City of Martensdale public meetings in 2025
14 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
City Council
The council appointed Travis Tibbits to a two-year term and approved several payments for infrastructure and city services. The board also authorized the rental of city farmland and discussed funding for a new water tower.
- Appointed Travis Tibbits to replace Deb Hutchison for 2 years (unanimous)
- Approved consent agenda including $19,742.29 to OnTrack Construction and $33,677.35 to V&K (unanimous)
- Approved paying fire and rescue bills from the general account until January (unanimous)
- Approved Megan Snow's 2-mile radius for Parcel 25-26 in Warren County (unanimous)
- Approved hiring Mike Meyer for street plowing ($50) and Asher Henson for water meter reading ($125) in January (unanimous)
- Approved publishing a public notice to rent out city farmland Parcel R (unanimous)
City Council
The Martensdale City Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, fund transfers, new tobacco and liquor licenses for Brew Oil LLC, and several financial reports. They also approved a vacation carryover for an employee and directed the city attorney to review a property vacation request.
- Approved consent agenda with additional payables (unanimous)
- Transferred $53,035.33 from RUT fund for street resurfacing and backhoe repairs (unanimous)
- Transferred $4,851 from fire dept. checking and $16,000 from fire township funds for air packs, plus $5,000 from ambulance fund to rescue checking (unanimous)
- Approved tobacco license for Brew Oil LLC (unanimous)
- Approved liquor license for Brew Oil LLC (unanimous)
- Approved Resolution 11.3.2025 for State Street Finance Report (unanimous)
- Approved 2024-2025 State Financial Report (unanimous)
- Approved vacation carryover for city employee to 2026 (unanimous)
City Council
The Martensdale City Council approved a 28E agreement with St. Charles for library services and agreed to buy two fire department air packs for $20,000. It also approved the consent agenda with an added $562.84 fire department payment and directed staff to seek cheaper options for stop signs and a Spring St. water leak repair. The council tabled review of the updated ordinance book until next month, and council member Deborah Hutchison submitted a resignation effective Oct. 16, 2025.
- Approved agenda (4-0 roll call)
- Approved consent agenda plus $562.84 fire dept. shirt payment (4-0 roll call)
- Accepted 28E library services agreement with St. Charles (4-0 roll call)
- Approved purchase of 2 fire air packs, $20,000 (3-0, Henson abstained)
- Told maintenance to order stop signs online (~$880 vs ~$1,100)
- Told maintenance to check EVO and use cheapest company for Spring St. water leak repair
- Tabled review of updated ordinance book until next month
- No action recorded on new open records state code; clerk to investigate
City Council
The Martensdale City Council approved Change Order No. 2 for the Sewer Lagoon Lift Station project and approved Ordinance 09.01.2025 amending customer deposit rules. A proposed 28E agreement with St. Charles for library access was tabled pending cost inquiries from other cities. The council also directed the city attorney to send a letter about water shut-off requirements for a Burlington Ave property.
- Approved consent agenda including August minutes, payables, receipts, and $2,700 SEH Engineering payment (3-0)
- Approved fund transfer from Warren County for payroll taxes (3-0)
- Approved Change Order No. 2 for Sewer Lagoon Lift Station (3-0)
- Approved Ordinance 09.01.2025 amending customer deposits (3-0)
- Tabled 28E library agreement with St. Charles until next meeting
- Ruled owner of 265/275 Burlington Ave must use single meter and install additional shut-off valve per Ordinance 90.10
- Tabled parking enforcement discussion until Spring 2026
- Set Beggar's Night for Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.
City Council
The Martensdale City Council unanimously approved a permit for Omni Optic Fiber Cable to begin underground cable installation on Iowa Ave., Burlington Ave., and West St., with a building behind city hall. The council also approved a liquor license renewal for DanLee (Jiffy Express) and discussed code enforcement with a contractor, scheduling further discussion for September. The consent agenda, including July minutes and financials, was approved.
