Sheldon, Iowa — The Sheldon City Council met in regular session at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in the council chambers at the Sheldon Community Services Center.
The consent agenda was approved, and in so doing, they approved the meeting minutes from the previous meeting, the list of claims, financial reports, approval of an ownership update for Breu Haus, LLC, approval of Village Northwest Unlimited’s Run, Walk, and Roll for Saturday, June 6th, 2026, approval of 4th quarter ambulance insurance adjustments, the acceptance of a retirement notice from Sheldon EMA Director Wayne Barahona, a resolution approving a worker’s compensation agreement withe the Sheldon Fire Company, a resolution approving a volunteer fire assistance grant from the DNR and US Forest Service, and a change order in regard to the painting of the older water tower.
In old business, the council resumed the discussion on recycling. Council member Jeff Wagner suggested they pursue a draft ordinance put together by City Manager Sam Kooiker that would allow no garbage in with recycling — in both the community container, and in individual containers. That idea will move forwrad to the next step, including legal review and so forth.
Council member Tom Eggers suggested moving forward with another draft ordinance put together by Kooiker, which suggested that residential recycling containers must be hauler-approved for curbside pick-up service. Each such container must, at a minimum, have a hinged lid, be 35 gallons, 65 gallons, or 95 gallons in size, be waterproof, and be compatible with the hauler’s automated
collection system.
Mayor Geels suggested incentivizing the purchase of residential recycling cans. Eggers says that the money they pay to take care of the large community container could better be used to incentivize curbside recycling. Hindt says that Mark Gurtler of DeKruif Disposal told him that the $6000 per year that the City pays to have the container dumped would stop being charged if the city were to require the curbside recycling cans. He says that would include two dumpings per week.
Wagner said he didn’t understand why the City would want to get rid of the large community “roll off” container, if it won’t cost them anything. He says they should be encouraging recycling of any kind and not be so focused on curbside recycling.
The council decided that City Manager Sam Kooiker and City Attorney Micah Schreurs should work up a resolution to work with and bring it up for discussion again later.
In other business, the budget workshops were moved to February 3rd and 4th.
Reports included the Crossroads Pavilion, bonding capacity and debt, and a pre-budget session discussion regarding Tax Increment Financing and the Local Option Sales Tax.
At the end of the regular meeting, council member Wagner stated that he would vote to go into closed session, but that he wondered why the closed session was needed — because no negotiations would be taking place.
The council then voted to go into closed session to discuss employment conditions for an employee or employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
KIWA Staff Photo
