The Boring PartsFederalLocal · USLocal · Canada
Epworth, IA

Epworth public meetings in 2025

15 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.

Wed Nov 26, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council hires Public Works Associate, approves rental listing contract

The Epworth City Council approved Resolution #34-2025 to hire Dalton Kramer as a Public Works Associate and set compensation, and approved a rental listing contract with Equity Real Estate Group. Both votes were unanimous (4-0). The meeting lasted 35 minutes.

Wed Oct 22, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves urban renewal area expansion and TIF district

The Epworth City Council unanimously approved a series of resolutions and ordinances to expand the urban renewal area, establish a tax increment financing (TIF) district, and authorize internal advances for urban renewal projects. The council also approved the final pay application and assessment schedule for the 2025 Street Improvement Project, adopted an animal ordinance amendment, and hired Jessica Kennedy as City Clerk.

Wed Oct 8, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves first reading of animal ordinance amendment

The council approved the first reading of an Animal Ordinance amendment and Title 9 code sections, and adopted revised job descriptions for City Clerk and Deputy Clerk positions. The zoning commission found the Urban Renewal Plan amendment consistent with the city's comprehensive plan. No final decisions were made on the Urban Revitalization Plan or realtor services.

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
[context] Mitch McDermott, Dan Wilgenbusch
1 absent
Dana Nadermann absent
Wed Sep 24, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves FY25 finance report, sets Oct 22 hearing on urban renewal

The council approved the annual finance report and street finance report for FY25, and set October 22 as the date for a public hearing on the expanded urban renewal area and plan amendment. They also ratified voluntary assessment agreements for surface improvements on Corbett Lane with an 8% interest rate. No action was taken on the 2025 street improvement project. The meeting was largely procedural with no substantive decisions beyond approvals and scheduling.

Wed Sep 10, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves Corbett Lane paving with 65% cost share

The council approved proceeding with an asphalt surfacing proposal for Corbett Lane, contingent on six property owners agreeing to pay 65% of the cost. Three tax increment financing projects were approved: playground renovation, pedestrian trail extension, and a round-about. A loader upgrade with trade was also approved. The resignation of Officer Joe Fleckenstein was acknowledged.

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
[context] Karen Conrad, Dan Wilgenbusch, Mitch McDermott
2 yea
finance reports yea · expenditure claims yea
Wed Aug 27, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves change order and pay application for 2025 Street Project

The Epworth City Council approved Change Order #1 and Pay Application #5 for the 2025 Street Project to Pirc Tobin Construction. The council also authorized the Public Works Director to offer Corbett Lane homeowners a voluntary assessment for asphalt surfacing. A discussion on amending the urban renewal plan was held but no action was taken. The mayor presented a proclamation supporting National See Tracks-Think Train Week.

Wed Aug 13, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council adopts ordinance changing spring open burning dates

The council approved the second reading and adopted Ordinance #19-2025, amending the spring open burning dates to March 15 through April 30. They also approved a two-year agreement with the Dubuque Regional Humane Society and agreed to share the cost of repairing a catch basin at the elementary school driveway. No other substantive decisions were made; remaining items were procedural or discussion-only.

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
to approve agenda, second Krapfl
2 yea
finance reports yea · expenditure claims yea
Wed Jul 23, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council removes pit bull ban, approves street and park projects

The Epworth City Council voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance #18-2025, removing pit bull breeds from the dangerous animal ordinance on third reading. The council also approved $280,738.99 in street improvement pay application #4 to Pirc Tobin Construction, a $60,965.50 final payment for the East Main curb & gutter project to Top Grade Excavating, and a DNR-LWCF funding agreement for playground renovation. A parade route and street closures were approved for the August 2025 Town & Country Days event.

Wed Jul 9, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves removing pit bull ban from dangerous animal ordinance

The council approved the second reading of an ordinance amendment that removes pit bull breeds from the city's dangerous animal definition. They also approved a $3,126 administrative fee for the insurance renewal, set Oct 26 as Trick-or-Treat night, and approved a cigarette/tobacco permit for Dollar General and a liquor license for Epworth Sportsmen Gun Club. All votes were 4-0.

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
[context] Karen Conrad, Dan Wilgenbusch, Mitch McDermott
2 yea
finance reports yea · expenditure claims yea
Wed Jun 25, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Epworth Council approves Horsfield Business Park plat, park sign permit, and animal breed amendment

The Epworth City Council approved the final plat for Horsfield Business Park Plat 2 with a sidewalk waiver, a park sign permit for Jack Silker, and the first reading of an animal breed amendment removing pit bull breeds from the dangerous animal ordinance. The council also approved the ICAP insurance premium portion. All votes were unanimous (5-0).

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
to approve agenda, second McDermott
1 yea
expenditure claims yea
Wed May 28, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Epworth council approves tobacco code change, subdivision plat

The council approved a tobacco permit renewal for four businesses after acknowledging a settlement for a prior violation, adopted a subdivision plat, and passed a first reading and then waived second/third readings to adopt an amendment to the city's fireworks code. A resident's storm water concern was referred to Public Works.

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
[context] Tony Krapfl, Dan Wilgenbusch
4 yea
tobacco permit violation yea · Casey’s yea · Silker’s yea · Quik ’n Handi yea
Wed May 14, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Epworth Council adopts FY25 budget amendment, approves street pay app

The Epworth City Council approved the FY25 Budget Amendment via Resolution #12-2025 after a public hearing with no comments. They also approved Pay Application #2 for the 2025 Street Improvements Project, a sign permit for Dollar General, sidewalk repair notices, and appointed Sue Ross to the Dubuque County Library Board. All votes were unanimous (3-0) with two members absent.

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
[context] Present: Karen Conrad, Dana Nadermann, Mitch McDermott
3 yea · 2 absent
Tony Krapfl absent · Dan Wilgenbusch absent · finance reports yea · expenditure claims yea · receive yea
Wed Apr 23, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council adopts FY26 budget and levy, approves seasonal hires

The Epworth City Council approved the FY26 budget and levy via Resolution #11-2025, and authorized seasonal hires for Mike Klein at $15/hr and Willis Schroeder at $12.50/hr. The council also approved allowing the Dubuque County Library to use the upper level for programs as-is, with the library providing furniture and cleaning. A proclamation declared April 27–May 4 as Soil Stewardship Week.

Wed Apr 9, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves 28E agreement for Old Hwy Rd/East Main Project

The council approved several routine items including the agenda, minutes, financial reports, alcohol renewals, and a police report. They also approved a street closure for an Easter Hunt, Pay Application #1 for the 2025 Street Improvements Project, and Resolution #10-2025, a 28E agreement with Dubuque County for the Old Hwy Rd/East Main Project. Additionally, they approved a revised playground proposal from PlayPro, replacing a climber with a spinner option.

🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Named votes as recorded in the official record.
to approve agenda, second Conrad
3 yea
expenditure claims yea · Pizza Factory yea · Pub yea
Wed Mar 26, 2025

Meeting

✓ Decided: Council approves $550K bond, sets budget hearing

The Epworth City Council approved a $550,000 general obligation bond for corporate purposes and set an April 23 public hearing on the FY26 budget. They also renewed a five-year sanitation contract with Kluesener Sanitation, approved a street closure for a motorcycle ride, and authorized a property assessment for Washington Court paving at 65% cost with 8% interest.