Holstein City Council approves farm lease with no‑manure stipulation, accepts parking‑lot low bid and authorizes grant application

Holstein, Iowa — The Holstein City Council met Feb. 10 and approved a series of routine and project actions, including a farm lease with a restriction on manure spreading, acceptance of a low bid for a baseball field parking lot surface with an associated grant application, and authorization to act as fiscal sponsor for an American Legion grant application.

The meeting opened at 5:00 p.m. with Mayor Kathy Breyfogle presiding and a full council present: Councilpersons Bonnie Stevenson, Steve Tiefenthaler, Marcus Prell, Mike Johnson and Terri Schimmer.

Councilperson Steve Tiefenthaler moved and Councilperson Mike Johnson seconded approval of the consent agenda, which included the meeting agenda, minutes from the Jan. 27 regular meeting and claims. The motion passed unanimously.

David Kistenmacher, president of the Holstein Cemetery Board, presented the board’s annual report. Councilperson Marcus Prell moved to approve the Cemetery Board Annual Report; Councilperson Bonnie Stevenson seconded and the council approved the report unanimously.

On a separate agenda item the council reviewed three quotes for resurfacing the baseball field parking lot: King Construction (limestone) at $132,721.88, Werner Dirt Inc. (limestone) at $89,150.00, and SCE (crushed concrete) at $59,963.00. Councilperson Mike Johnson moved and Councilperson Marcus Prell seconded acceptance of the SCE quote for $59,963.00 and authorization to submit a grant application to the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation to assist with funding. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.

The council adopted Resolution 26‑07, a farm lease agreement with Brett Friedrichsen for approximately 18.77 acres of city‑owned farmland east of Holstein. The resolution, offered by Councilperson Terri Schimmer and seconded by Councilperson Bonnie Stevenson, included a stipulation that no manure be spread on the leased field because of its proximity to a residential district. The roll call vote was unanimous and the mayor declared the resolution adopted.

Councilperson Steve Tiefenthaler offered Resolution 26‑08, authorizing the City of Holstein to serve as fiscal sponsor for the Dessel‑Schmidt Post 225 American Legion’s application to the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation; Councilperson Mike Johnson seconded. The resolution passed unanimously.

The City Administrator reported receipts and listed vendor payments approved on the consent agenda, including a $5,500 support payment to the Holstein Cemetery Association, life‑insurance and medical reimbursements, and project billing for PRJ 25‑33323 (Park Master Plan). City revenue totals for January 2026 were reported by fund, with a total revenue-by-fund figure of $447,001.22.

Councilperson Marcus Prell moved to adjourn at 6:05 p.m.; Councilperson Terri Schimmer seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance: Consent agenda (motion by Tiefenthaler; second Johnson) — Approved, ayes: Stevenson, Tiefenthaler, Prell, Johnson, Schimmer. Cemetery Board Annual Report (motion by Prell; second Stevenson) — Approved, ayes: Stevenson, Tiefenthaler, Prell, Johnson, Schimmer. Parking lot contract and grant authorization (motion by Johnson; second Prell) — Accepted SCE quote $59,963.00; authorized grant application; approved unanimously. Resolution 26‑07, Farm Lease with Brett Friedrichsen (offered by Schimmer; second Stevenson) — Approved with no‑manure stipulation; roll call unanimous. Resolution 26‑08, Fiscal sponsorship for Dessel‑Schmidt Post 225 (offered by Tiefenthaler; second Johnson) — Approved; roll call unanimous.

The council did not take further action on other grants or projects at this meeting; the record of claims and detailed vendor payments is part of the consent‑agenda packet.