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West Branch council approves parks hire, concession contract and grant application; accepts low tree-removal quote
Summary
At the March 4 meeting the West Branch City Council unanimously approved a concession contract for Cubby Park, hired Erin Laughlin as parks & recreation director (recusal noted), authorized a federal grant application for road reconstruction, and verbally accepted a $7,440 low bid to remove trees for the Wapsi Creek widening project.
The West Branch City Council on March 4 approved a series of routine and project items, including a parks hire, a concessions contract and a low bid to remove trees tied to the Wapsi Creek widening project.
Cubby Park concession contract: The council adopted Resolution 2024-17 to approve a contract with Willie Guy for concession sales and management at Cubby Park for 2024. The item was moved to action without discussion and passed unanimously.
Parks & Recreation hire: Resolution 2024-19 approved hiring Erin Laughlin as the full-time Parks & Recreation Director. Mayor Roger Laughlin recused himself from the portion of the meeting addressing that hire because of his relationship to the candidate. City Administrator Adam Kofoed summarized the recruitment: ErinLaughlin was among the top two candidates in a pool of five applicants and had prior volunteer experience leading youth activities. The motion to hire passed unanimously.
Grant application support: The council approved Resolution 2024-20 to support the City Administrator’s application for Congresswoman Miller-Meeks’ FY2025 Community Project Funding to help pay for Cedar-Johnson Road reconstruction. Kofoed said there is no cost to submit the application. The motion passed unanimously.
Wapsi Creek tree removal: City engineering consultant Eric Gould of Veenstra & Kimm reported receipt of four quotes to remove trees in the Wapsi Creek widening project area ahead of the bat habitat season. Gould said about 300 trees must be removed before the habitat season begins in April to avoid impacts; the low quote came from Barnhart Custom Services at $7,440. The council verbally accepted the low quote so the project can meet the March 31 deadline. Gould noted that if the city uses its own funds for tree removal it will not affect the SRF-sponsored project grant.
Other business: The meeting record shows the City Administrator thanked the West Branch Lions Club for volunteer work and welcomed Police Chief Greg Hall. Council member Nick Goodweiler raised a question about quirks in the city’s new online payment system.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
