REGULAR MEETING MINUTES | September 9, 2026
REGULAR MEETING
September 9, 2026
ACKLEY CITY COUNCIL met in regular session September 9, 2026 in the Ackley Council Chambers with Mayor Michael Abbas presiding. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm. Council members present: Mike Wessels, Rod Neely. Dan Scallon, Steven Ackerman, and Maliah Roelfs. Quorum present.
Scallon moved, Neely seconded to approve the September 9, 2026 agenda. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Wessels moved, Roelfs seconded to approve the Consent Agenda by one motion: a) August 12, 2026 Regular Minutes, as written. b) Bills approval, as listed. c) Place Reports on file: August 2026 Clerk Bank Reconciliation/Cash Report/Treasurer; August 2026 Clerk Budget; August 2026 Deputy Clerk Utility Billing Reconciliation; August 2026 Deputy Clerk Nuisance Violation; August 2026 Fire; August 2026 Ackley EMS; August 2026 PeopleService; and August 2026 Ackley Development Commission. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Neely moved, Wessels seconded to pass Resolution 26-39 Prairie Bridges Park. Roll call vote: Ayes-Wessels, Neely, Scallon, Ackerman, Roelfs. Motion carried.
Neely moved, Roelfs seconded to pass Resolution 26-03 Establishing a Sanitary Sewer Rate and Authorizing Entering into a Lease Agreement with Friends of Prairie Bridges. Roll call vote: Ayes-Neely, Scallon, Ackerman, Roelfs, Wessels. Motion carried.
No update on 2020A GO Bonds, Vacate Platted Hardin St between 809/901 10th Ave., and Disposal of City Impound Lot.
M. White, PeopleService, addressed council on the retention tank. J. Sweeney, CGA Consultants reported the IDNR construction permit is done and will be submitted. Sweeney had several coating options in the permit application. Sweeney informed the IDNR that the city needs a quick turn around on permit. White reported that 736/738/740 Main St water service lines were capped by Williams Underground Services. Discussion on valve cleaning. Quotes received from Mort’s Water was $299/piece and Williams Underground Services was $85/piece. White reported there are about 25-30 valves that need to be done. White suggested that White and another PeopleService employee do the work and the city can rent the vac truck from Williams Underground Services for $125/hour. White informed council that would be cheaper than the quotes provided. The vac truck will be billed for run hours only. Neely moved, Ackerman seconded to approve purchase to Williams Underground Services for the use of the vac truck at $125/hour capped at $5,000 for valve cleaning. Ayes-all. Motion carried. White is requesting to purchase a 12 ft jon boat, the current one is smaller and doesn’t allow safely lifting the equipment out of the lagoons. PeopleService will look on Marketplace to see if they are able to find one. White didn’t believe it would be more than $500. Central Iowa Televising will be finishing up Zone IV along with the troubled areas and dead end lines. The diffusors are leaking in the sagrs, they are under warranty and will be ordering new ones. Blower #2 sprung a leak and blower #1 had a fan blow up. Nexon was called and both are under warranty and will be replaced.
B. Kuper, Public Works Supervisor, the department continues to mow and will start spraying properties. Kuper is looking into a UTV for the department to make spraying a more efficient task.
M. Clemons, Library Director, gave the library’s annual report, along with the condition of the library and future repairs/upgrades needed or wanted. Clemons reported the library received a $1,500 grant to fix the north door to the meeting room. No action taken.
J. Schmoll, Ackley resident, had given the clerk a list of potholes around town. Dennis shared that list with the council. Discussion regarding streets and potholes. Council consensus is to hold any street patching until the current street projects are done to see what our remaining funds are.
Discussion on America’s Freedom Tribute coming to Ackley. This is a traveling veteran’s wall. With the cost, requirements, and the manpower required, Neely suggested to hand this opportunity off to a group who can handle it more efficiently for the community. Ackerman to ask the American Legion if they are interested. Dennis to pass onto the Chamber of Commerce. Nothing further from the city on this agenda item.
Discussion on a sidewalk program with a suggestion to divide the community into zones when it comes to enforcement of the maintenance of sidewalks. Council wishes to pursue. Dennis to look into a couple of options. Neely, Roelfs, and Scallon would like to get this out to the public in order to be proactive. More discussion to follow.
