Muscatine council approves fee changes, demolition contract and several purchase orders; public hearings set on e-bikes and transit funding

The Muscatine City Council on March 3 approved a package of routine and substantive items, including fee schedule changes, contract awards and the setting of several public hearings.

Fee schedule change: Council adopted a resolution to amend city code appendix D to establish a $20 flat fee for roofing and siding permits and to increase remaining permit fees by 8.5%, which city staff described as a revenue-neutral adjustment when taken together. City staff member Andrew said, "For roofing and siding permits, it'll be a $20 flat fee," and that the remaining permit fees were adjusted by "8 and a half percent across the fee schedule." The resolution passed 6–1.

Contracts and purchase orders: Council awarded a demolition contract to Salzco LLC for $11,850 to remove a structure at 539 Hagerman Drive; the motion carried with all ayes. The council also approved a $30,000 purchase order to Muscatine Power & Water for work on the Muscatine CDF dredge spoils relocation project and a $165,000 purchase order for electrical work on the Carver Corner roundabout. Council approved change order No. 1 for the West Hills Sewer Separation Project (6D) in the amount of $89,180.80.

Public hearings and ordinances: Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to vacate and deed an undeveloped Fuller Street right-of-way to the adjoining property owner at 301 W. 11th Street. It also set public hearings for April 7, 2026, on proposed regulations for electric bikes and on the Muscatine Transit consolidated funding application for state and federal transit funds.

Parking and traffic: Council approved a no-parking restriction on the east side of Bond Street between Evans Street and the Taylor Park trailhead after staff reported resident input and the city engineer described bottlenecking at a curve in the roadway.

Legal services: Council approved the transfer of city legal services from Hopkins & Huebner, PC to Henders, Updegraft & Franklin PLC effective March 1, 2026.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance (first reading) to vacate Fuller Street right-of-way: approved (first reading) — recorded as all ayes. - Resolution adopting bond action (General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2026A): adopted — all ayes. - Resolution amending building permit fee schedule (flat roofing/siding fee + 8.5% adjustment): adopted — recorded 6 ayes, 1 nay. - Resolution awarding demolition contract to Salzco LLC ($11,850): adopted — all ayes. - Change order No. 1, West Hills Sewer Separation Project: approved ($89,180.80) — all ayes. - Purchase order to Muscatine Power & Water (Muscatine CDF relocation): approved ($30,000) — all ayes. - Purchase order for Carver Corner roundabout electrical work: approved ($165,000) — all ayes. - Transfer of legal services to Henders, Updegraft & Franklin PLC: approved — all ayes.

City staff and council framed many votes as routine or revenue-neutral adjustments; staff said the roofing/siding flat fee was intended to simplify permitting while an 8.5% adjustment offsets lost revenue elsewhere in the fee schedule. Public comment earlier in the meeting focused on firefighter staffing and a public plea to reallocate potential meter revenue to restore positions. The council took no formal action on parking meters at this meeting.

Next steps: several items will return for further hearings or readings (including the Fuller Street ordinance and the scheduled public hearings on e-bikes and transit funding).