Dave Casotti, Boone Mayor, April 21, 2026

On the program today visiting with Dave Kassadi Boone mayor good to have you back mr. Mayor good to be back Jim. Thank you We are a warmer day I thought it was going to be cool when I walked out of the house and it's already nice Hey, we need we needed that so we did dry up a little bit very busy council meeting again a lot of on the agenda And one of the first things obviously doesn't happen often But chief asked for a little time to do a little bit of well to pass along a Commendation to a couple of members of the department. Yeah, that was awesome. It was Nate good to see yeah, Nathan McDougal and John Mays for a case they handled again people You know they think TV do it in an hour right kind of thing three months They took a little while but it's it's good to see that they've got those people to do that stuff and they don't give up Which is awesome. So oh again got that last night got standing ovation and everything else. Yeah, so that was good news Let's talk about a budget did the budget hearing and no comments comments whatsoever. You were going okay. This works Was not a unanimous vote of the council six one right six one and once again moving forward, but At that part done that goes into the state and away we go we got a lot of other things though, too You got public hearings like crazy coming up at your next meeting Yeah, that's gonna be another busy one. Although. I don't know how long that'll take yeah It's a lot of marge have to do with community development block grants. Yeah, so yeah So that'll move quickly but again one of those rehab projects where you could secure some funds and and do like Roofs for houses and things like that right. Yeah, that's whatever we can do to keep things going is What we'll try to do so we'll take that. Yeah Let's see one of the things that came up. You did get that agreement put in place and was approved last night by the council and that's for the Actually between the city and the convention visitors Bureau and rag bride the rag bride committee Because you are getting you first you're gonna do a sponsorship Yep, and then you're gonna make some dollars available. So they some seed money. I guess we called it seed money Look at and also they're gonna handle the vendor Permitting but reimburse the city for right. Yep, and that'll make things a little bit easier for everybody I think smooths it out and I once again Bill scares in charge of the vendor So yeah, pretty familiar with what the city does anyway. I'm pretty good hands. So yeah But they'll do that At least councilmember Terry Mormon feels very confident the city will recover the 30,000 that they're gonna put it put into it Yeah, cuz are you are you even worried? I'm worried. Would you be about that? You know my initial thought was fairly, you know, you got to be concerned because if we have a horrible weather day It kind of puts the kibosh on the whole plans But sure the the committee the rag bride committee is also getting an insurance policy just for that reason. So I Don't know the details on that But I think that it's probably a good idea on their part and then that way if we do have bad weather and things Don't get to go quite as planned then They've still got a backup plan. So bottom line is though They do need some startup funds to be able to do a lot of everything you got to pay the band and whatever You know, you know all of that done and Otherwise they seem to be moving along pretty good still looking for housing and things Yeah, what goes into this and I commend those guys for it's all volunteers taking on that project So and it is not the same as it was 15 years. No bottom line. We can tell you that it's it's different to rag bride itself You know, they've got You've got to follow their guidelines. We can't just do whatever we want I mean within reason we can but you have to follow their guidelines as well So one of the other things that did come up a little bit later But fire chief Justin Adams because of the entertainment hairball. Yep They have a lot of pyrotechnics. Yeah, so little fireworks permit needed for that What do you say a couple hundred pages something like that? I want to say was 120 pages or something like that. It's It's a lot. It's a big document. Yeah, anyway They they it's all on protection for everything that they'll be doing on that So anyway right now most it most everything south of around the south end of town, but you did have Community member Elden Hutchison. Yep. He said they are going to be coming all over town They are going to be coming downtown and you know and last time the discussion was from some of the businesses Could we have street closures and things like that and a lot bottom line was it was public safety How are we going to have enough people to be able to cover that? Yeah, and that's that's it's a concern It I hope we can figure something out because I don't want to leave downtown Businesses out of it, which they won't be left out of it, but to help you know, they're gonna You know, they're gonna be all over town. They are there's gonna be bikes everywhere. So which is great I mean, I hope they come downtown and frequent the businesses down there. They deserve it, too So but to figure out the safety part of it. That's you know, well every time They do something or something like that shows up. I know people that either used to work At the station or were involved with them one way or another a lot of times they just ride right up here Yeah, you're gonna have traffic. Yeah, we know it's gonna be coming down and definitely will be all over town They might have to deputize you and I Jim. No No, they might become dependent on us. We don't want that. No one of the other things that came up is permission or the agreement working with CVB because we're getting in that time of the year for nights on the green Right first and we'll have that first one coming up in May May 1st. I believe you bring the kids Yeah, Scott amusements will be there. Yeah rides for some rides and Should be a pretty good May day, right? Yeah pray for good weather on that day as well Yeah, every time we try. Yeah, I'm sorry. We're subject to outdoor outdoor things Last night council did approve a site plan new building to be built down on the south side of town Again, this is gonna be a new home for Baluches Baluches restaurant. Yeah, and former area of Where pizza I did yeah, I used to be pizza there. So be right in that same spot. So that's cleared out but a Minor little issue on there was the number of parking spaces council agreed with the planning and zoning Yeah, go ahead and wave the the one parking one parking spot. Yeah. Yeah, it's not a huge deal One effect their ADA parking that they'll still have the