Neely moved, Wessels seconded to go forth with the irrevocable deed of gift of the Carillonic Bells Machine to the Ackley Heritage Center by passage of resolution at next month’s meeting. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Nuisance property abatement was discussed. Dennis informed council on procedures and options given by S. Leidinger, Lynch Dallas Legal. Neely moved, Ackerman seconded to proceed with municipal infraction proceedings for 322 Lincoln Ave. Ayes-all. Motion carried. Neely moved, Wessels seconded to proceed with 657A proceedings for 812 Main St. Ayes-all. Motion carried. Roelfs moved, Neely seconded to proceed with 657A proceedings for 1118 4th Ave. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Dennis presented Council the draft of Ordinance No. 544 Amending Chapter 65 Stop or Yield Required. Wessels moved, Scallon seconded to set public hearing for the first reading of Ordinance No. 544 to October 14, 2026 at 6 pm in the Ackley Council Chambers. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Roelfs moved, Neely seconded to allow up to 8 chickens and no roosters to Joe Hunt at 1113 State St. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Roelfs moved, Neely seconded to set trick or treat to October 31, 2026 from 5-7 pm. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Roelfs moved, Wessels seconded to pass Resolution 26-37 Temporality Closing Certain Streets for the 2026 Trunk or Treat. Roll call vote: Ayes-Scallon, Ackerman, Roelfs Wessels, Neely. Motion carried.
Neely moved, Scallon seconded to pass Resolution 26-38 Authorizing Entering into a Lease Agreement Between the City and Ackley Heritage Center. Roll call vote: Ayes-Ackerman, Roelfs, Wessels, Neely, Scallon. Motion carried.
Scallon moved, Neely seconded to pass Resolution 26-40 Setting Wages for Lucas Schumacher. Roll call vote: Ayes-Roelfs, Wessels, Neely, Scallon, Ackerman. Motion carried.
Discussion regarding Frey Municipal Software and the way the program calculates penalties do not line up with our current system nor the city’s ordinance. Dennis informed council that Dennis was going to attempt to get that price lowered due to the communication during the sales and demonstrating phrase but in the event the price was not negotiable, Dennis would like permission to go forth with the computer programming so the clerks could stop dual rolling in both accounting systems. Dennis wasn’t comfortable with monthly manual adjustments to get the penalties where they needed to be. The manual adjustment process would rely heavily on the deputy clerk and could potentially cause funds to transfer to incorrect funds due to human error. The city plans to have Frey software for quite some time so should be set up correctly for the city’s accounting. Neely moved, Roelfs seconded to approve purchase to Frey Municipal Software in the amount of $7,840 for a penalty custom program. Ayes-4. Nays-Ackerman. Motion carried.
Sweeney, CGA Consultants, update on the Storm Sewer FY26 projects. Neely moved, Roelfs seconded to approve pay estimate no. 3 in the amount of $79,140.36 to McDowell & Sons for Cerro Gordo St storm sewer. Ayes-all. Motion carried. Update on the street preservation. Change order no. 2 was presented for an increase of $9,643.20 for storm sewer replacements along State St that were discovered during the removal of asphalt. Dennis informed council that if the storm sewers need replaced, the city could use storm sewer funds rather than GO Bond funds. Scallon moved, Neely seconded to approve change order no. 2 in the amount of $9,643.20. Ayes-all. Motion carried. CGA has received comments back from the IDOT for the Franklin St north of the Railroad tracks project. L. Gallentine, is working on those comments. Sweeney presented construction permit for signature on the detention tank project. No update on Sanitary Sewer Continuing Improvement Plan.
No clerk comments.
Roelfs working on Finance/Admin council column for the newspaper. No further council comments.
No mayor comments.
D. Arends, citizen, informed Council that the shelter house project is complete and the A/C is bought. Mural painting on the white shed, in the park, is the next project for the Helping Hands of Ackley.
