriff Bob Hook about a joint policing agreement. They will also review financial reports, approve bills, and discuss property cleanup and building permits.
- Adopt 2024 final budget
- Joint policing agreement with Sheriff Bob Hook
- Craig Siek property clean up
- Stanhope sewer update/water service at 1003 Hobart Ave
- GCC Senior Class Local Permit Application
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council is meeting for its regular session, with a preliminary budget hearing and a public hearing on the agenda. They will also consider various permits and a fall clean-up date. The meeting includes routine reports and bills approval.
- Preliminary Budget Hearing
- Twin City Garage Door quotes
- Building permits for Mark Urness, Melvin Crawford, Matthew Hofmann
- Special Event Permit for Di's Oasis
- Fall Clean-Up Date
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council is holding a special meeting to discuss the Planning & Zoning Ordinance, building permits, and the Stanhope sewer. These are the only items listed on the agenda, with no further details provided.
- Planning & Zoning Ordinance discussion
- Building permits discussion
- Stanhope sewer discussion
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council is holding its regular meeting with a mix of routine and substantive items. They will consider appointing Randi Johnson to the Special Assessment Commission, review options for NDIRF property insurance renewal, and discuss the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and external auditor. The agenda also includes several permits and routine financial approvals.
- Appoint Randi Johnson to Special Assessment Commission
- NDIRF property insurance renewal options
- CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) discussion
- External auditor discussion
- Building permit for Dennis Zorn
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council held a special meeting to review sewer camera and smoke testing results for a residence at 204 12th St SE, finding no major issues. They also approved several special event, building, fireworks, and liquor license permits.
- Sewer inspection at 204 12th St SE found minor root intrusion and a dip in the pipe, but no cause for backup
- Special event permits approved for Di's Oasis, The Fish Bowol, and Cooperstown Community Club
- Local permit approved for Cooperstown Medical Center Foundation
- Fireworks permit approved for Trinity Lutheran Church
- Beer license renewals approved for Bloom Café and Millers Fresh Foods; building permits for Nick Vincent and Carter Anderson
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council held a special meeting to approve two raffle permits, authorize summer employment for workers aged 16 and older at $16.00 per hour, and allow a property owner to remove a sidewalk along Highway 45 for garage construction. All items were approved by motion.
- Approved raffle permit for Cooperstown Fire Dept.
- Approved raffle permit for Dual County Classic.
- Authorized hiring summer help age 16+ at $16.00/hour.
- Approved Brad Dewald removing sidewalk along Highway 45 for garage landscaping.
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council approved a $27,400 bid from Manning Mechanical to install RPZs and Double Checks, and hired Timothy Varberg for public works. They also approved a $2,500 monthly payment for assessing duties, wage increases for several employees, and moved $250,000 into certificates of deposit. The meeting included routine approvals of minutes, bills, and a raffle permit.
- Approved $27,400 bid from Manning Mechanical for RPZ and Double Check installation
- Hired Timothy Varberg for public works, starting no later than June 19
- Approved $2,500/month for Farrah Saxberg's assessing duties until Christine Olson is certified
- Approved wage increases for several employees, including David Ludwig to $25.50/hour
- Moved $125,000 into a 12-month CD at Bravera Bank and $125,000 into a 15-month CD at Bank Forward
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council, acting as the Board of Equalization, approved changes to the 2023 property assessments. The city assessor reported a median sales ratio of 69.18%, below the expected 95-100 range, and a total value change of $671,856. Notices were sent to two property owners whose values increased by $3,000 and 10%. The council also discussed the assessor's plan to step down, as she has let her certification lapse.
- Approved 2023 assessment changes with total value change of $671,856
- Median sales ratio at 69.18%, below expected 95-100 range
- Notices sent to 2 property owners with value increases of $3,000 and 10%
- Assessor Farrah Saxberg will not continue as certified assessor; will propose new pay arrangement
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council held its regular meeting on April 3, 2023, covering routine approvals, public works updates, and personnel matters. The council approved a wage increase for a current employee and for new full-time hires, discussed the need for a third public works employee, and reviewed several other administrative items.
- Approved wage increase to $18.50/hour for Tucker Eli and new full-time employees
- Discussed hiring a third public works employee; agreed to interview an applicant
- Approved building permit for manufactured home submitted by Gary Nelson
- Approved property tax abatement
- Approved local permit for 50/50 raffle submitted by GCC Archery
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council held a special meeting to discuss additional street and drainage improvement projects. After discussion, the council voted not to move forward with any of the projects, instead opting to address problem areas as needed. The council also noted that the assessor's certification lapsed and discussed options for assessing services.
- Motion to not move forward with any street and drainage improvement projects, carried
- Discussed Park Ave project between 10th Street and 11th Street, deemed least beneficial
- Discussed Rollin Ave project across from ball diamonds, recommended fixing ditch for water flow
- Public works to create a prioritized list with pictures of areas needing attention
- Assessor Farrah Saxberg's certification lapsed as of December 31, 2022
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council reviewed bids for the Street and Drainage Improvements project, with Border States Paving, Inc. submitting a base bid of $473,415.50 and Strata Corporation a base bid of $648,621.25. A special meeting is scheduled for March 9 to decide. The council also ratified a pay increase for the public works supervisor, discussed a pending lawsuit over a sewer backup, and approved routine financial reports and bills.
- Street and Drainage Improvements project: two bids received, Border States Paving $473,415.50 and Strata Corporation $648,621.25; decision deferred to special meeting March 9
- Ratified salary increase for David Ludwig, Public Supervisor, from $22.63 to $23.00 per hour effective April 1, 2023
- City served with lawsuit over June 2022 sewer backup; council instructed to refer all inquiries to attorney
- Received $171,381.94 in Municipal Infrastructure Funds (Prairie Dog Funds) from the state
- Approved March 2023 bills totaling $137,181.34
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council held a special meeting to hire a new Public Works Supervisor and address a former employee's health insurance deduction claim. The council voted to offer the position to David Ludwig at $22.63 per hour, effective April 1, 2023, and approved a payment to Chad Johnson to settle his claim.
- Hired David Ludwig as Public Works Supervisor, effective April 1, 2023
- Set salary at $22.63 per hour, an increase of $1.50 per hour
- Approved payment to former employee Chad Johnson for health insurance deduction dispute
- Required Johnson to sign a statement releasing the city from further claims
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council approved getting bids for most additional street projects, excluding Cherokee Court and Sunflower Ave, and will seek property owner opinions on paving Sunflower Ave with shared costs. They also approved a lease agreement for BNSF Railway property, local permits, and the financial report and bills. The meeting included reports on public works and the auditor, with no decisions on a pickup purchase.
- Approved bids for all street project areas except Cherokee Court and Sunflower Ave; Rollin Ave options A and B with C as alternate
- Approved updated lease agreement for city-owned BNSF Railway Right of Way property adjoining Stephen Larson's property
- Approved local permits for GCC Archery and GCC Post Prom, and restricted event permit for Northern Mayflower Lodge
- Approved $91,357.26 in checks for January 2023, including $11,922.50 to Moore Engineering for street improvements
- Discussed removing no parking signs on Main Street to ease snow removal; no decision on 2018 Chevy pickup for $32,500
City Council
The Cooperstown City Council held a special meeting to hear a presentation from Moore Engineering on additional street work projects, including options and estimated costs. No decisions were made at this meeting.
- Presentation on additional street work projects by Moore Engineering
- Options and estimated costs discussed for each project