Muscatine County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Muscatine County Weekly Roundup: Council Nominations, Utility Financing, and Zoning Cases

Muscatine County officials met last week on several fronts, with the City Council making two appointments and other boards preparing to vote on major spending and land-use items. The only final action taken was the council's unanimous nomination of two residents to city commissions; all other meetings were agenda-only, with decisions pending.

City Council Nominations (Aug. 3)

The City Council nominated Tiffany McConnaha to the Historic Preservation Commission and Lindsey Phillips to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Both nominations passed with all ayes, according to official minutes. The appointments require final council approval.

Utility Board Meeting (July 28)

The Board of Water, Electric, and Communications Trustees met on July 28. The agenda included a recommendation to approve financing for Phase 1 of the Water Lead Service Line Replacement Project, a recommendation to set a public hearing on the MISO Transmission Rate Update, approval of the 2026 Board Policy Manual, a Project Summary Form for Unit 8 Boiler Repair, and authorization of officers for a Bank Deposit Agreement. Minutes have not yet been published, so no votes are recorded.

City Council Meeting (Aug. 4)

The City Council met on Aug. 4 with a lengthy agenda, though no minutes are available yet. The council was set to consider bills totaling $1,850,458.69, along with several contracts and purchases:

• A contract with Crawford Company for the Clark House fire alarm system replacement, at $57,872.00.
• Release of retainage to KE Flatwork Inc. for the West Hill Sanitary and Storm Sewer Separation Project Phase 6 A&B, at $357,956.78.
• A purchase order to Truck Country Quad Cities for a roadway maintenance truck, at $128,477.00.
• A purchase order to Van Wall Equipment for a 2026 John Deere 4066R Tractor, at $48,700.

The council also held a final reading of an ordinance on pollutant discharge standards and set a public hearing on declaring city real estate as surplus.

Zoning Board of Adjustments (Aug. 6)

The Zoning Board of Adjustments met on Aug. 6 to consider five applications, according to the agenda. No minutes are published yet. The cases were:

• Conditional Use No. ZBACU03-2026: Kraft-Heinz to pave a parking area and install a storm sewer outfall to Geneva Creek within a floodplain at 1357 Isett Avenue.
• Conditional Use No. ZBACU04-2026: Thomas Hendricks to build a two-story duplex at 116 E 4th St, currently an office/residence lacking required off-street parking.
• Variance Appeal No. ZBAV05-2026: Daniel Gray requests a carport 2 feet from the alley right-of-way at 123 Park Ave, where a 25-foot rear setback is required.
• Variance Appeal No. ZBAV06-2026: Stan and Angie O’Brien seek to keep a cargo container at 2103 University Dr in an RL district where it is not permitted.
• Variance Appeal No. ZBAV07-2026: Thomas Arnold requests a 384 sq ft garage addition at 515 Adams, exceeding the 1,440 sq ft maximum by 124 sq ft.

The board also was to approve minutes from its previous meeting.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days, according to available records.

Muscatine County Council denies East 2nd Street appeals, approves street sweeper and transit funding

The Muscatine City Council denied nine appeals of unsafe-to-occupy notices on East 2nd Street properties and approved more than $660,000 in equipment and transit agreements at its July 21 meeting, according to official minutes.

East 2nd Street Appeals Denied

The council voted 6-1 on each of nine appeals filed against unsafe-to-occupy notices for properties at 207, 209, 211, 217, 219, 221, 223, 227, and 229 E. 2nd Street. All nine appeals were denied.

The council also adopted a resolution allowing special assessments for unpaid abatement and rental housing fees.

Infrastructure and Equipment Purchases

The council approved a $331,568.00 purchase order for a TYMCO Regenerative Air Street Sweeper and a $330,221.00 agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for FY2027 State Transit Assistance.

A contract and bond for the 2026/2027 Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay Project were approved, though dollar amounts were not listed in the available agenda data. The council also authorized a grant application to Iowa DOT for a Transit System Study.

A change order of -$8,609.25 was approved for the West Hill Sewer Separation Project Phase 6E.

Ordinance and Policy Actions

The council approved an ordinance amending Prohibited Discharge Standards and Specific Pollutant Limitations. A final reading of that ordinance is scheduled for the August 4 meeting.

Water, Electric, and Communications Trustees Meet

The Muscatine County Board of Water, Electric, and Communications Trustees met July 28 to consider several utility items. Agendas show the board was scheduled to act on recommendations including financing for the Water Lead Service Line Replacement Project Phase 1, setting a public hearing on an MISO Transmission Rate Update, approving the 2026 Board Policy Manual, approving a Project Summary Form for Unit 8 Boiler Repair, and authorizing officers for a Bank Deposit Agreement. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published.

