Orleans City Council approves $350,685.67 contractor payment, extends snow‑removal agreement and holds closed session on Beach Ave.

The Orleans City Council on Oct. 13 approved a $350,685.67 contractor progress payment for work on the 140th Street and Utility Improvements Phase 1 and extended the city’s independent contractor agreement for snow removal.

Mayor Bill Maas presided over the meeting. Council member Rick moved and Gable seconded to approve the regular and consent agendas; that motion passed unanimously. Council later approved Resolution No. 2025-45, authorizing contractor progress payment No. 6 in the amount of $350,685.67 to Beck Excavating, Inc. of Spirit Lake, Iowa, for work completed on the 140th Street and Utility Improvements Phase 1 (motion by Radcliffe, second by Rick; AYES: all). Engineer Derek Behrens told the council that work has started at the intersection of 240th Ave and 140th St, that pavement will reach the municipal sanitary sewer lift station this season and that the remainder of the street is expected to be finished next year.

The council also approved Resolution No. 2025-46 to extend the independent contractor agreement for snow removal services (motion by Keith Ostrum, second by Radcliffe; AYES: all).

Council set a public hearing at the next regular meeting on an ordinance to add a new chapter for house numbering after a motion by Rick, seconded by Gable, which carried unanimously. Members discussed proposed ordinance concepts for house demolition and house movers and agreed to send those concepts to the appropriate council committee for further work; no formal ordinance was adopted this evening. Council members revisited concerns raised at a prior meeting about teens operating ATVs, snowmobiles and golf carts, but said enforcement remains the primary challenge and no ordinance change was adopted.

Council received a brief update on a water system letter and service agreements from the Iowa Lakes Regional Water Association; no action was taken. A street‑maintenance discussion flagged damage to a culvert across from 12805 253rd Avenue; councillors noted that construction workers parking on the culvert appears to have contributed to the damage.

At 7:53 p.m. City Attorney Dave Stein joined by telephone. The council voted 4-0 (Rick, Gable, Radcliffe, Ostrum) to go into closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(c) to consult with counsel regarding litigation related to Beach Ave.; attendees in closed session included Mayor Maas, the four council members, City Clerk P. Kay Cmelik and City Attorney Stein. The council returned to open session at 8:22 p.m. (motion by Rick, second by Gable; vote 4-0). Stein left the meeting at 8:23 p.m.; no further action was taken in open session on the litigation matter.

The council formally thanked Council member Keith Ostrum for 18 years of service; Ostrum said he is stepping down because his advancing career requires more travel. Ostrum moved, seconded by Gable, to adjourn at 8:25 p.m.; the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: the city will hold a public hearing on the house‑numbering ordinance at the next regular council meeting and the demolition/house‑mover ordinance concepts will be revised by the assigned committee for future consideration.