- Approved Omni Optic Fiber Cable installation permit (unanimous)
- Approved DanLee (Jiffy Express) liquor license renewal (unanimous)
- Approved consent agenda including July 8 minutes, July/August payables, June financials (unanimous)
- Approved Sheriff's Report as part of the record (unanimous)
- Tabled code enforcement discussion to September agenda
- Directed city clerk to contact Windstream about MidAmerican pole permission
City Council
The Martensdale City Council approved a 60-day extension for the sewer lagoon lift station project because the contractor reported an equipment back order, and approved closing statements to wire $45,872.65 from the sewer account to purchase property from the Martens Trust. The council also approved several 28E agreements for fire protection and emergency response with Lee Township, Crawford Township, and the City of Norwalk, plus a mutual assistance agreement with Norwalk. It approved the consent agenda, fire department clothing and flags, and opening a payroll tax account. The council did not decide on hiring an ordinance enforcement officer, instead asking the clerk to invite Harry VanAusdell and the city attorney to next month's meeting.
- Approved 60-day extension for sewer lagoon lift station project (4-1, Hutchison and Halterman voted no; minutes state motion carried unanimously)
- Approved closing statements and wiring $45,872.65 from sewer account to purchase Martens Trust property (5-0)
- Approved 28E fire protection contract with Lee Township (5-0)
- Approved 28E fire protection contract with Crawford Township (5-0)
- Approved 28E fire protection contract with City of Norwalk (5-0)
- Approved 28E mutual assistance agreement with City of Norwalk (5-0)
- Approved $650 for fire department shirts/sweatshirts and $100 for two flags (4-0, Henson abstained)
- Approved consent agenda: June 2 minutes, June/July payables, May financials (5-0)
City Council
The Martensdale City Council approved Justin Kilger's request to install a drain tile across East St. and gravel a back lot, approved the purchase of a fire department gear washer for about $6,500, and renewed a tobacco permit for DanLee Corp. The council also discussed loose animals and unkempt properties, directing the clerk to contact the sheriff and send letters to residents.
- Approved consent agenda including May 5 minutes, May/June payables, April financials (unanimous)
- Approved Justin Kilger's drain tile and graveling request (unanimous)
- Approved purchase of fire gear washer, approx. $6,500 (Henson abstained)
- Approved transfer of up to $6,500 from fire dept. to general checking for gear washer (Henson abstained)
- Approved tobacco permit renewal for DanLee Corp. (unanimous)
- Directed clerk to call Warren Co. Sheriff's Office about loose animals and provide ordinances to resident
- Directed clerk to send letters to residents about unkempt yards and dead tree
City Council
The council unanimously approved hiring WKHS Engineering Co. to complete engineering work for a new water tower, with a recommended 250,000-gallon tower on half an acre. They also approved a MidAmerican Energy agreement for transformer upgrades, automatic payroll deposits with City State Bank, a farm lease with Zach Wood, and three 28E mutual aid agreements for fire/rescue services. All votes were unanimous (4-0).
- Approved hiring WKHS for water tower engineering (4-0)
- Approved MidAmerican Energy transformer upgrade agreement for $4,916.85 (4-0)
- Approved automatic payroll deposits with City State Bank (4-0)
- Approved letting Zach Wood farm city land (4-0)
- Approved Resolution 05.01.2025 for 28E mutual aid with Jefferson Township (4-0)
- Approved Resolution 05.02.2025 for 28E mutual aid with Crawford Township (4-0)
- Approved Resolution 05.03.2025 for 28E mutual aid with Lee Township (4-0)
- Approved consent agenda including April minutes, payables, and March financials (4-0)
City Council
The Martensdale City Council held a special meeting on April 28, 2025, to conduct public hearings and adopt the FY2025-26 budget and the FY2024-25 budget amendment. No residents attended the hearings. The council unanimously approved the FY2025-26 budget and Resolution 04.28.2025, as well as the budget amendment and Resolution 04.28.2025.1.
