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Estherville council approves contracts, pay applications and utility transfer in routine May meeting
Summary
The Estherville City Council voted May 18 to award seal-coat and railroad construction contracts, accept an AMU utility transfer, approve a FY2026 budget amendment and authorize multiple pay applications and permits. Staff was directed to study a new state social-district law before Founders Day.
The Estherville City Council on May 18 approved a slate of routine contracts, pay applications and a utility transfer in a meeting that also included a legislative briefing on a new social-district law.
Council members voted to award the 2026 seal-coat project to Black Top Surface Company of Humboldt after bids opened May 13; the winning bid was $192,434.98, roughly $5,000 below the engineer’s estimate. The council also approved award of the railroad-crossing improvement project after bids were received; staff had recommended Purple Ding Excavating Enterprise with a bid of $416,164.91, and the motion to approve the contract carried on roll call (see provenance for details).
The council accepted the AMU municipal utilities’ annual permitted transfer under Iowa Code section 384.89 based on an AMU-documented surplus; the transcript records two transfer figures ($669,282 and $108,630) but does not clearly label which amount is for which utility. Council passed a resolution formally approving the FY2026 budget amendment, which the staff presentation summarized as a revenue increase of $721,040, an expense figure that appears in the transcript as 905,985,856 (see audit), and a net decrease of $264,816 in the original budget fund balance.
Council action also included approval of pay application #8 for the Nebraska/Thornton Street reconstruction in the amount of $219,791.34 (retainage remains until punch-list items are complete), and pay application #24 for the 2024 wastewater treatment facility improvements submitted by Woodruff Construction & Engineering for $1,571,470.96. A consumer fireworks sales permit for Belino Fireworks at the Hy‑Vee parking lot was approved for June 24–July 5.
“As the mayor of Estherville, I just like to thank our videographer, Elijah Garrett, today,” the mayor said during opening remarks.
Why it matters: The votes move several city infrastructure projects forward and authorize payments that fund ongoing work, while the utility transfer and budget amendment affect municipal finances going into the next fiscal year. Staff was given direction on nonbinding items — notably to research the social-district law — rather than make immediate policy changes.
The council adjourned at about 5:28 p.m. No public comments were recorded on the major items listed above.