Art Center Board Reviews Events and Policies

The Art Center Board of Directors met July 21 for a routine monthly session. The board reviewed a report on the Ice Cream Social held June 28, which drew about 950 visitors. An Iowa Arts Council (CLP) reimbursement has been submitted, with a report due in August. The board also reviewed its Code of Ethics and Collections Management Policy and noted that tree debris removal from the Cedar Street drive was completed. Minutes were not yet published; these items reflect the agenda only.

Coming Up

• **August 3 — Boards and Commissions Nominating Committee:** The committee will discuss applicants for the Historic Preservation Commission and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.
• **August 4 — City Council:** The council will consider approving bills totaling $1,850,458.69. Other items include a $57,872.00 contract with Crawford Company for the Clark House fire alarm system replacement, release of $357,956.78 in retainage to KE Flatwork Inc. for the West Hill Sanitary and Storm Sewer Separation Project Phase 6 A&B, a $128,477.00 purchase order to Truck Country Quad Cities for a roadway maintenance truck, and a $48,700 purchase order to Van Wall Equipment for a 2026 John Deere 4066R Tractor. The council will also hold a final reading of the pollutant discharge standards ordinance and set a public hearing for declaring city real estate as surplus.

Muscatine City Council approves $1.2 million in contracts; East 2nd Street decisions deferred to July 21

The Muscatine City Council approved more than $1.2 million in contracts and purchase orders on July 7, covering road work, police vehicles, building repairs, and equipment, while also authorizing demolition of three East 2nd Street properties. A week later, the council held evidentiary hearings on building safety appeals for the same block but tabled all decisions until July 21.

City Council — July 7

The council's largest award was a $928,765.50 contract to Manatts, Inc. for the 2026/2027 Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay project. Other approved items included:

• $205,000.00 purchase order for three 2026 Ford Interceptor police vehicles from Stiver's Ford.
• $299,270.00 purchase order for a 2025 automated refuse truck from Elliott Equipment of Davenport.
• $114,112.90 purchase order for Library Roof replacement to Top Choice Construction and Roofing.
• $57,872.00 contract for Clark House Fire Alarm System replacement to Crawford Company.
• $35,127.27 purchase order for a Deep-Tine Aerator for the Muscatine Soccer Complex.
• $2,745.05 retainage release for the City Parking Lot #7 Restoration Project.

The council approved the first reading of an ordinance on Prohibited Discharge Standards and authorized a contract with Heinz North America for the Ninth Extension to Wastewater Services and Rates. A contract with LS2 Group for Public Relations Services passed on a 4-3 vote.

The council approved a settlement payment in the case of Amber Allen versus the City of Muscatine; the amount was not specified in the minutes. It also approved demolition of 201, 203, and 205 East 2nd Street.

City Council — July 14

The council held evidentiary hearings on notices to vacate properties on the north side of the 200 block of East 2nd Street. No decisions were made. All matters were tabled and will return to the regular council meeting on July 21, 2026.

Construction Appeal & Advisory Board — July 8

The board continued discussion on deleting or amending Section R302.13 (Fire Protection of Floors) from the city building code. Staff recommended against the amendment, citing firefighter safety concerns. Staff reviewed FlameOFF Fire Barrier intumescent paint as an alternative compliance method and contacted Iowa City, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, and North Liberty about their deletion of the section. Minutes have not yet been published, so no action is confirmed.

Library Board of Trustees — July 15

The board considered an estimated $1,522 for Jenny Howell and Becca Fillmore to attend the 2026 Iowa Library Association Conference, authorization for the Library Director to set approximately two days of closure for roof installation, cancellation of the August 2026 monthly meeting, and review of Chapter 1 of the Board of Trustees Handbook. Minutes have not yet been published.

Art Center Board of Directors — July 10

The agenda listed a personnel report on the Director position and scheduling of the next board meeting for July 21, 2026 at noon. No substantive decisions or contracts were listed. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **July 21 — Art Center Board of Directors:** Routine monthly meeting including a report on the June 28 Ice Cream Social that drew about 950 visitors, a pending Iowa Arts Council reimbursement, and review of the Code of Ethics and Collections Management Policy.
• **July 21 — City Council:** The council will vote on bills totaling $8,290,958.17 for March–May 2026, a $7,442.50 purchase order to Shelangoski Construction for street and right-of-way repair at 315 Parham St., a public hearing on appeal requests for downtown investors at 207–229 E. 2nd Street, the second reading of the Prohibited Discharge Standards ordinance, and a resolution approving the contract and bond for the 2026/2027 Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay Project.