Osceola council rejects B‑3 zoning amendment, advances alley vacation and schedules Alliant Energy easement hearing

The Osceola City Council on Nov. 18 rejected a proposed amendment to the B‑3 Interstate Commercial zoning district related to auto‑repair uses, advanced a first reading to vacate an east–west alley in Block 2 of the Howe’s Addition, and set a Dec. 2 public hearing on a perpetual easement to Alliant Energy.

Mayor Thomas J. Kedley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council Members George Fotiadis, Thomas Bahls, Luci Sullivan and Jose Vargas were present for the start of the meeting; Sonya Hicks arrived at 7:28 p.m. City Administrator Ty Wheeler and City Clerk Britanee Ward‑Case were among staff in attendance.

On a motion by Council Member George Fotiadis and second by Jose Vargas, the council approved the meeting agenda on a roll call vote with Fotiadis, Sullivan, Bahls and Vargas voting aye (Hicks absent). The council then took up a set of appointments: by motion of Fotiadis, seconded by Vargas, the council reappointed Alisha Kale and John Kookier to the Osceola Water Board of Trustees (terms listed as expiring 12/31/31) and appointed Becca Kedley to fill the unexpired term of Mel Miller (effective 1/1/26, expires 12/31/26). The roll call on that motion recorded Fotiadis, Sullivan and Vargas voting aye and Bahls voting nay; the motion carried.

The council opened a public hearing on vacating the east–west alley in Block 2 of the Howe’s Addition (400 block of E. Clay/E. Ayers) by motion of Fotiadis, seconded by Vargas. The minutes state there were no written or oral comments during the hearing. Following the hearing, a motion by Luci Sullivan, seconded by Fotiadis, approved the first reading to vacate the alley; the roll call vote was recorded as unanimous among members present.

Shortly after 7:28 p.m., with Council Member Sonya Hicks present, the council took up a proposed amendment to the B‑3 Interstate Commercial zoning district related to auto‑repair uses. A motion by Fotiadis, seconded by Hicks, to not approve the first reading of the proposed amendment passed on roll call with Fotiadis, Sullivan, Hicks and Vargas voting aye and Bahls voting nay.

The council unanimously approved Resolution 2025‑45 to set a public hearing for Dec. 2, 2025 to consider conveyance of a perpetual easement to Alliant Energy; the City Clerk was directed to publish notice as required. City Administrator Ty Wheeler reported on various projects; City Clerk Britanee Ward‑Case and Police Chief Marty Duffus each had nothing to report.

The council approved the consent agenda, on motion by Fotiadis and second by Bahls, which included bills and claims totaling $120,252.15, the Pizza Hut liquor license (BW0098671), wage adjustments for Officer Michael Rhoads and Officer Garrett Green, the FY2025 Annual UR Report and Appropriations Resolution 2025‑46, and Pay Estimate 43 for Waste Water Treatment Facility Improvements Contract 1 in the amount of $298,272.00. Roll call on the consent agenda was unanimous.

With no further business, the council adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

Votes at a glance • Agenda approval — Motion: approve agenda; mover: George Fotiadis; second: Jose Vargas; vote: Fotiadis, Sullivan, Bahls, Vargas aye; Hicks absent; outcome: approved. • Water Board appointments — Motion: reappoint Alisha Kale and John Kookier; appoint Becca Kedley to fill Mel Miller’s unexpired term; mover: George Fotiadis; second: Jose Vargas; vote: Fotiadis, Sullivan, Vargas aye; Bahls nay; Hicks absent; outcome: approved. • Alley vacation — Motion: open public hearing and approve first reading to vacate east–west alley in Howe’s Addition; movers: George Fotiadis (to open), Luci Sullivan (to approve first reading); vote: unanimous among members present; outcome: first reading approved. • B‑3 zoning amendment (auto repair uses) — Motion: do not approve first reading; mover: George Fotiadis; second: Sonya Hicks; vote: Fotiadis, Sullivan, Hicks, Vargas aye; Bahls nay; outcome: council declined to advance the amendment. • Resolution 2025‑45 (Alliant Energy easement hearing) — Motion: approve resolution setting Dec. 2 public hearing; mover: George Fotiadis; second: Luci Sullivan; vote: unanimous 5–0; outcome: hearing scheduled. • Consent agenda — Motion: approve consent agenda including $120,252.15 in claims and Pay Estimate 43 ($298,272.00); mover: George Fotiadis; second: Thomas Bahls; vote: unanimous 5–0; outcome: approved.

What to watch next • Dec. 2, 2025 — Public hearing on conveyance of an easement to Alliant Energy as set by Resolution 2025‑45. • Alley vacation — The first reading was approved; the council will need to complete subsequent readings or required procedures before vacating the alley is final.

(Minutes provide the council’s roll‑call votes and motions; no direct quotations were recorded in the minutes.)