The Lawler City Council met in regular session on April 6, 2026 at 7:20 PM.
Mayor Mark Muetherthies presided.
Council members present: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Council members absent: Roberson
Others present: Jay Uhlenhake, Chuck Stanton, Roger Dreckman, Janel Kuennen and Megan Mueterthies
Motion made by King to approve the agenda. Second by Scheidel
All Ayes: Motion passed.
Motion made by Croell to approve the previous minutes and approval of current bills with the addition of the Shawver Well Invoice.
Second by Scheidel.
All Ayes. Motion passed.
| VESTIS | RUGS | 429.68 | |
| BODENSTEINER IMPLEMENT CO | LAWNMOWER | 5,200.00 | |
| JENDRO | GARBAGE CONTRACT | 3,494.22 | |
| UPS | 182.47 | ||
| TEST AMERICA | DRINKING WATER | 110.95 | |
| EFTPS | FED/FICA TAX | 1,775.26 | |
| IPERS | IPERS | 1,364.66 | |
| STATE WITHHOLDING | STATE TAXES | 412.77 | |
| BLACK HILLS ENERGY | GAS UTILITY | 495.5 | |
| MIENERGY | ELECTRICITY | 22,117.57 | |
| CASH | LUMBER | 281.01 | |
| HAWKINS | AZONE | 1,302.51 | |
| BLAZEK CORPORATION | wELL #3 | 370 | |
| NEW HAMPTON TRIBUNE | 413.85 | ||
| WELLMARK BLUE CROSS | Apr-26 | 2,209.31 | |
| LAWLER PUBLIC LIBRARY | 1,333.33 | ||
| ULINE | PARK SUPPLIES | 375.92 | |
| UNITES STATES POSTAL | 735 | ||
| STOREY KENWORTHY | UTILITY BILLS | 660 | |
| NAPA | BATTERY SPEED SIGN | 429.34 | |
| IAMU | MEMBERSHIP DUES | 2,503.00 | |
| INSURANCE ASSOCIATES | RENEWAL POLICY CYBER SECURITY | 1,526.62 | |
| STATE HYGIENIC LAB | 22.5 | ||
| AUDITOR | ANNUAL EXAM 2025 | 425 | |
| VISA – J UHLENHAKE | 301.6 | ||
| VISA – S BYRNE | 39.17 | ||
| HAWKEY INTERCONNECT | Mar-26 | 128.45 | |
| DSG | WATER | 3,367.39 | |
| FEHR GRAHAM | Well #3 construction | 8,016.25 | |
| IOWA DEPT OF REVENUE | SALES TAX FEBRUARY 2026 | 1,623.21 | |
| KEITH D. OLTROGGE CPA | ANNUAL EXAMINATION 2025 | 4,250.00 | |
| INRCOG | SALARY & FRINGE BENEFITS | 271.44 | |
| SPEER FINANCIAL, INC | 5,000.00 | ||
| PAYROLL CHECKS | TOTAL PAYROLL CHECKS | 6,879.07 | |
| CLAIMS TOTAL | 78,047.05 | REVENUE | |
| GENERAL FUND | 20,654.62 | 3,172.91 | |
| SANITATION FUND | 3,494.22 | 3,136.98 | |
| ROAD USE TAX FUND | 1,635.09 | 3,240.42 | |
| CAP PRO STORM DRAINAGE FUND | 1,416.25 | ||
| WATER FUND | 9,467.57 | 8,998.62 | |
| WATER CAPITAL PROJECT FUND | 11,970.00 | 70,090.04 | |
| SEWER FUND | 3,402.08 | 7,118.36 | |
| ELECTRIC FUND | 26,007.22 | 35,674.07 |
LIBRARY
| EFTPS | FED/FICA TAX | 1,320.91 |
| IPERS | IPERS | 318.81 |
| STATE WITHHOLDING | STATE TAX | 118.17 |
| CATHY HUMPAL | 21 | |
| INGRAM | BOOKS | 122.93 |
| ALLRECIPES MAGAZINE | 27 | |
| HAWKEYE INTERCONNECT | 62.12 | |
| PIONEER WOMAN | 19.97 | |
| MID-AMERICA BOOK | 71.85 | |
| PAYROLL CHECKS | TOTAL PAYROLL CHECKS | 1,560.96 |
| CLAIMS TOTAL | 3,643.72 | |
| GENERAL FUND | 3,643.72 |
Motion made by King to set a Public Hearing to approve Budget FY26-27 in a special meeting April 20, 2026 at 7:02pm. Second by Croell.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
Motion made by Scheidel to approve the liquor license for the Starlite Ballroom and the Hole in the Wall. Second by Croell.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
Janel Kuennen and Roger Dreckman explained the Irish Fest Committee would like to change the parade route in June for Irish Fest. The new route will be posted on the Lawler Irish Festival facebook page. Motion made by Scheidel to change the Irish Festival parade. Second by Croell.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
Suzette explained to the council the need to increase utility deposit rates. There have been some residents to leave the city and leave a final bill after the utility deposit has been applied. Motion made by Croell to raise apartment deposits to $200 and house deposits to $250. Second by Wilson.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
Motion made by King to open public hearing to rescind and replace the Floodplain Management Chapter 160 at 7:30pm. Second by Croell.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
The Floodplain Management Chapter 160 was discussed with the council.
Motion made by Croell to close public hearing. Second by Scheidel.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
Motion made by Croell to rescind and replace the Floodplain Management Chapter 160. Second by Scheidel
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
King informed the council he has been donating his time and expense to update the Junko Park Bathrooms.
Spring clean-up will take place May 16, 2026 from 7:00am – 5:00pm. Jendro will have 2 dumpsters at the Lawler Compost site. A dump truck will be at compost site for steel. Jay will be picking up TVs, microwaves, computer monitors. A $25 fee is required for pick up.
Suzette presented the council with a Cash Payment Policy to approve. Residents who pay utilities with cash will need to pay the exact amount or round up and the credit is applied to the next utility bill. Change will not be given for overpayment. Motion made by King to approve the Cash Payment policy. Second by Croell.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
Roger Dreckman with the Lawler Lion’s Club explained to the city they are raising money to help make Highland Park handicap accessible. They would like to put a handicap swing in the playground. Megan Mueterthies explained to the counsel she would like to put on a 3k run to help with the handicap swing cost. Motion made by Croell to allow the Lawler Lions club and Megan Mueterthies to put a handicap swing in the playground at Highland Park. Second by Scheidel.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
Karen Wilson presented the council with a community project with no cost to the city. She would like to have an art contest to paint a manhole cover and make it colorful, fun and about 10 feet wide. Participants will provide their own paint. Motion made by Croell to approve the manhole cover painting to Make Lawler Lovely. Second by Scheidel.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell and Wilson
Nays: None
Absent: Roberson
Motion passed.
The council discussed the recent city exam. Suzette informed the council she has discussed with the CPA’s the recommendations they attached which was helpful.
Next meeting will be May 4, 2026 at 7:00pm
Motion by Scheidel to adjourn at 8:05pm. Second by Croell.
Ayes: Scheidel, King, Croell, and Wilson
Nays: None
Meeting adjourned.
Suzette Byrne, City Clerk