City of Salix, Iowa - MEETING MINUTES (10/14/26)

Salix Community Center 317 Tipton St., Salix, IA 51052

Mayor Nelson opened the regular meeting of the Salix City Council at 7:00pm on Wednesday October 14, 2026.  Council members present: Gene Monk (via phone), Denise Burkhart, Emily Clayton (via phone) in person at 7:40pm, Brenda Smith-Hansen, Tim Skidmore

Others present: Ashley Mareau, Ed Colyer, John Hines, Kristine Stone (via phone call) with Ahlers Cooney, Chad Kehrt.

• The Woodbury County Sheriff Report was not reviewed. No Deputy present who could review at this time.

• Mayor Nelson opened the Public Forum by reviewing Res. 2026-20 Establishing Rules of Public Forum. Hines also reiterated the rules of Public Forum. 6 people spoke during the Public Forum.

• Res. 2026-21 Resolution regarding Data Center Moratorium was motioned by Clayton, Burkhart seconded. Roll count vote: Monk (naye), Skidmore (naye), Clayton (aye), Smith-Hansen (aye), Burkhart (aye). The resolution was approved. 

• Colyer spoke of water main break possible causes, the break has been fixed. Water tests came back clear. Boil advisory lifted. Fire hydrant flushing completed. Aspen lift station fixed, sealed. Waiting on weather to install newest fire hydrant at Aspen & Tipton. Colyer gave an update on issues with Main Lift Station, and the work put into the specialized part to be ordered. 

• Clerk reminded Council all park repairs from May storm have been completed. Clerk asked for Council to consider what they want with the current baseball field. Many ideas were discussed and will be revisited in the Spring. 

• Mayor/Council had no updates.

• Engineer Kehrt spoke of the possibility of V&K inspecting the water tower to see if it needs painted in their professional opinion. 

• The Consent Agenda was approved on motion from Skidmore. Burkhart seconded.  All ayes, motion carried.   

a. Approval of financial reports

b. Approval of bills and payroll

A+ PLUMBING SOLUTIONS: 2 Water meter installs $250.00, AHLERS & COONEY P.C.: Data Center DA $5,842.50, ANDY VOGT: Deputy at Council Meeting $200.00, ASHLEY MAREAU: Mileage to Clerk Luncheon, Skaff Training $81.98 BEKINS FIRE & SAFETY SERVICES: Fire Exting. Annual Inspection $49.50, CASEY ROOFING: Park Shelter Roof Repairs $4,800.00, CASEYS: Pick-up Fuel $111.53, CHN: Garbage $2,860.05, CRARY HUFF: Legal $1,883.75, IA DNR: Annual Water Use Fee 2027 $120.00, DNR-WATER SUPPLY: Derek water exams $60.00, EFTPS: Fed/Fica Taxes $1,602.31, FRONTLINE WARNING SYSTEMS: 1 year service contract $400.00, IA DEPT OF REVENUE: Sales Tax $518.92, IPERS: Ipers $1,156.15, JDH: MEC AmineD 60 gal $400.00, GILL HAULING: 2nd ¼ Landfill $1,712.80, LONG LINES: Telephone $39.65, MENARDS: Park & shop supplies  $211.54, METERING & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION: 5 meters & endpoints $2,698.02,  MIDAMERICAN: Gas & Electric $1,384.25, MITCHELL CONTRACTING: Hwy 75 & Walnut water main break fix $7,000.00, MURPHY TRACTOR & EQUIP: Tractor Repairs $240.75, ONE OFFICE SOLUTION: Copy paper $64.75, PREMIERE FENCE & GATE: Repairs to Baseball fence $6,445.00, PRESTON LYNDE: Deputy at Council Meeting $200.00, SALIX FIRE DEPT: City Hall’s 5% of MidAmerican $175.23, SGT BLUFF ADVOCATE: Publications $453.60, SOOLAND BOBCAT: Bobcat Maintenance $489.82,  STATE WITHHOLDING: State Taxes $686.84, USA BLUEBOOK: Chemical Pumps $208.73, VERIZON Cell Phones $100.50, VISA: Speakers, Microphones, Shop & Park supplies, training $677.03, WCSWA: Landfill fees $673.71, WOODBURY COUNTY TREASURER: Real Estate Taxes $170.00, Salix Drainage Taxes $20,492.73 

PAYROLL: $6,226.56 FUND TOTALS:  GEN: $53,742.14, ROAD USE: $3,124.65, DEBT SERVICE: $0.00, CAP PROJ/ASPEN DEVELOP: $59.98, WATER: $13,751.97, WATER SINKING: $0.00, SEWER: $1,522.29, SEWER SINKING: $0.00

c. Approval of September 9th & 30th  Council Meeting Minutes

d.  Approval of Public Works reports

• Memorandum of Understanding (with Google) was approved by a motion from Burkhart, second by Clayton. Monk and Skidmore were nayes, Burkhart, Smith-Hansen, Clayton were all ayes. Motion approved. 

• Council reviewed Building Permit #2026-4

• The 2026 Annual Urban Renewal Report was approved by a motion from Monk. Seconded by Skidmore, all ayes, motion approved.

• The fix for the Main Lift Station is expensive, so Mayor asked Council to approve the purchase. Burkhart motioned the approval, Smith-Hansen seconded. All ayes, the purchase was approved. 

• Google representative Fellers informed Council and those in attendance of some updates. Burkhart motioned, Skidmore seconded to receive documents from the Google representative. The remainder of Council approved with all ayes. Fellers provided Council with a list of Studies they would be conducting on the 900 annexed acres. Fellers said they would put information on their Salix Data Center website as the information becomes available. The Council asked Mareau to add a link on the City of Salix’s website to the Google  Salix Data Center website. 

Salix Drainage District Updates

• Kehrt spoke of the process V&K and the Woodbury County Treasurer went through to calculate the drainage assessments. There was miscommunication that caused errors in the tax statements. The issue has been cleared up, and new statements sent.

• Mareau spoke of training she received from Michelle Skaff. Mareau feels confident in submitting bills to Auditor/Treasurer to get outstanding & future drainage bills paid.

Revenues received by fund for September 2026: 

General: $11,607.17, Road Use: $2,681.73, Employee Benefits: $613.54, Local Option Sales Tax: $5,579.20, Debt Service: $1,978.47, Cap Project: $0.00, Water: $13,230.52, Water Sinking: $3,565.00, Sewer: $2,688.16, Sewer Sinking: $441.67 Total Revenues: $42,385.46

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm by a motion from Clayton and seconded by Skidmore. All ayes. Meeting adjourned.

Attest:

Kevin Nelson, Mayor                               Ashley Mareau, Clerk