Council Rundown 9/15/2026

September 21, 2026

City Council Updates & Correspondence

  • Council held a public hearing regarding a zoning request from DKD Development for property north of East 17th Street. The proposal would rezone land from agricultural use to residential use to allow future development.
  • Mayor Smith informed council about an equipment failure that occurred early Sunday morning at Well #2. A fitting broke, a large amount of water into the electrical department facility. The mayor praised city employees for responding quickly and preventing what could have been much more serious damage to the building and equipment. While Well #2 has been temporarily shut down until repairs can be completed, officials said the outage is not affecting the community’s water supply.
  • During a report on a recent fire department meeting, the mayor shared concerns raised about communication during the transition of ambulance services. Council members emphasized the need for better communication between the city and the ambulance agency to prevent similar problems in the future and ensure both organizations remain informed during transitions. The council also discussed the city retaining $75,000 of ambulance-related funds to pay remaining obligations from the period when the city oversaw ambulance operations.
  • Councilmember Shiltz thanked staff for addressing a damaged stop sign downtown but noted continued concerns about drivers failing to stop at the intersection. Council members expressed concern for pedestrian safety and indicated the issue may need a more permanent solution.
  • Council members highlighted the success of the recent Hispanic Heritage Festival and Children’s Festival. Officials said the community received many positive comments and visitors from outside the area attended workshops and activities throughout the event.
  • Council reviewed concerns that the original process for the city’s banking services Request for Proposals (RFP) may not have provided all financial institutions the same opportunity to present information and answer questions before the full council. Several council members questioned whether the process needed to be restarted and requested additional review. Questions were also raised about the timeline, legal considerations, and the fact that the city had not yet fully transitioned banking services after a previous council decision. Rather than take immediate action, council voted to table the matter until the Finance Committee can meet and review the issue further.
  • Economic Development Director Phil Wiese shared exciting news about recent housing and development efforts in West Liberty. Highlights included:
      • The City of West Liberty and local developer Deepak Giri have been awarded a $1 million Iowa Workforce Housing Tax Credit, aiding in the construction of 26 homes on the east side of town.
      • Future development that could include an estimated 250-300 lots.
      • More than $1.1 million in state funding has been secured between the housing grant and a recent Catalyst Grant, helping keep home prices affordable for working families and creating one of the largest periods of growth the community has seen in many years.

Bi-State Regional Commission Update

Hazard Mitigation Plan

Muscatine County’s multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, which includes West Liberty, is currently being reviewed by FEMA, with revisions being made based on FEMA feedback before resubmission.

Grant Opportunities

  • Water and Wastewater infrastructure grants due October 30.
  • Surface Transportation Block Grants for road construction and reconstruction projects.
  • Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants for sidewalks, trails, and Safe Routes to School projects.

Economic Development Planning

Bi-State will begin updating its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) this fall and will meet with communities, including West Liberty, to discuss economic development priorities and opportunities.

What the Council Approved

  • Council approved the Beer & Liquor Licenses for:
      • Puebla Mexican Restaurant
      • New York Dollar Store
  • Council approved Change Order No. 1 for the East 6th Street Electrical Relocation and Underground Conversion Project. The change order uses contingency funds that had already been set aside to address unforeseen issues involving elevations and utility conflicts encountered during construction.
  • Council held a public hearing on Budget Amendment No. 2 for Fiscal Year 2026-27 and after closing the hearing, council unanimously approved the budget amendment.

Looking Ahead…

  • October 6th, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. Council Meeting

For more information, check out:
City Council Meeting – City Council Video