City of Atkins, Iowa
April 14, 2026 Council Meeting Minutes

Mayor Brian Cruise called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members Kevin DeMeulenaere, Dave Fisher, Jeremy Rolando, and Bob Stolen answered roll call. Council member Trevor Dursky was absent. City Administrator Scott Flory and City Clerk Shelley Annis were also present.

Motion Stolen, 2nd DeMeulenaere to approve the agenda as amended by moving the Proclamation honoring and welcoming the two Iowa National Guard members back from deployment to item 6A – all aye.

Dan Wirtanen, 7075 32nd Ave, Atkins addressed the Council regarding the delinquent balance left by a previous tenant at property owned by Wirtanen at 90 Main Ave, Atkins. Alexa Wilcox and Ryan Madison, Managers of the Tap House requested that consideration be given to moving the Watermelon Days band to Mainstreet. Brad Tischer, owner of Bobby T’s agreed the move would be beneficial.

Mayor Cruise directed City Clerk Annis to read the Proclamation honoring and welcoming the two Iowa National Guard members back from deployment.

City Administrator Flory reported that the Public Hearing Notice sent to the Gazette to be published on April 1st was not published, therefore the Council may not hold the hearing on the FY27 Proposed Budget. Flory gave the Council the option to hold a special meeting on April 23rd to hold the public hearing or wait until the regular meeting on April 28th. Motion Stolen, 2nd Fisher to set a special meeting for 6:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026 and set the public hearing for the same on the City of Atkins’ proposed FY27 Budget – all aye.

Mayor Cruise opened a public hearing at 6:18 p.m. on a minor boundary change for Stoneridge 5th Addition – Lot 16. City Administrator Flory explained that at their April 9th meeting, the Atkins Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed the boundary change and recommends approval by the City Council. Motion Fisher, 2nd Stolen to close the public hearing at 6:19 p.m. – all aye.

Motion Stolen, 2nd DeMeulenaere to approve Resolution 2026-04-02 approving a minor boundary change for Stoneridge 5th Addition – Lot 16. Fisher, Rolando, Stolen, DeMeulenaere – aye.

Motion Fisher, 2nd Stolen to approve the 1st Reading of Ordinance 240 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atkins, Iowa by adding provisions pertaining to water meters. Fisher, Rolando, Stolen, DeMeulenaere – aye.

Dick Lange, 81 4th Ave, Atkins, and Secretary of the Atkins Community Club reviewed the layout of events and organizing of Watermelon Days. Lange explained moving the event would take a lot of adjusting and the Club feels the best location(s) are as previously set. Council members expressed safety and liability concerns with the location of the beer tent on city property and the tent’s close proximity to the new fire station. Motion DeMeulenaere, 2nd Stolen to table Resolution 2026-04-03 until the April 28th Council meeting with a request that more information be communicated to the Council by the Community Club – all aye.

City Administrator Flory and Mayor Cruise gave their reports.

Mayor Cruise directed City Clerk Annis to read the Proclamation designating April 25, 2026 as Atkins Community Open House Day”.

Motion Stolen, 2nd Rolando to approve the consent agenda items consisting of: the claims for payment, the March 24, 2024 regular and special City Council minutes, the March financial reports, renewal of a retail tobacco license for the Dollar General Store, 402 Stonebrook Dr, Atkins, Resolution 2024-04-04 establishing salaries and wages for various employees, and setting a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on April 28, 2026 on the City of Atkins fiscal year 2026 Budget Amendment #2. Stolen, DeMeulenaere, Fisher, Rolando – aye.

Jane Scheer, 3388 73rd St, Fairfax (Benton County resident) with the Save Morgan Valley group reported on several concerns of the proposed Alliant Energy gas power plant, and efforts to educate residents of the plant location and concerns. Scheer asked the Council to consider sending a letter of opposition to the Iowa Utilities Commission, allowing material to be posted on the City website, and reaching out to other elected officials voicing opposition. City Administrator Flory will submit a letter to the Iowa Utilities Commission on behalf of the City.

Motion Fisher, 2nd DeMeulenaere to adjourn the meeting at 7:07 p.m. – all aye.

