Red Oak City Council approves personnel hires, advances cemetery ordinance; credit card policy passes 4–1

The Red Oak City Council on Oct. 7 approved a package of personnel appointments and administrative actions, advanced a cemetery-management ordinance to its second reading and approved a policy allowing city credit cards for management team members by a 4–1 vote.

Mayor Shawnna Silvius opened the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Red Oak Fire Station. During public comment, Ron Carlson expressed concern about proposed changes to credit-card use and a plan to close City Hall every other Friday in October and November for cleaning.

The council approved the consent agenda and claims to be paid totaling $128,131.28. By unanimous roll call, the council adopted Resolution 2024-49 appointing Ashley Wilson as City Clerk and approved Resolution 2024-53 to hire Elizabeth Bonz for accounting assistance. The council also voted to retain Lynch Dallas attorneys to assist with changes to the nuisance ordinance under Resolution 2024-51.

On ordinances, the council approved Ordinance No. 638 (Cemetery Management, Chapter 115) on its first of three readings; that vote was unanimous, moving the ordinance forward for subsequent readings. The council separately approved Resolution 2024-59 effecting a temporary change in cemetery superintendent responsibilities.

Council members approved administrative and finance items including directing “Snyder” on designs and a USDA submittal for the SBR wastewater treatment plant (Resolution 2024-52), appointing Rick Leinen to the Board of Adjustment (Resolution 2024-50), authorizing First Interstate money market and sweep accounts (Resolution 2024-55), posting public meeting Zoom recordings and meeting packets online (Resolution 2024-56), contracting Simmering-Cory Iowa Codification for recodification work (Resolution 2024-57), and updating authorized signers on bank accounts (Resolution 2024-58). Most motions carried by unanimous roll call.

On the question of issuing city credit cards to management team members (Resolution 2024-54), Councilperson Tim Fridolph moved the resolution and Councilperson Sharon Bradley seconded; the roll call resulted in four ayes and one nay, with Councilperson John Haidsiak the sole dissenting vote. The resolution carried.

Council members also discussed procedural topics including publication of claims and ordinances as legal notices, use of purchase orders, water billing and collections, and water service codes. Mayor Silvius submitted a written activities report noting recent participation in the League of Cities conference, the Mayors Association and several local events and ribbon cuttings. Council members provided routine reports on recent meetings and community engagement.

The council adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2024-49 (appoint Ashley Wilson, City Clerk) — approved, roll call: 5–0; Claims to be paid ($128,131.28) — approved, roll call: 5–0; Resolution 2024-53 (hire Elizabeth Bonz, accounting assistance) — approved, 5–0; Resolution 2024-51 (hire Lynch Dallas attorneys for nuisance ordinance) — approved, 5–0; Ordinance No. 638 (Cemetery Management) — advanced on first reading, 5–0; Resolution 2024-59 (temporary cemetery superintendent responsibilities) — approved, 5–0; Resolution 2024-52 (direction to Snyder for SBR wastewater/USDA submittal) — approved, 5–0; Resolution 2024-50 (appoint Rick Leinen, Board of Adjustment) — approved, 5–0; Resolution 2024-54 (issue city credit cards to management team members) — approved, 4–1 (Haid­siak nay); Resolution 2024-55 (First Interstate money market/sweep accounts) — approved, 5–0; Resolution 2024-56 (post meetings online) — approved, 5–0; Resolution 2024-57 (recodification contract) — approved, 5–0; Resolution 2024-58 (authorized bank signers) — approved, 5–0.

(Record: meeting minutes indicate motions and roll-call outcomes as recorded in the council’s official minutes.)