During the meeting, the council focused on the ongoing issue of a property at 126 2nd Avenue Northeast, owned by Michael Griffith. The city had received multiple complaints regarding the property’s condition, prompting a public hearing to address the violations of city code. Despite the absence of the property owner at the hearing, the council reviewed photographs and testimonies from neighbors, highlighting various nuisances including a truck filled with junk that had been moved around the property. The council unanimously agreed to move forward with the abatement, allowing the city to enter the property to clear the nuisances. The property owner will be held responsible for the costs associated with the abatement, which will be added to the property tax.

In other matters, the council discussed the Schuman Business Park development, approving revisions to the general development plan and preliminary plat. The planning commission had previously held a public hearing and recommended approval, subject to an engineering review. The changes involve transforming a planned road into a cul-de-sac with two lots and a pond, which were met with no objections during planning and zoning discussions.

The council also approved the hiring of Kelly Gravo as the new finance officer, along with pay grade increases for three city employees following completed testing and expanded job responsibilities. Gravo is set to begin her role on April 10th.

Public works updates included discussions on the impact of new storm sewer regulations, which may affect future equipment purchases. The city engineer reported on upcoming road construction projects, with bid submissions expected soon.

Emergency services reported an average month of incident responses, including a notable aircraft accident. The fire department has updated its equipment and amended its on-call rotation policy to better accommodate personnel. Additionally, regional cooperation was discussed for a temporary auto aid agreement during the I-90 construction project.