Wessels moved, Scallon seconded to adjourn at 8:35 pm. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
_______________________________________
Michael Abbas, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Malena Dennis, City Clerk
ACCESS SYSTEMS | TECHNICAL SUPPORT/BACKUP/COPIER REPAIRS | 2052.98 |
AGSOURCE COOPERATIVE SERV | POOL TESTING | 44.50 |
BIRDS & BLOOMS | 1 YR MAGAZINE | 18.00 |
BLACK HILLS/IOWA GAS UTIL | UTILITIES-GAS | 1065.03 |
CARDMEMBER SERVICE | CONCESSIONS/CLOCK/CTD LTR/AMAZON/BOOK | 626.93 |
CENTER POINT LARGE PRINT | LARGE PRINT BOOKS | 112.98 |
CENTURYLINK | PHONES/FAX | 469.88 |
CGA | STREET PRESERVATION/STORM SEWR/DETENTION TNK | 30592.65 |
DUMONT TELEPHONE CO | INTERNET | 80.00 |
DUNN RITE | SPLASH & SHOOT BASKETBALL HOOP | 373.46 |
EBS | HEALTH INSURANC | 5152.93 |
ELECTRIC PUMP | WWTP PUMP #2 SERVCE | 1903.50 |
FAMILY HANDYMAN | 1 YR MAGAZINE | 10.00 |
FEDERAL W/H | FED/FICA TAX | 5232.77 |
FORGY ELECTRIC | CITY WIDE CLEAN UP-DUMP TRK RE | 225.00 |
FRANKLIN COUNTY RECORDER | EMAIL/COPY FEES-PB DEEDS | 5.00 |
FRANKLIN COUNTY TREASURER | INDUSTRIAL LOTS TAXES | 1062.00 |
GLOBE LIFE LIBERTY NATION | GLOBE PRETAX | 88.79 |
HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF | CONTRACT LAW ENFORCEMENT | 3144.90 |
HARDIN COUNTY SOLID WASTE | AUGUST LANDFILL FEES | 1846.15 |
HEART OF IOWA | 847-2222 COMMUNICATIONS | 69.49 |
INGRAM LIBRARY SERVICES | BOOKS/SHIPPING | 608.77 |
INNOVATIVE AG SERVICES CO | DIESEL/GAS | 1819.42 |
IOWA DEPT OF NATURAL RESO | NPDES WASSTEWATER PERMIT AMEND | 85.00 |
IOWA EMERGENCY MEDICAL SE | IEMSA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP/CLASS-CRAIGHTON | 185.00 |
IPERS | IPERS - REGULAR | 3091.08 |
JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL | SPRAYER PUMP/WAND/GATE HINGE | 177.29 |
KEN'S REPAIR | '17 SIMPLICITY MOWER BELT/REPA | 205.67 |
LYNCH DALLAS LEGAL | 812 MAIN/322 LINCOLN/1118 4TH | 672.50 |
M&G TIRE SERVICE | '17 SIMPLICITY TIRES/REPAIR | 191.63 |
MCDOWELL & SONS INC. | N 12TH ST/CERRO GORDO ST STORM SEWER | 79140.36 |
MID IOWA AUTO PARTS, LLC | SWEEPER DEF/SPARKPLUGS/GARAGE DOOR BELT | 227.56 |
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPAN | ELECTRIC | 9512.86 |
PAYROLL CHECKS | TOTAL PAYROLL CHECKS | 20619.67 |
PEOPLE BOOKS | 1 YR MAGAZINE | 84.00 |
PEOPLESERVICE INC. | WATER/WASTEWATER SERVICE | 18561.00 |
PLEVA MECHANICAL | SPLASH PAD REPAIR | 88874.50 |
POSTMASTER | UTILITY BILL POSTAGE | 445.90 |
ROSS CLEANING | 8/26/26 CLEANING | 175.00 |
SALES TAX/LOST | SALES TAX PAYMENT | 1212.87 |
SHIELD PEST CONTROL | MONTHLY SERVICES | 34.00 |
STATE WITHHOLDING | STATE TAXES | 516.26 |
TIMES-CITIZEN CO. | 8/12/26 MINUTES | 226.95 |
VERIZON | MODEM/PHONES | 131.94 |
WATER EXCISE TAX | WATER EXCISE TAX PAYMENT | 2725.79 |
CLAIMS TOTAL | 283701.96 | |
| EXPENSES BY FUND | |
| GENERAL FUND | 34183.55 |
| LIBRARY RESERVE FUND | 224.98 |
| SWIMMING POOL RESERVES FUND | 373.46 |
| ROAD USE TAX FUND | 12000.32 |
| CAP PROJ - SPLASH PAD FUND | 88896.86 |
| CAP PROJ-GO BOND 2025A FUND | 16382.65 |
| CAP PROJ-GO BOND 2025B FUND | 693.27 |
| WATER FUND | 15000.87 |
| CAP WATER PROJ-WATER PLAN FUND | 8187.00 |
| SEWER FUND | 16573.54 |
| GARBAGE FUND | 5416.82 |
| STORM WATER FUND | 85768.64 |
TOTAL | 283701.96 | |
REVENUE | ||
GENERAL | 58971.23 | |
FIRE TRUCK/EQUIP | 0.04 | |
SWIMMING POOL RESERVE | 890.00 | |
ROAD USE TAX | 23460.32 | |
LOST | 20397.83 | |
LOST - DEBT SERVICE TOTAL | 5099.46 | |
CAPITAL PROJECT - LOST TOTAL | 5099.46 | |
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE | 120.00 | |
WATER | 45909.05 | |
WATER DEPOSITS TOTAL | 750.00 | |
SEWER TOTAL | 60107.15 | |
SEWER - SINKING | 29480.00 | |
GARBAGE | 10975.62 | |
STORM SEWER | 14735.87 | |
TOTAL | 275996.03 |
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