Underwood council appoints David Mace, adopts traffic and funding measures and approves wastewater payment

The Underwood City Council on Feb. 23 appointed David Mace to fill a council vacancy and moved several infrastructure and budget items forward.

Mayor Josh Madsen called the rescheduled meeting to order at 6 p.m. After brief introductions from three applicants, Councilmember Kelle Erwin moved and Councilmember Jodi Bose seconded to appoint David Mace to the seat running through December 2027; the motion carried 4-0. Mayor Madsen administered the oath of office to Mace.

The council adopted Resolution 26-02-01 to amend Chapter 65.03 to establish four-way stop intersections at 4th Street and 2nd Avenue and 4th Street and 3rd Avenue; the roll-call vote was 5-0. In the same session the council approved a partial pay application (#8) to McCarthy Trenching LLC for the wastewater treatment project in the amount of $38,997.50 and voted to sell four old lagoon aerators and a dock to WTR Solutions LLC for $3,400.00.

Council also adopted Resolution 26-02-02 authorizing transfer of $114,719.41 in local option sales tax receipts — $86,039.55 to the roads fund and $28,679.86 to the sewer fund for the period July 2025–Jan. 31, 2026 — on a 5-0 roll-call vote. The council discussed the FY2027 budget and proposed property tax levy and later adopted Resolution 26-02-03 to set a public hearing on the proposed levy for April 7, 2026, at 5 p.m.; that resolution passed 5-0.

Other actions approved unanimously included renewing KC Mart’s tobacco license effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; authorizing Feedlot Services Company to remove a tree at the lagoon for $2,600; approving additional cybersecurity email protections; and certifying the consent agenda and claims, which listed vendor payments and payroll totaling $84,744.75.

In departmental reports, Fire Chief Todd Erwin said, “There have been 58 calls this year,” and noted the squad was taken to Danko for warranty work. Administrator/Clerk Cindy Sorlien reported an ICAP increase, an easement recorded with Agriland, a related Pottawattamie County agenda item on a railroad-highway easement, and that increased front-desk utility billing fees will take effect March 30, 2026, with notices to appear in the newsletter and on the city website.

The council completed committee selections, appointed Dennis Bardsley to the Board of Adjustment, and adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Partial pay app #8 to McCarthy Trenching LLC — $38,997.50 — approved 4-0 (SEG 009). - Appointment of David Mace to city council — appointed through Dec. 2027 — approved 4-0 (SEG 010–011). - Appointment of Dennis Bardsley to Board of Adjustment — approved 5-0 (SEG 012). - Resolution 26-02-01 (4-way stop ordinance adoption) — approved 5-0 (SEG 013). - Underwood Volunteer Fire Department street closure for July 4 events — approved 5-0 (SEG 014). - KC Mart tobacco license renewal (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027) — approved 5-0 (SEG 015). - Sale of lagoon aerators and dock to WTR Solutions LLC — $3,400.00 — approved 5-0 (SEG 017). - Resolution 26-02-02 (local option sales tax transfer: $114,719.41) — approved 5-0 (SEG 018). - Resolution 26-02-03 (set public hearing on FY2027 levy for April 7, 2026 at 5 p.m.) — approved 5-0 (SEG 019–020). - Tree removal at lagoon (Feedlot Services Company) — $2,600 — approved 5-0 (SEG 022). - Consent agenda and claims (total $84,744.75) — approved 5-0 (SEG 023–049).

The council identified next procedural steps including the April 7 public hearing on the proposed levy and publication/notice of the front-desk fee changes; no controversial disputes or contested votes were recorded in the minutes.