- Approved FY2025-26 budget (unanimous)
- Adopted Resolution 04.28.2025 for FY2025-26 budget (unanimous)
- Approved FY2024-25 budget amendment (unanimous)
- Adopted Resolution 04.28.2025.1 for FY2024-25 budget amendment (unanimous)
City Council
The Martensdale City Council approved the 2025-2026 budget and set a public hearing for April 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. They also approved a 2-mile radius for a property to be split into two single-family home lots, and approved Vantage Point Solutions to install fiber optic lines near the DOT station. All votes were unanimous (4-0) with Mayor Prichard absent.
- Approved 2025-2026 budget and set public hearing for April 28, 2025 (4-0)
- Approved 2-mile radius for Russ Sandquist property for two single-family homes (4-0)
- Approved Vantage Point Solutions to install fiber optic lines (4-0)
- Approved consent agenda including March minutes, payables, receipts, and February financials (4-0)
City Council
The Martensdale City Council voted to use a $500,000 state grant to fund ongoing work on the sewer lagoon pump project and potentially pay off an existing SRF loan balance. The council also adopted an updated investment policy and authorized an initial $1,500 payment to begin updating the city's ordinance book. Additionally, officials discussed a potential $110,000 purchase of the Lions Hall building and scheduled a walkthrough.
- Approved using state grant funds for sewer lagoon pump project expenses (4-0)
- Adopted Resolution 03.11.2025 establishing a city investment policy (4-0)
- Approved $1,500 initial payment to Iowa Codification to update the ordinance book (4-0)
- Approved February minutes, payables, receipts, and January financials via consent agenda (4-0)
- Convened in closed session to evaluate city clerk performance under Iowa Code 21.5(i) (5-0)
City Council
The City Council unanimously approved setting the public hearing for the 2025-2026 tax levy on April 7, 2025. A motion to hold the hearing on March 27 failed due to lack of a second. Council members discussed the final audit report, noting that the city performs some tasks not typical for small cities, and directed the clerk to verify the sale date of a property sold for delinquent taxes.
- Approved agenda (4-0)
- Approved consent agenda (4-0)
- Motion to hold tax levy hearing on March 27 failed (no second)
- Approved tax levy public hearing date of April 7, 2025 (4-0)
- Directed clerk to contact Warren Co. Treasurer to confirm property sale date
- Adjourned meeting (4-0)
City Council
The Martensdale City Council approved a Vehicle Recycler License for Joe Thompson, approved the consent agenda including January minutes and payables, and approved 3% salary increases for Zach Wood and the city clerk. The council also discussed a potential rezoning for McMahan Industrial, a dog complaint, and budget items for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
- Approved consent agenda with additional Linde Gas payable (unanimous)
- Approved Vehicle Recycler License for Joe Thompson (unanimous)
- Approved 3% salary increase for Zach Wood (unanimous)
- Approved 3% salary increase for city clerk (unanimous)
- Approved budget items list from Zach Wood (unanimous)
City Council
The City Council unanimously approved four ordinances amending utility rates and adding maintenance fees for water and sewer services. The council also appointed key city officials, including a Fire Chief and City Attorney, and authorized the purchase of fire station lighting. Additionally, the council approved a 3% salary increase for employees for the 2024-2025 budget.
- Approved Resolution 01-06-2025 designating City State Bank and Regions Bank as depositories (4-0)
- Appointed Deb Hutchison as Mayor Pro Tem (3-1 abstention)
- Appointed Stuyvesant, Patin, Strong and Krapfl, PLLC as City Attorney (4-0)
- Appointed Scott Henson as Fire Chief (3-1 abstention)
- Approved Ordinance 12.01.2024 amending Water Service Rates (4-0)
- Approved Ordinance 12.01.2024.1 amending Sanitary Sewer and Rental Rates (4-0)
- Approved Ordinance 12.01.2024.2 adding Water Tower Maintenance Fee (4-0)
- Approved Ordinance 12.01.2024.3 adding Sewer Maintenance Fee (4-0)