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Runnells council hires city clerk, approves claims and several resolutions; mayor's park liaison bid fails
Summary
At its June 9 meeting the Runnells City Council approved a claims list totaling $50,219.70, hired Shalee Crispen as city clerk, advanced multiple resolutions and set a special meeting for June 30; two council-backed items — the mayor's appointment of himself as Park Board liaison and a playground bid — failed on roll call votes.
The Runnells City Council on June 9 approved routine claims and payroll totaling $50,219.70, hired Shalee Crispen as city clerk and adopted several resolutions while rejecting two council-backed items in roll-call votes.
Mayor Hickman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Council members Phillips, LaBelle and Abby Hawkins joined Mayor Hickman and Legal Wright for roll call. Council approved the meeting agenda and moved through a consent-style slate of items including approval of claims, minutes and board appointments.
Council recorded a claims total of $50,219.70, with a fund breakdown of General $22,103.04; Road Use $19,929.44; Water $593.47; and Sewer Capital Project (LOST) $7,593.75. The claims list was shown as attested by Abby Hawkins.
On personnel business, the council approved an offer of employment to Shalee Crispen for the city clerk position (motion by Phillips, second by Hawkins). Later in the record, an attestation line shows "Attested by Shalee Crispen."
The council approved Resolution 2026-24 related to a MidAmerican Energy secondary contract and Resolution 2026-25 to obtain a public works laptop for wastewater treatment facility readings. It also adopted Resolution 2026-26 and Resolution 2026-27, the latter changing a rollover amount to $5,000 into the capital improvement fund for playground equipment; the council noted that $5,000 originally intended for mulch could not be used because a connected procurement item failed.
Council approved using remaining ICAP funds plus up to $1,000 of city funds to purchase a City Hall camera, with the city contribution capped at $1,000 beyond grant funds.
Two measures backed during the meeting failed on roll-call votes. A motion to accept Mayor Hickman's recommendation that he be appointed Park Board liaison (moved by Hawkins, seconded by Phillips) failed on a roll-call vote with 0 ayes and 3 nays. A separate motion on Resolution 2026-28 to accept a bid from Allen Lawn Care for playground and sandpit improvements similarly failed on a roll-call vote with 0 ayes and 3 nays; the council then approved Resolution 2026-27 to roll $5,000 into the capital improvement fund for playground equipment.
The council discussed recombining two 28E intergovernmental agreements for animal control and emergency management services but took no action. The Polk County Meals lease agreement and the Sycamore Ridge Preliminary Plat were approved. Council also approved library and park board minutes and the appointment of Ilene Hays to the library board.
Mayor Hickman set a special meeting for June 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to address postponed items including a wage review. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Next procedural steps: the council scheduled a special meeting for June 30 to continue business and to take up the postponed wage review; no additional hearings or public-comment outcomes are recorded in the transcript.
