Wheatland council approves second reading of water rate increase, sets June public hearings

The Wheatland City Council on May 12 approved the second reading of Ordinance 206-25, enacting a water rate increase, and unanimously adopted a slate of routine motions and scheduling actions.

Mayor Jeremiah Wiese called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and, after roll call, the council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes of the April 14 meeting and the clerk’s financial report. The clerk reported April gross wages of $14,904.55, total revenues of $151,953.79 and total expenses of $38,309.78.

The council approved the second reading of Ordinance 206-25, a water rate increase, on a motion by Council Member Stankee with a second from Council Member Grau; the motion passed with all ayes. The council did not debate the ordinance at length during the meeting; no amendment or recorded roll-call breakdown of individual votes was provided in the transcript.

Council members also approved several procedural and community items unanimously. Actions taken included waiving the Lions dumpster fees for 2025; approving a temporary closure of Washington Street from Aug. 6–9, 2025; authorizing a city clean-up day in June (date TBD) and hiring AT Disposal to provide four 30-yard dumpsters; approving SRF loan payments; and scheduling public hearings for the FY2026 budget and for a proposed vacation of the north street east of Williams Street for June 9, 2025.

In reports, the council heard that L.L. Pelling completed sealcoating work and that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources collected water samples for testing. Matt, a staff member, said the testing he has performed ‘‘showed no issues and all testing was within normal limits.’’ Mayor Wiese asked public works to remove sticks from under the Railroad Street bridge, add rock to creek banks to limit erosion, scrape boulevards to improve drainage and clear storm drains of debris. Council Member Stankee reported having been approached about the alley between 203 and 205 Bennett Street; council members agreed the alley will remain public access and will not be surveyed.

The council clarified park bathroom access: the bathrooms at the park will be unlocked when public works employees are in town provided there is no vandalism. At 7:08 p.m., Council Member Stankee moved to adjourn; Council Member Grau seconded and the meeting adjourned with all ayes.

The council scheduled the public hearings on the FY2026 budget and the proposed street vacation for its June 9, 2025 meeting.