The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session in the Council Chambers at 112 East Spring Street, New Hampton Iowa at 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2026. Mayor Geerts called the meeting to order. Council members present were Denner, Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz. Also in attendance were City Attorney Todd Prichard (via telephone), Conrad Rosendahl, Casey Mai, Tammy Robinson, Bob Fenske, Jim and Rachel Kiffel, Chip Schwickerath, Jake Hackman, Brian Laures and Kayla Smith.
Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by Larsen; That the agenda be approved. Ayes- Five. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Steve Geerts recommended resident Jim Kiffel be appointed to the 4th Ward Council seat.
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Denner; That Resolution No. 6781 A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT JIM KIFFEL TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS 4TH WARD COUNCIL MEMBER, be approved. Ayes – Denner, Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz. Nays – None. Absent- None. Resolution approved.
Kiffel recited the Oath of Office. Mayor Steve Geerts welcomed McGrath and Kiffel to the City Council.
1. Approve Regular City Council Minutes of December 15, 2025.
2. Approve City Claims of $414,465.57
3. Library Board Minutes of 12-9-2025
4. Cemetery Board Minutes of 12-23-2025
5. Residential Application for Tax Exemption: Ind. Dev. Corp 341 S. Chestnut
6. Open Meetings / Training Information
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Schwickerath; That the Consent agenda be approved. Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
2026 ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS
Resolution setting guidelines for Council meetings
Moved by Speltz, seconded by Schwickerath; That Resolution No. 6782 A RESOLUTION SETTING GUIDELINES FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS (as follows), be approved:
All regular Council meetings shall be held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. as set by City Code, and if such day shall fall on a legal holiday, identified as Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding day at the same time unless a different day or time is determined by the council. The conduct of all regular and special meetings of the Council shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order and the City of New Hampton Code of Conduct. Special meetings of the City Council may be called by the Mayor of the City at any time, as stated in the City Code, with notice in compliance with the open meetings law, and said special meeting shall take up, consider, and act upon any such business as the Mayor shall place on the agenda subject to Council approval. Any business to be transacted at any regular Council meeting shall be in the hands of the City Clerk by 4:30 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the Council meeting. The Mayor sets up the agenda for the City Clerk to prepare and post to the City of New Hampton website on the Friday prior to the meeting. Emergency items shall be in the hands of the City Clerk by Friday at 10:00 a.m. Ayes: Denner, Kiffel, Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Setting order for roll call
Moved by Denner, seconded by Larsen; That the order for roll call vote shall be as follows: the first meeting shall be alphabetical and thereafter each meeting the roll call vote shall be rotated so that the first vote becomes the last and the rest remain alphabetical. Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Voting procedures and abstaining votes
City Attorney Todd Prichard explained circumstances for abstaining from a vote.
Appointment of Mayor Pro-tem and Standing Committees
Mayor Geerts appointed the following:
Committee Chair Committee Members
Finance Larsen Schwickerath Speltz
Street and Sanitation Denner Speltz Kiffel
Wastewater Denner Schwickerath McGrath
Water Schwickerath McGrath Kiffel
Safety Larsen Police Chief, Casey Mai, Fire Chief
Hotel/Motel Schwickerath
Mayor Pro-Tem Larsen
Moved by McGrath, seconded by Larsen; That the Mayor’s appointments of Mayor Pro Tem and Standing Committees be approved. Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Mayor’s Appointments
Mayor Geerts made the following appointments and asked for Council approval:
City Clerk – Karen Clemens
Chief of Police – Conrad Rosendahl
Public Works Director – Casey Mai
Zoning Administrators – Casey Mai and Karen Clemens
Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by Larsen; That the Mayor’s appointments be approved.
Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Mayor’s appointments to Community Boards
Mayor Geerts made the following appointments and asked for Council approval:
Floyd-Mitchell-Chickasaw Solid Waste Agency – Mayor Geerts, Clemens -alternate
Economic Development Advisory Board–Mayor Geerts, Denner, Clemens alter.
Communication Commission – Mayor Geerts, Police Chief Rosendahl
E-911 Board – Mayor Geerts, Police Chief Rosendahl
Emergency Management Board – Mayor Geerts, Police Chief Rosendahl
INRCOG Voting Officials:
Regional Transit Commission (Buses) – Mayor or Council
Regional Transit Authority Technical Board (Streets, Road, Trails Bridges) – Mayor or Council
Regional Transit Authority Policy Board – Mayor or Council
Housing Council – Tammy Robinson
Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by Larsen; that the Mayor’s appointments be approved.
Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Appointment of official newspaper
Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by Kiffel; That the New Hampton Tribune be named the official newspaper for the publication of Council proceedings and notices. Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Appointment of City Engineer
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Denner; To appoint SEH Engineering and Strand Associates as the engineering firms for City Subdivision review and storm water management review and all other City engineering business will be done on a project by project basis, be approved. Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Setting Mileage Reimbursement Rate
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Speltz; that Resolution No. 6783 A RESOLUTION SETTING THE MILEAGE RATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR 2026 AT $0.725, be approved. Ayes: Denner, Kiffel, Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
New Hampton resident, William / Chip Schwickerath, is interested is donating a small section of property (0.29 acres) that adjoins the TRIBE Trail in the West Industrial Park. The property is located outside the city limits but adjoins the trail property. Tara Hackman, Park & Rec Director, has offered to manage the space if the Council approves the transfer of property. Move by Larsen, seconded by McGrath; To accept the donation of 0.29 acres of property identified as parcel # 19-11-12-3-25-008 from Wm & Darlene Schwickerath at no cost; and direct attorney Todd Prichard to prepare the documents for the property transfer. Ayes – Six Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
City Attorney Todd Prichard is requesting council approval to allow him to engage an attorney who specializes in condemnation procedures for the storm water easement needed on the property address of 2000 Parker Street, New Hampton. Moved by Speltz, seconded by Schwickerath; To direct City Attorney, Todd Prichard, to engage services with an attorney who specializes in condemnation procedures, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Terracon, who is contracted for boring services at the WWTP facility, has Change Order No. 1 for an additional $250.00 for their services. Moved by Larsen, seconded by Schwickerath; that Resolution No. 6784 A RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 WITH TERRACON, be approved. Ayes – Denner, Kiffel, Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Public Works Director Casey Mai informed the council that he is planning to schedule a meeting to discuss the storm water concerns and the completed Hydrology & Hydraulics Report as a result of the Precision of New Hampton constructing a building over a storm water main. Mai will communicate will all the parties to schedule a meeting.
Councilmember McGrath has suggested videotaping future council meetings and making them publicly available for greater transparency and accessibility in local government. This will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.
Moved by Denner, seconded by Schwickerath; that the meeting adjourn at 7:40 pm Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