Shelley Annis, City Clerk/Treasurer

City of Atkins, Iowa
April 23, 2026 Special Council Meeting Minutes

Mayor Brian Cruise called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council members Kevin DeMeulenaere, Trevor Dursky, Dave Fisher, and Bob Stolen answered roll call. Council member Jeremy Rolando participated via phone call. City Administrator Scott Flory and City Clerk Shelley Annis were also present.

Motion Fisher, 2nd DeMeulenaere to approve the agenda – all aye.

Motion Fisher, 2nd Stolen to approve the consent agenda items consisting of: the claims for payment, the April 14, 2024 City Council minutes, renewal of a retail tobacco license for the Depot, 188 Parkridge Rd, Atkins, the 2nd Reading of Ordinance #240 adding a provision to the City Code pertaining to water meters, Resolution 2024-04-05 approving a Utility Services Privacy Policy. DeMeulenaere, Dursky, Fisher, Rolando, Stolen – aye.

Mayor Cruise opened a Public Hearing at 6:10 p.m. on the City of Atkins FY2027 Proposed Budget. No comments were received at city hall prior to the hearing. No comments were heard from those in attendance. Motion Stolen, 2nd Dursky to close the Public Hearing at 6:11 p.m.

Motion Stolen, 2nd Dursky to approve Resolution 2026-04-01 adopting the FY27 City of Atkins Budget. Dursky, Fisher, Rolando, Stolen, DeMeulenaere – aye.

Motion Stolen, 2nd DeMeulenaere to adjourn the meeting at 6:12 p.m. – all aye.

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF ATKINS, IOWA

The Atkins City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., in the Community Room, at City Hall, with Mayor Brian Cruise presiding. Council members present were: Rolando, Dursky, Stolen, and DeMeulenaere. Absent: Council Member David Fisher and City Clerk Shelley Annis. Also present: City Administrator Scott Flory.

Meeting was called to order by Mayor Brian Cruise. Motion was made by Rolando, seconded by DeMeulenaere, to approve the agenda. Passed Unanimously.

Mayor Cruise announced that it was now the time and place for public comments. Bethany Hantz (412 Pleasant Hill Drive, Atkins), candidate for Benton County Board of Supervisors and Joy Wieditz (1011 C Ave, Vinton) candidate for Benton County Treasurer each addressed the Council regarding their respective candidacies for elective office in the June 2026 primary.

Motion was made by Stolen, seconded by Dursky, to approve the final reading of Ordinance #240, “An Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Atkins, Iowa, by adopting provisions pertaining to Water Meters”. Roll Call: Passed Unanimously.

Motion was made by Stolen, seconded by Dursky, to take the request from the Atkins Community Club off the table. Passed Unanimously. Motion was made by Stolen, seconded by Rolando, to approve Resolution 2026-04-03, “A Resolution approving the leasing of property to the Atkins Community Club for 2026 Watermelon Days”. Roll Call: Passed Unanimously.

City Administrator Scott Flory reviewed the proposal to amend the FY 2026 City budget (#2). He advised notice was published in the newspaper and that the City had not received any written comments. Mayor Cruise opened the public hearing at 6:16 p.m. and there being no public comment closed the public hearing at 6:16 p.m. Motion was made by Stolen, seconded by Dursky, to approve Resolution 2026-04-06, “A Resolution approving Fiscal Year 2026 budget amendment (#2) for the City of Atkins, Iowa”. Roll Call: Passed Unanimously.

Motion was made by Stolen, seconded by Dursky to approve the consent agenda, which included: April 23, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes (special & workshop); approval of the bills & claims as submitted by the City Clerk; Class “B” Retail Alcohol Permit for Dollar General (402 Stonebrook Drive) (change of ownership); and Memorandum of Understanding with the State Dept of Revenue and the City of Atkins regarding the State Setoff Program

There being no further business to come before the Council, motion by Stolen, seconded by DeMeulenaere to adjourn the meeting at 6:33 p.m. Passed Unanimously.

                            Brian Cruise, Mayor 

Attest: Scott Flory, City Administrator