Red Oak City Council adopts solid waste ordinance with $500 collector fee and approves multiple fee and personnel measures

The Red Oak City Council on April 7 adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions that included a final reading of the Solid Waste ordinance establishing a $500 annual collector license fee and a series of fee increases and administrative actions.

Mayor Shawnna L. Silvius called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. at the Red Oak Fire Station. After routine opening items and roll call, the council approved the meeting agenda unanimously and handled public comments from residents asking for a citywide cleanup.

On Ordinance 2025-02 (Solid Waste), Councilmember Sharon Bradley moved an amendment to set the annual collector license fee at $200, but the amendment failed when Councilmember Brian Bills withdrew his second. Councilmember Tim Fridolph then moved an amendment to set the fee at $500, seconded by Bills; the amended ordinance passed on final reading by a 3–2 roll call vote, with Councilmembers John Haidsiak and Adam Hietbrink voting no.

Council members approved a number of other measures by roll call vote. The council approved Resolution 2025-38 on collection of delinquent utility bills and Resolution 2025-31 establishing a $50 bad-check fee and $55 stop-payment/reissue fee. The council approved the first of three readings of Ordinance 2025-03 to increase the water deposit (noted as $100/$200 in the ordinance language), set a monthly utility due date of the 15th, and establish a $40 temporary vacancy fee. The council also approved first readings of Ordinance 2025-04 (raising the excavation permit fee to $35) and Ordinance 2025-05 (raising the driveway permit fee to $50); the latter passed the first reading on a 3–2 vote with Haidsiak and Hietbrink opposed.

Other resolutions approved included a land lease authorization (Resolution 2025-32) permitting NEW Coop to install monitoring wells required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a deed and transfer for property at 306 East Elm (Resolution 2025-33), resurfacing of Police and Fire Department floors (Resolution 2025-37), establishment of Police and Fire records fees (Resolution 2035-34), deletion of property from the Red Oak Urban Renewal area (Resolution 2025-35), and a wage range adjustment for the Code Enforcement–Nuisance Officer (Resolution 2025-39).

The council voted to waive the three-reading rule and adopt Ordinance 2025-06 deleting property from the Tax Increment Financing district for the Red Oak Urban Renewal Area pursuant to Section 403.19 of the Code of Iowa; the motion to waive and the motion to adopt all three readings passed unanimously.

Council also set a public hearing for May 5, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. on designation of an expanded Red Oak Urban Renewal Area and an Urban Renewal Plan amendment (Resolution 2025-36). The council approved hotel and motel grant funding for March 2025 requests (Resolution 2025-40) after funding recommendations were reviewed by Jeanice Lester.

Routine business included approval of city claims totaling $118,753.45 (approved 4–1 with Councilmember John Haidsiak voting no), acceptance of consent-agenda minutes and committee reports, and department updates: Library Director Kathi Most reported on new cameras and upcoming events; City Administrator Lisa Kotter briefed the council on staffing interviews, software training and pool-related operations. The mayor noted upcoming community programs and events.

The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.