INDEPENDENCE – Due to the Memorial Day holiday the Independence City Council met on Tuesday, May 27.
Leading off the meeting was a presentation from Triumphant Church Pastor Lance Fricke and two staff members, Tyler Kane and Danielle Haynes. Pastor Fricke explained that every Christmas a special offering is received. This year the church decided the recipient should be the Independence Fire Department. Pastor Fricke and the staff presented Fire Chief Blake Hayward a check for $1,500.
Also speaking in the Public Comments was resident John Christensen. Christensen recently spoke at the Independence School Board in gratitude for the Board’s and Administration’s service to the community. Christensen continued the theme by thanking the Council Members and Mayor for running for office and their subsequent time and service to benefit the community.
The next two speakers, Kathy Meyer and Portia Grover, voiced their concerns about another development in the Pines Addition in the southwest part of Independence between Spruce Drive and Juniper Drive. They were concerned about the lack of controls in place for stormwater runoff. They spoke about water pooling in the area after heavy rains in 2018. They said they spoke with the developer, Steve Gee, the engineering firms of Fehr Graham and Crawford Engineering, and City Code Enforcement Officer Matt Chesmore. Meyer specifically was requesting a swale be part of the plan as she felt the natural flow of water had shifted over time as the area was built up.
At the end of the meeting City Manager Matt Schmitz took time in his report to the Council to address the development, saying Crawford Engineering designed the plan and Fehr Graham independently reviewed it. Neither firm thought the swale was needed.
“I don’t know what more we can do to alleviate concerns about the stormwater,†he said. “They talked about this event in 2018 and this event that happened in April of 2025 – I’m still not aware of any homes out there having water in the homes. … At some point we have to trust the professionals.â€
Other Business
- The Council approved a FY 2025 Budget Amendment. Due to “grants, insurance claims, and other unexpected revenues received in Fiscal Year 2025,†the City REDUCED the FY25 budget by $272,850.
- The Council passed a resolution approving Steve Gee’s request for Tax Increment Financing for the new development. This was a financial decision the Council believes will follow the vision of “encouraging a supportive environment for businesses, workforce, and economic development and supporting and enhancing City infrastructure.â€
- The Council passed a resolution that sets the date of June 9, 2025, at 11 a.m. for the sale of General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2025.
- The Council passed a resolution formally appointing Brian Lau as the Independence Police Chief upon the retirement of current Chief of Police Dave Niedert. Niedert is expected to retire this fall.
- The Council passed a motion to authorize the City Manager to move forward with the purchase of cameras for the Police Department.
- City Manager Schmitz also commented in his end of meeting report on the recent signing of new fireworks law in Iowa. The new law states County and City regulations cannot ban the use of consumer fireworks on July 3, July 4, and December 31. This change usurps local control even if the County considers “the use of such devices would constitute a threat to public safety or private property, or if the board determines that the use of such devices would constitute a nuisance to neighboring landowners.†Similarly, for City government, “A city council may by ordinance or resolution prohibit or limit the use of consumer fireworks, display fireworks, or Senate File 303, p. 2 novelties, as described in section 727.2, on any day other than July 3, July 4, and December 31 in accordance with section 727.2, subsection 4.â€
