The Ellsworth City Council on Monday night met with students from the Iowa State University College of Design to discuss the 10-year land use and development plan for the City of Ellsworth during their fall semester. The students presented their recommendations based on survey work, community planning sessions, polling and data-based research. The core priorities include improving infrastructure, maintaining housing and cost-of-living affordability, strengthening community connections, increasing civil engagement, continuing to prioritize family-oriented living,supporting parks and recreation, encouraging sustainable growth and focusing on safety and long-term livability. The printed and completed Comp Plan will be hosted on the city website after mid-January. The copies will remain in the Ellsworth City Hall. The Comp Plan can be used for context and visioning, including a road map for decision-making and capital improvement planning.
Carla Hasstedt with the MIDAS Council of Governments was present to discuss with the Ellsworth City Council the roles and process for Council-led survey work in Ellsworth. Hasstedt discussed the specific structure, number of randomly selected households and questions that will be addressed in the survey. The goal will be to divide up the list of required survey households among the council and have the survey work completed by the end of January.
Ellsworth Public Works Supervisor Nick Vanlangen informed the council on the repair done to the transformer pole at IAS with the help of Midland Power. He also informed the council that the existing water tower will need to be cleaned this spring.Vanlangen will get quotes from the company that has done this for the city of Ellsworth in the past.
The Ellsworth City Council held a closed session to evaluate the personnel performance of a city employee. The council voted to suspend the employee for one week with a return back to work on December 16th. The suspension is without pay but with continued benefits, The employee cannot be on city property or operate city equipment during the suspension period. The employee will be required to complete a return-to-work plan formulated by the council and personnel committee during the closed session including specific requirements. The return-to-work plan needs to be signed by the employee prior to returning back to work on December 16th.
In other matters, the Ellsworth City Council will prepare an extended contract by the next council meeting with the Iowa DNR for an operator contract for the water treatment consultant contract. The current affidavit operator Alan Hanson will be present to give the Council updates on the current status of the water plant. Work on the Ellsworth city budget for the 2027 Fiscal Year will begin at the end of this month. A ceremony is set for December 19th at 8:15 a.m. for the RIPPL grant award by Ellsworth TelCom and the Iowa Area Development Group at City Hall. Brian Phipps was sworn in as a new member of the Ellsworth City Council for a four-year term beginning January 1st.2026. A Trivia Night sponsored by the Ellsworth Community Association is set for February 20th with snow makeup date of February 27th at the Ellsworth Community Center.