Steamboat Rock City Council sets June 9 budget hearing, approves building permit and declines credit-card payments

Steamboat Rock City Council met Monday, May 12, 2025, at city hall and, led by Mayor David L. Mull Sr., approved a local building permit, scheduled a public hearing on a fiscal-year budget amendment and declined a vendor proposal to accept credit-card payments.

Engineer James Sweeney of Clapsaddle-Garber Associates told the council the sewer survey on the south side of D35 is nearly complete and that he is exploring grant funding; he said he will return with a fuller report when the survey is finished. The update was presented during the council’s "Comments and Concerns" portion of the meeting.

During public comments, resident Jim Kramer asked the council to close streets around the Baptist church next June for the congregation’s 150th-anniversary reunion; the council asked Kramer to inform city hall of the dates so city staff can coordinate street closures. Doug Heikens requested rock be placed on the approach to East Sycamore Street; the council said it would look into the request. Craig Babcock reported progress on construction at his property adjacent to the post office, saying footings have been poured and wall work is forthcoming.

On routine business the council approved the April meeting minutes (motion by Councilmember Kevin Pieters, seconded by Marvin Veld), approved the listed bills (motion by Marc Havens, seconded by Travis Hollander) and approved payroll/hours (motion by Kevin Pieters, seconded by Marc Havens); the minutes record that these motions passed.

The council approved a building-permit application submitted by Doug and Roxanne Heikens after reviewing the proposal (motion by Kevin Pieters, seconded by Marvin Veld). Councilmember Kevin Pieters also moved to set a public hearing on a fiscal-year budget amendment for the year ending June 25, 2025; the hearing was scheduled for June 9 at 6:30 p.m. (motion seconded by Marc Havens) and the motion passed.

City Clerk Valeria Kjormoe reported the city’s vendor quote for accepting credit-card payments would impose a $35 monthly fee on the city and a 3.25% fee charged to customers through Green Belt Bank & Trust. After reviewing those terms, the council declined to enroll in the service at this time.

The council set two city cleanup days for June 14 and June 28. The library requested permission to close the street between 5th and 6th streets on June 5 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a summer kickoff party; the council approved the closure contingent on coordination with "Happenings." Fire Department briefings (delivered by Councilmember Kevin Pieters) noted completion of CRP burns and that a grass-buggy repair is pending a replacement drive shaft.

The minutes include an itemized vendor list and payments and show a listed total of $11,320.07 with an additional itemized subtotal later in the document of $4,651.38; the minutes do not explicitly state whether the second figure is a subset of the first. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. on a motion by Marc Havens, seconded by Marvin Veld.

Votes at a glance: The minutes record passage of routine motions and the listed items below; individual roll-call tallies are not recorded in the minutes.

- Accept agenda: Moved by Kevin Pieters; seconded by Marc Havens; outcome: approved. - Approve April minutes: Moved by Kevin Pieters; seconded by Marvin Veld; outcome: approved. - Approve bills: Moved by Marc Havens; seconded by Travis Hollander; outcome: approved. - Approve hours/payroll: Moved by Kevin Pieters; seconded by Marc Havens; outcome: approved. - Approve building permit (Doug & Roxanne Heikens): Moved by Kevin Pieters; seconded by Marvin Veld; outcome: approved. - Set public hearing for FY ending 6/25 budget amendment (June 9, 6:30 p.m.): Moved by Kevin Pieters; seconded by Marc Havens; outcome: approved. - Adjourn meeting: Moved by Marc Havens; seconded by Marvin Veld; outcome: approved.

The council packet and minutes list vendor payments including Clapsaddle-Garber Associates ($3,797.50) and various utilities and service providers; the minutes do not provide additional budget detail beyond the itemized list. The next scheduled city meeting was not specified in the minutes.