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, February 2, 2026. Mayor Geerts called the meeting to order. Council members present were, Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner (on telephone), Kiffel. Also in attendance were City Attorney Todd Prichard, Conrad Rosendahl, Casey Mai, Kyle Anderson and several NHHS students.
1. Approve regular City Council minutes of January 19, 2026.
2. Approve city claims of $415,572.05
3. Hotel Motel grant minutes and awards
4. Chickasaw County Auditor correspondence regarding ambulance fees
5. Finance Committee Minutes of January 19, 2026
6. Board of Adjustment Minutes of January 26, 2026
City Clerk Karen Clemens requested an addition of a resolution to set a public hearing for the City Code and Zoning Ordinance update; the discussion of the ordinance amendment was included with the original agenda. Moved by Larsen, seconded by Schwickerath; to approve the consent agenda, as amended. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
PWD Casey Mai requested council approval of implementing an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) which allows the city to have 24 hour access to all city water meters. The NH Municipal Light Plant is planning on approving the AMI system for electric metering. The city already accepted Geerts Plumbing & Heating Bid of $79/meter to swap out all meters. The quote from Van Wert included the following: 1. Water meters and radio endpoint – $468,451; 2. Tantalus System components $71,938.55; 3. TUNet System Annual Fees $10,518.75. Residents and businesses that use a ¾”meter will not be charged for the meter or installation costs. Residents and businesses that use a meter larger than ¾” will be responsible for the increased cost of that meter. Upon completion of the project the position of meter reader will be eliminated. Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by Larsen; That Resolution No. 6790 RESOLUTION APPROVING ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) SYSTEM PURCHASE, be approved. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
PWD Casey Mai would like to terminate the City of New Hampton’s Beacon Schneider agreement. Beacon was not as user friendly as city staff would have preferred. We can utilize Beacon’s fees for Cloudpermit, which is an online permitting and enforcement database. All past permits will be scanned into the permitting system and will be organized by parcel address. The permitting system cost is $10,400 with annual fees for subsequent years. Moved by McGrath, seconded by Kiffel; That Resolution No. 6791 APPROVING PURCHASE OF CLOUDPERMIT PERMITTING SOFTWARE AND CANCELLATION OF THE SOFTWARE AGREEMENT WITH BEACON-SCHNEIDER, be approved. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
City staff is requesting Council approval of updates to the City Code and Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance. Staff has prepared a list of several items that staff is requesting be changed to the city code and zoning ordinance. Some of the changes were overlooked in 2024 when the entire code was updated and some are new requests. Casey Mai explained each of the requested update. Moved by Larsen. seconded by Schwickerath; That AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THE ZONING & SUBDIVISION ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEW HAMPTON, IOWA, receive its first consideration. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by Larsen; That Resolution No. 6792 A RESOLUTION SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CITY CODE AND ZONING & SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BE SET FOR FEBRUARY 16, 2026 be approved. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Mayor Geerts order the item be on the agenda at the next regular council meeting for it second consideration.
PWD Casey Mai and Street Superintendent Kyle Anderson are requesting council consideration of making a portion of East and West Hamilton Street a ‘no parking zone’. The proposed resolution identifies the ‘No parking area’ of East & West Hamilton between South Water Ave and South Linn Ave. After discussion, it was decided to allow parking on the north side of East Hamilton between South Water and South Locust. Staff will monitor the area for 12 months and note any concerns and will bring back to the council for review. Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by Larsen; That Resolution No. 6793 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING NO PARKING ON WEST HAMILTON STREET AND EAST HAMILTON STREET BETWEEN SOUTH LOCUST AVENUE AND SOUTH LINN AVENUE AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF EAST HAMILTON BETWEEN SOUTH WATER AVENUE AND SOUTH LOCUST, be approved. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
The wastewater treatment plant project is nearing the completion of the design phase. As part of this process the city is required to hold a public hearing to make available to the public the contents of the environmental information document and the city’s project plan. The public hearing will be held on March 16, 2026 as this projects public hearing requires a 30 day posting notice. Moved by Larsen; seconded by Speltz That Resolution No. 6794 A RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE APPLICATION FOR A STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, be approved. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Strand Associates have the plans and documents prepared for the Mikkelson Parking Lot project, which is located at the intersection of East Spring Street and South Locust Avenue. The council needs to hold a public hearing on the proposed drawings, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for said project improvements. Moved by Schwickerath, seconded by McGrath; That Resolution No. 6795 A RESOLUTION SETTING BID DATE AND PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, be approved. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Moved by Speltz, seconded by Larsen; The council go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)c, which provides: To discuss strategy with Council in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation, be approved. Ayes – Larsen, McGrath, Schwickerath, Speltz, Denner, Kiffel. Nays – None. Absent – None.
Open Session ended: 8:29 PM
Open Session resumed: 9:25 PM
Action taken as a result of Closed Session:
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Speltz; To demand that Precision of New Hampton, Inc provide the following for the storm water pipe and drainage issues located at 509 & 515 Bailey Avenue: provide an alternative plan that is acceptable to this council and is prepared by a Iowa Licensed Professional Engineer within 60 days of this notice. Absent an alternative plan, the City will enforce their rights of the agreement and easement which will include removal of the building. The City will also inspect the storm water pipe that is currently in place at the expense of Precision of New Hampton, Inc as well as the fee from the SEH, Inc engineering study, which is $31,300. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried. Prichard will prepare the letter and send to Precision of New Hampton, Inc or its representatives.
City Clerk Karen Clemens informed the council that the Board of Adjustment has scheduled a re-hearing on February 10th, 2026 at 5:15 pm for Nicholas and Lindsey Valentini’s variance request. Clemens also mentioned that a Comprehensive Study for the city has not been completed since 2003. INRCOG can assist with this project with a fee of $25,000. No action was taken.
Moved by Speltz, seconded by Schwickerath; that the meeting adjourn 9:29 pm Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
