Meeting Minutes

The Eldon City Council met in regular session on April 14, 2026 at Eldon City Hall with Mayor McClure presiding. Council members answering roll call were Tom Bedford, Andrew Birch, Craig Brown, Stacey Doree, and David Showman. The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm.

Mayor McClure made a statement to the public regarding meeting decorum.

Motion by Showman to authorize the agenda, second by Bedford, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Doree to open the public hearing on the proposed FY27 budget adoption, second by Showman, all aye, motion carried.

Carrie Teninty did not receive written or oral comments.

Don Harness was present and questioned portions of the budget.

Motion by Showman to close the public hearing, second by Birch, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Doree to authorize regular minutes March 10, 2026, special meeting minutes March 24, 2026, and special meeting minutes March 24, 2026, second by Brown, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize the bills, second by Birch, all aye, motion carried.

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:

Jon Bennett was not present.

Motion by Showman to authorize building permit for 310 Des Moines, second by Birch, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize renewing building permit for 301 W Walnut, second by Doree, all aye, motion carried.

City Clerk: Motion by Brown to authorize forgiving late fess at 502 Elm, second by Showman, all aye, motion carried.

Public Works: Discussion was held on a generator for the lift station. More information will be obtained.

Cemetery: No report. The public works department will take the gator to the cemetery.

Law Enforcement: No report.

Library: A written report was received.

Engineer: No report.

Gothic Visitors Center: A written report was received. The city code will be amended to allow for a variance for Harvest Host. Special variances may be permitted May to November and allow two campers at a time.

Discussion was held on the prairie at the AGHC. Consensus was to allow Wapello County Conservation to take care of the prairie.

Discussion was held on the grant obtained for the educational center. Cari Nicely presented the architect drawing for the new building. Discussion was held on the city being involved in the process of the new building. The building will be placed on city property.

Fire Department: Motion by Showman to authorize $1,000.00 funds for Gothic Days and the Wapello County Fair fundraisers, second by Birch, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize $150.00 for mass air flow sensor for truck 414, second by Birch, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Brown to authorize a contract with Wapello County Fair Board for fire services during the races, second by Doree, all aye, motion carried.

Trails/Parks/Playground: Motion by Brown to authorize repairing disc golf concrete tee pad, second by Showman, all aye, motion carried. The public works department shall do the work.

Discussion was held on the overlook on Railroad Street.

Eldon Athletics: Motion by Birch to authorize two batting cages form Cardinal School District, second by Showman, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize up to $2,500.00 for concrete for batting cage and mat, second by Doree, all aye, motion carried.

Old Business: Discussion was held on violations of non-compliance of garbage ordinance. The city code will be amended to allow for a $5.00 violation per occurrence. A notice will be sent prior to the violation fee. The few will be added to the utility bill.

Motion by Doree to authorize $600.00 for city hall repairs, second by Brown, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Brown to authorize the bid for sidewalk installation on Elm Street from Chickering Foundation in the amount of $12,825.00, second by Bedford, all aye, motion carried. The public works department will remove the trees and tree stumps.

Motion by Doree to authorize $1,600.00 for motion activated lights for the public works building and the storage room, second by Showman, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by showman to authorize a bid for 9^th Street sewer repair form CL Dirt Works in the amount of $6,575.00, second by Showman, all aye, motion carried. The contractor will be required to provide a ditch box.

Motion by Showman to authorize the bid for the installation of an ultrasonic level meter from Electric Pump in the amount of $5,944.39, second by Birch, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize the bid for repairs to lift station from Electric Pump in the amount of $3,340.05, second by Brown, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize Jacob Bickford as a part-time employee, second by Doree, all aye, motion carried.

Rick Teed gave an update on progress of Cardinal’s service line.

New Business: Motion by Showman to authorize Resolution 2026-2: A Resolution adopting FY27 Budget, second by Doree, roll call vote taken, Tom Bedford yes, Andrew Birch yes, Craig Brown yes, Stacey Doree yes, and David Showman yes, motion carried.

Discussion was held on revising handbook regarding disciplinary procedures. The employee handbook will remain the same.

Motion by Doree to authorize closing the alley for bike night at Chommy’s on the 3^rd Thursday each month April through September, excluding June, second by Showman, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize nuisance abatement orders for 420 1^st and 401 2^nd, second by Bedford, all aye, motion carried.

Discussion was held on a 28E Agreement with Cardinal School District regarding sanitary sewer line. Consensus was to table.

Motion by Showman to authorize engineering agreement with Garden and Associates regarding sanitary sewer line for Cardinal School District, second by Bedford, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize to set public hearing for May 12, 2026 at 5:30pm to review an application for a State Revolving Fund loan and to make available to the public the contents of an environmental information documentation and the city’s project plan, second by Doree, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Doree to authorize SRF requirement on prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services on equipment, second by Bedford, all aye, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize Resolution 2026-3: A Resolution declaring an official intent under Treasury 1.150-2 to issue debt to reimburse the city for certain original expenditures paid in connection with specified projects, second by Doree, roll call vote taken, Tom Bedford yes, Andrew Birch yes, Craig Brown yes, Stacey Doree yes, and David Showman yes, motion carried.

Motion by Brown to authorize Resolution 2026-4: A Resolution approving the Ottumwa-Wapello County Solid Waste Commission 2025 Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan, second by Showman, roll call vote taken, Tom Bedford yes, Andrew Birch yes, Craig Brown yes, Stacey Doree yes, and David Showman yes, motion carried.

Motion by Showman to authorize an agreement permitting the use of the sanitary landfill with the City of Ottumwa, second by Birch, all aye, motion carried.

Discussion was held on repairing lights on Elm Street. More quotes will be obtained.

Public Forum: Diane Stephenson asked about the sandburs at the playground. Craig Brown will spray the sandburs. Derick Clark asked if the city had a noise ordinance. Don Harness and Mike Clark stated the sheriff’s department is not here in the evening. Council members assured them, deputies are present. It was explained that residents with complaints must contact the sheriff’s department.

Motion by Showman to go into closed session under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of John Smith whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session, second by Doree, roll call vote taken,

Tom Bedford yes, Andrew Birch yes, Craig Brown yes, Stacey Doree yes, and David Showman yes, motion carried.

Motion by Birch to come out of closed session, second by Doree, roll call vote taken, Tom Bedford yes, Andrew Birch yes, Craig Brown yes, Stacey Doree yes, and David Showman yes, motion carried.

Council Discussion: A special meeting has been set for April 21, 2026 at 4:00pm.

Motion by Showman to adjourn, second by Bedford, all aye, motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 7:26pm.

Attest: Carrie Teninty