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West Branch council accepts resignation, approves insurance, parks plan and infrastructure payments
Summary
At its Aug. 5 meeting the West Branch City Council accepted Councilperson Nicholas Goodweiler’s resignation, approved annual insurance renewals and the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, and authorized multiple project pay estimates and policy updates; several items passed unanimously.
The West Branch City Council on Aug. 5 accepted the resignation of Councilperson Nicholas Goodweiler and approved a package of routine resolutions covering insurance, parks planning and infrastructure work.
Mayor Roger Laughlin and council members thanked Goodweiler for his service after he said he will move from West Branch to be closer to his work; the council plans to appoint a replacement at its Aug. 19 meeting. The council approved the resignation resolution on a motion by Jerry Sexton, seconded by Jodee Stoolman; the vote was 3 in favor (Sexton, Stoolman, Mike Horihan), 1 opposed (Tom Dean) and Goodweiler abstained.
The council also approved the city’s annual liability insurance with the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool and a corrected workers’ compensation renewal from IMWCA after an insurance credit omission was fixed. Both measures passed unanimously.
Council members approved the West Branch Parks & Recreation Master Plan, a three‑year document based on a 2022 public survey that showed strong resident support for parks projects including a potential recreation center and pool. The council also adopted a Parks & Recreation grievance policy and a Rules of Behavior policy intended to provide a formal complaint process and expectations for park users. City Attorney Kevin Olson told the council he had no legal concerns with the proposed policies.
On infrastructure matters the council approved Change Order No. 4 for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project, which reduces that project’s cost by $24,761.26, and approved Pay Estimate No. 3 for $82,852.75 to Midwest Underground Contractors Inc. for Phase 2 of the Eastside Water Main Replacement Project. City Administrator Adam Kofoed told council members that N. 4th Street will not be opened for Hoover’s Hometown Days and that he has asked the contractor for a brief pause; he said the water‑main project is about "two weeks behind" schedule and a post‑event meeting with the engineer and contractor is planned.
Fire Chief Kevin Stoolman told the council the department’s new tanker pumper (ordered in 2022) will be delivered soon and asked to solicit bids to sell the 2000 Freightliner (#192); Stoolman said the truck was appraised last year at approximately $90,000–$110,000. The council authorized the sale solicitation.
Other routine business approved on consent included special event permits for a Dog Fair at Beranek Park (Sept. 21) and the West Branch High School homecoming parade (Sept. 25), claims and payroll totaling $348,321.90, and a pending Class C retail alcohol license for ELDR Bar LLC dba The Lively, subject to a fire inspection.
The council voted on each resolution listed on the agenda; where individual roll calls were recorded the official tallies are reflected in the meeting minutes. The council adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
