SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES | May 7, 2025

SPECIAL MEETING

May 7, 2025

ACKLEY CITY COUNCIL met in special session May 7, 2025 in the Ackley Council Chambers with Mayor Michael Nuss presiding.  The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm.  Council members present: Judy Crawford, Dan Scallon, Chuy Flores, Maliah Roelfs, Mike Abbas. Quorum present.

Abbas moved, Flores seconded, to approve the May 7, 2025 Agenda, as listed.  Ayes-all.  Motion carried.

Discussion regarding the proposed 28E agreement with the Friends of Prairie Bridges. M. Fistler, Friends member, informed Council the Board didn’t feel the proposed agreement was fair. Fistler introduced T. Nederhoff, Friends Attorney. Nederhoff proposed a 3-year initial lease agreement with a 30-year lease with option to purchase with 1st right of refusal.  Friends proposed expenses to include $3,000 annually for lease, paying 100% of water usage and 50% of sewer charges, due to some of the park not being on city sanitary services, and paying for insurance. The Friends are also requesting a bill of sale on all equipment, signed off by the City, to be owned by the Friends. The City would be responsible for garbage services.  In the event, the park was for sale, the Friends are requesting the sale price be determined on the bare land rather than any improvements to the land that would have been done by funds of the Friends. Crawford questioned the legality of a 30-year lease along with the City’s inability to sell to any entity other than a government entity without having to go through the disposal of land process of the State code. Further discussions led to Fistler requesting a special rate on water or the Friends paying $1 for the annual lease and the Friends paying all the previously proposed fees. Crawford would rather see the lease be $1 with the Friends paying all the proposed fees to include liability and property insurance. Nederhoff to draft both lease options and present before the June meeting.   

Discussion on Ackley EMS services. Nuss suggested going with Iowa Falls EMS for Ackley’s primary provider and Eldora as secondary. Nuss has been working with Thomas Craighton, Hardin County Emergency Management Director, researching to establish a 1st responders service. Training costs for 1st responders would be a cost to the City with reimbursement from the E911 board. If the City goes with 1st responders, the City would need a Medical and Service Director. T. Scholte, past AVAS volunteer, suggested to keep the ambulance rig and have 1st responders able to utilize the rig and paying a stipend of sorts for those who answer the call. C. Siems, current Eldora-Ackley EMS employee, would like to see the City stay with Eldora EMS as the current Ackley residents are staying on with the service and would like to continue to serve Ackley. O. Spencer, current Eldora-Ackley EMS employee, thanked Council for their willingness to try the merger and apologized the merger didn’t work out like they had hoped. C. Larson, Iowa Falls EMS director, informed Council that IFEMS would be here to assist with Ackley’s needs for coverage. Larson encourages the 1st responders’ program. Flores moved, Roelfs seconded to go with Iowa Falls EMS as Ackley’s primary provider with Eldora being secondary. Ayes-all. Motion carried. Crawford moved, Flores seconded to start recruiting and establishing a 1st responders’ team in Ackley. Ayes-all. Motion carried. Roelfs and Flores suggested paying 1st responders something when answering the call for service. Nuss is putting a list of potential residents who may want to join the 1st responders’ group. Dennis informed Council of the estimated costs to run the rig for insurance and reminded Council to keep in mind the expenses that come with running the rig when determining the cost of the 1st responder program for budgeting purposes. Follow up discussion at a later date.

Abbas moved, Flores seconded, to adjourn at 7:05 pm.  Ayes-all. Motion carried.

___________________________________

Michael Nuss, Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________________

Malena Dennis, City Clerk