Mount Vernon approves Highway 1 cooperative agreement, passes IPL franchise second reading and OKs local project payments

Mayor Thomas M. Wieseler called the Mount Vernon City Council to order at 6:31 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2025. The council — members Tuerler, Engel, West, Rose and Andresen — approved the meeting agenda and a corrected minute from Nov. 17, then moved through a series of ordinances, resolutions and project payments.

The council approved Resolution #11-17-2025D, the final cooperative agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the Highway 1 Reconstruction Project. The project is estimated at just over $8,000,000 in total, with the city’s share estimated at just over $2,000,000; the reconstruction will exclude the segment from 3rd Street NW to 3rd Street SW and will include ADA-compliant sidewalks and stormwater improvements. Council member Tuerler moved the resolution; Rose seconded. A roll-call vote was recorded as all yes and the resolution passed.

Council also approved the second reading of Ordinance #11-17-2025A, granting Interstate Power and Light Company a non-exclusive, 25-year franchise to construct, maintain and operate electric power and transmission facilities within Mount Vernon. The motion to approve the second reading was made by Tuerler and seconded by Andresen; roll-call: all yes.

A public hearing on vacating a 16-foot north–south alley adjacent to Lots 1, 2, 7 and 8 in Block 3 of Halls 1st Addition was opened and closed by Mayor Wieseler with no public comment. Council approved the first reading of Ordinance #12-1-2025A to vacate that alley; the vacated alley will remain subject to a utility easement. Engel moved the first reading; Rose seconded and the motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

On project finances and contractor payments, the council accepted Resolution #12-1-2025A to formally accept work completed by Municipal Pipe Tool on the 2024 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. The minutes state the sewer work was made possible by Linn County ARPA grant funding; the resolution accepts the improvements as complete and releases retainage after the mandatory 30-day waiting period. Rose moved the resolution; Andresen seconded and the vote was unanimous.

Council approved payments for local capital work, including Modern Concrete pay applications for the 2025 Sidewalk Improvement Project. The council removed Pay Application #2 from the table and approved it for $23,419.70; the minutes note that this pay application includes a change order of $2,576.67 that will be approved at the next Council meeting. Council also approved an amended Pay Application #1 after correcting a quantity discrepancy; the corrected amount for Pay Application #1 is $34,528.46 (it had been incorrectly recorded as $34,277.38). Motions to approve these pay applications were recorded and passed unanimously.

The council reviewed and approved a claims list that itemized vendor payments and payroll. The minutes list payroll claims of $141,096.86 and a total claims list of $485,640.07 across funds including debt service, sewer, general fund, water, project funds and others. Engel moved approval of the claims list; Tuerler seconded and the motion carried.

Other vendor approvals included Mid Country Machinery LLC Invoice #R08982 for $6,630.00 (rental of a trommel to sift compost piles), and two Fisher Drywall invoices for work on the Bryant Road Public Works Facility — Invoice #4262138 for $8,546.16 and Invoice #4262139 for $8,657.00 — all approved by recorded motions. The council also approved buying slightly used air packs, masks and air cylinders from the LeMars Fire Department for $9,000 to equip the new Fire Department training facility on Bryant Road. Those motions carried on unanimous votes.

Mayor Wieseler thanked Public Works staff for prompt snow removal in his report. The City Administrator’s written report was made available in the Dec. 1 council packet on the city website. With no further business, the council adjourned at 6:57 p.m.; City Clerk Marsha Dewell signed the minutes.

What happens next: The Highway 1 cooperative agreement is the final DOT contract for the project; further scheduling, detailed design and construction phasing will proceed under that agreement. The alley vacation ordinance will return for subsequent readings as required, and the recorded change order for the sidewalk project is scheduled for City Council action at the next meeting.