Muscatine council adopts special assessments, pay-plan changes, infrastructure contracts and sets two public hearings

The Muscatine City Council on Jan. 16 approved a series of resolutions and procurement actions affecting code enforcement, personnel pay, infrastructure repair and upcoming zoning decisions.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing special assessments for unpaid abatement service fees and rental-housing fees on private properties; later the council adopted a separate resolution amending the nonunion pay plan. Both items passed on voice votes with all members voting aye.

The council also approved a string of infrastructure and contractor requests. Members voted to issue a purchase order for asbestos removal at the Islet lift station to Abatement Specialist Specialties for $30,500, and to issue a purchase order to Davenport Electric Contract Company for $55,317 to replace electrical equipment at the Hauser lift station. Council members approved three change orders for the downtown revitalization project that produce a net reduction of $223,925 and approved a proposal for audit services from the firms identified in the staff report for fiscal years 2024–2029. All of those items passed on motions recorded as unanimous votes.

Council members and staff discussed the Hauser lift station purchase before the vote. Jeremy Paulsey, maintenance manager at the treatment plant, said the equipment dates to the 1960s and “it needs to…