correct number for that. It's just one less overall So so we've got all of that and again, they're getting ready to move forward with this right away. Yeah You'd like to say fill in a space down there, right? It's good to see yeah It's been that whole corner. There's been empty for a while since Pizza Hut's been gone and coming goes been gone We'll get that that part taken care of. Yeah, it's some activity there again And also we did have the final plat for Oak Park again single family residential subdivision and Taking a little while to get through all of that, but they're they're up ready to get started now I think they already started I don't know I haven't looked to see what all the works that had been done out there, but a lot of dirt's been moved I know that a lot of dirt night. Yeah, it's been a while since I don't go out that way very often either I need to drive by once in a while quiet. It is yeah Well, you got to go out at least go by and see what kating's doing. Yes, they've already got people moving in Yeah, they're filling up fairly quickly So that's just some of the things that came up those were things that came out of planning and zoning so Again, we've got a few others out there, too. Well Waylon did not take a lot of time, but he had a lot of topics. He did I guess let's go first of all we got a couple of change orders water and wastewater and These are ongoing projects Actually, some of them started Well before you yeah, and we know that they did Again, they've got it. Well, they finally emptied the reservoir the groundwater reservoir once you get in there You're not diving in the water and looking for things right now They get a chance to see and they see we got a little additional work to do Yeah, it's hard to tell when it's full of water and going from a camera with a diver So now that yeah now that they can see it There's a few things that need to be there are a few add-on little things so not overly expensive not terrible No, so but it is Did push the price up a little bit But it is something that obviously want to get done It needs to be done had to be a little bit of concrete work a little bit of support work for their for the roughs Down at wastewater again. This is a project started like three three and a half some years ago Finally getting that done minor minor issue on that on the head works project But again council no problem changing that he's yep and moving along quickly But there are other things that are coming up new generators again They're the recommendation is what you have is not going to be able to handle what you're looking to build in here So we do have a lot of things that are coming up at the waterworks there are it's actually both of them Yeah, but the water is a huge topic right now as well. It should be I mean that's That's a lifeblood of all of us. So we've got to have good clean water and We do have a well project one of the things that Andrea Elmquist talked about last night is again depending on how you stage and do different projects Having community development block grants. So that's she said we're going to do a lot of these applications, right? and One of the things that they are doing on their trip because they are Joining the Ames Regional Alliance going to Washington. They're really going to push to make sure CDBG grants are funded correct Yep, and right now they haven't done that. No, and that's yeah, that's one of the things on their list I wish I could have went with them today, but I figured it was more important to be with you Okay, thanks for that. I told him I would not go to DC on crutches and try to That would be yeah, so maybe next year not a fun time there Another thing that came up last night getting very close. Wayland Andrews. Let you know that Hancock Drive expansion Moving along. It's getting very close to getting completed out on schedule ahead of schedule I believe so now the downside is Traffic signals that are going to be situated out there and all the turn lanes and stuff not quite ready yet a little delay in the supply to supply chain issue there, but Hoping to have those early July and try to get those in place. So Not gonna allow traffic on it, but at least at this time get ready to Get that completed out there. Yeah, and this is not the DOT's roundabout folks This is just where Hancock and Corporal sned and drive intersect. Yeah, and that's yeah So that you just won't be able to go you know east on Hancock once you get to corporal sned But everything else will be open and then like I said once we get the Traffic signals in there and get those up then we'll be good to go Well, we did have an opportunity for Mike Cornelis to offer a couple of different things He's gonna make you do your first proclamation Yeah, we're Arbor Day. Yeah That's gonna be activity coming up this weekend I know one of the things that the Park Commission is doing they're having those public input opportunities they've been working on their 10-year plan and and We have another one yet this evening. I was gonna say I think the last is at the last one Yeah, this evening at 6 30 at the park So they've had a few people show up for him, which is good They'd like to have some public comment and and but I know for it from the council perspective Lot of parks, you know like 17 parks or something like that, but What do you do with each one? How much you know and I remember the council saying give us a plan right give us an idea Yep Probably in May. Hopefully again, they'll get that to you. It'll be interesting to see it will be interesting There's a lot that people would like to see and there's a lot we'd like to do It's just again 17 parks and additional things. We'd like to see get done So there's a lot and how do you how do you afford? I was just gonna say that was the next thing is how do we pay for all and we've only got four guys staffed there to Mow and take care of everything so it's it's another one of those fun ones to deal with yeah pretty limited and Again, that does include trees the tree tree board and Yeah, Linwood Park cemetery also. Yep had a lot of things happening there, too Let's talk a little bit about website again. Did you get a chance to read through some this? You know, this is the first one of the first things you got was our website is not ADA compliant and then the Company that was going to do it is going to quit providing service for us. So Well, we need to get this changed in a hurry, but Staff has really put together a lot of work. Hey gave you a pretty good presentation last night They did and it's you know, they're the ones that use it the most or deal with it the most I mean, hopefully the public uses it as well But as far as administering it so yeah, that was great They had they narrowed it down