Arnolds Park council approves FY2026-27 disbursement, pay application and other routine measures; attorney to review EV charger contract

The Arnolds Park City Council on March 11, 2026 unanimously approved multiple routine measures, authorized a $655,289.90 pay application for civic-center construction and asked the city attorney to review a proposed electric-vehicle charging contract before the council takes further action.

Mayor Jim Hussong presided over the 5:30 p.m. session with Councilmembers Smith, Randy Pas, Adams and Christensen present; Councilmember Richter was absent. The council first approved the Consent Agenda — including minutes, clerk and treasurer reports and claims pending review — by a 4–0 vote.

The council voted to approve several liquor-license amendments and renewals, some of which were approved contingent on providing dram-shop insurance, and authorized transient merchant permits for three seasonal events: Farmers Market in the Park, Okobojinize and Corndog Boji. The council also approved street closures for a May 30 wedding on Monument Drive, the Dec. 4 Holiday Market on Lake Street and weekly Lake Street closures for the Farmers Market from May 23 through Sept. 19.

Jackson Lounsbery of Recharge LLC proposed that Recharge “supply and install four electric vehicle charging stations at the Dewey Street parking lot.” Councilmembers reached consensus to refer the proposed contract to the city attorney for review and to take up the item again at the March 24, 2026 meeting.

On formal measures, the council adopted Resolution No. 10-2026 approving the disbursement of public funds for fiscal year 2026–2027. The body then adopted Resolution No. 11-2026 directing Alliant Energy Inc. to make changes to the existing street-light system at West Broadway according to applicable IPL tariff terms. Both measures passed on roll-call votes with all present councilmembers voting aye.

Seth Lukonen of Hausmann Construction briefed the council on Civic Center work and Change Order No. 3, which reduces the project contingency by $51,532.45 per the recommendation of Cannon Moss Brygger & Associates (CMBA). The council approved Resolution No. 12-2026 adopting that change order, and by motion approved Pay Application No. 9 to Hausmann Construction in the amount of $655,289.90 on CMBA’s recommendation.

The Street Committee and the city engineer presented a list of 2026 street-improvement projects; the council set a bid date for April 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and scheduled a public hearing on the projects for April 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Councilmembers noted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will stabilize banks at Pillsbury Point and that the city owns a decommissioned pump house within the stabilization area. The council reached consensus to obtain pricing to remove the pump house and to coordinate bank-restoration work with the DNR.

The council adopted Resolution No. 13-2026 to approve the FY2026–2027 annual information-technology service agreement with Solutions, Inc. Mayor Hussong recommended, and the council appointed, Randy Pas to fill a vacancy on the Building Committee. The council also adopted Resolution No. 14-2026 approving a cost-of-living pay increase effective July 1, 2026.

At 6:24 p.m. the council voted to hold a closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(j) to discuss a possible real-estate transaction; the council returned to open session at 6:44 p.m. The minutes record no public action resulting from that closed session. The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

What happens next: The council will revisit the proposed EV-charger contract after city-attorney review at the March 24 meeting; the street-improvement bids and public hearing are scheduled for April 8, 2026.