to three and then they worked some more and basically narrowed it down to one and and picked one So not inexpensive, but I knew it wouldn't be but that was one thing the council had insisted Money is was not should not be a determining right It has to be a factor but not the determining factor because it's got to be done, right? So Right now getting ready to go with the company but out of Michigan. I think it rise revised revised. Yep they'll be doing that and Hopefully again be able because what you were looking for is you do a lot You had a lot of interactive things online billing and permitting in the whole bed and you want to keep all that right? Yep, and we'll see how it goes these this company by the way again I think people should know they do work with several big cities in the state So I'm just gonna say they do Des Moines and Cedar Rapids and so yeah, I think we're in good hands. So we'll Get you hopefully get everything we need. Yeah, they're fast. Yeah, let's see. We do know that That project is going forward. I was gonna say there's a few other things to that Continue to be done That they're working on but those block grants those are gonna be some of the big ones that we're gonna be having there, too Other things from the meeting that you thought of There was so much. It's hard to even remember what all we talked about I don't have any bullet points Read now I was trying just going through my nose quick to see if there was something else that We did have again arts advisory board. Let's talk a little bit about that Oh, yeah, you were gonna make some appointments for that. Yep, and then you then What's happened is the state auditor's office has handed out some decisions or some Given some guidance to communities and again other communities have seen this we have not really seen it no in any of our reports and things but Some of the things that you were allocating funds or were funds were being allocated to like the arts advisory board $5,000 it wasn't much but wasn't a huge job, but they said That should that would not be permissible or should not be done for public funds Yeah, there's it's So there are several things that came up but that happened to be one of them That's one of them and it's just that you and I were talking before we got on there It's just like this we keep getting our hands kind of tied It's on what we can do what we can't do what we've done in the past now all the sudden and it's not just boon It's the reason we're hearing about these is because other cities are having this done and some of them are maybe doing it At a higher level than we are and the auditors have come in state auditors have come in and said hold on We can't be doing this can't be spending your money this way And it's that's frustrating when you're trying to do things and help the community and then all the sudden you can't do that so it's will work through it and and So basically there won't be an arts advisory board It will be the art will have something that will be underneath economic development We'll figure out a way to do it where we can still get some art projects around town and figure out how we fund that and so forth but one of the The things here is it is in ordinance. It was created as an ordinance now. It has to be repealed Yeah, so you'll have to go through the process. Yeah, and Economic development did make some decisions some recommendations that they are making adjustments in the downtown incentive fund Which has been very successful doing a lot of facade work But they would like to extend that a little more in the council was receptive to it Right. Yep. To look at to look at roofs involved if if there's leftover money after there What they get done with their facade then we can use those or they can use that on their roofs Which I mean that's I think it's a great idea Obviously the roof if the roof if your roof's leaking everything else is even in your home once your roof starts leaking Then you've got it if you don't get that fixed then it doesn't matter what your facade looks like so We got a lot of a lot of little things like that, too. So again It's not the first time it's come up. I can tell you I know Many years ago when we were doing a grant programs, too a lot of that did kind of start to go into doing some roofing and then maybe some inside work and then After a while you got to kind of back away from it because it's a little overwhelming, right? But we do have still a lot of oh he want they also wanted to do a sunset on some of the Yeah, on some of the projects that have been done again, if you had done a downtown incentive under a B diff project and did the facade work You know I can there's a couple of different businesses that have had it done, right, but Put a time frame on it so that they can come back and do additional or do new you don't have you would not be Limited right now just a one-time deal. Yeah, so got a lot of those still working on that, too I'm the personnel side for public works Dean Taylor The recommendation was to make him a foreman. He's got a lot of years experience. Yeah 29 years. I believe it was Got a lot of different things that are happening Let's see not too much else. We got a lot of meetings and things coming up here individual meetings, but Not until we get to May now, right? Well, you got to do your Arbor Day proclamations Do that I just I missed a call. Well, I couldn't take it because Mike called me just before I walk well There you give him a call back. He just test it. He's gonna have to do it another time Anyway, yeah, he came just came back in time to get that. Yeah, get that done, too Yeah, some of the other departments Library Jamie Williams let you know she got grant and pursuing additional grants digitizing the Boone News Republican Yep Now all we get is 19 what'd she say 1981 to 2005 we got left to fill That's what she said. Yeah, that's a that's a span. Yeah So we'll have them going ahead doing that too. Otherwise not too many additional things on here again We've got a lot of work that's going to be done things like that But yeah, get ready come out for a night on the green. That'll be the first one up I know on the city newsletter came out to you're also looking for nominations for a citizen Again, that's a community involvement award. Yeah, and once again That should be in the city newsletter So if you if you see that fine if you don't find out information about it, too Yeah, go to the website or the city website, but it yeah, it'll be on your on your informative page there in your water bill I know I just got mine and saw that so it's there. Yeah, go ahead and do that They've got Saudi our guest on our program today. Thanks so much for taking time to come in and join us. You bet. Thank you, Jim