Mayor issues park directive reminder

Since April, Creston Parks and Recreation board meetings have been held at 5:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. This has caused an issue in attendance for other city officials, as the Creston City Council meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

In July, Creston Mayor Waylon Clayton issued a directive to the park board to change the meeting time in order to avoid conflicts. While the mayor said the park board had not yet met since the directive was issued, Clayton took a moment during Tuesday’s city council meeting to issue a reminder of the directive.

“As mayor and chief executive under Iowa Code 372.14, I retain the responsibility of ensuring coordination and lawful operation of city functions,” Clayton said. “This directive was straightforward: parks and rec meetings must not overlap with city council meetings or other essential city functions. Overlapping meetings puts the city at the risk of violating open meeting laws; they hinder our ability to provide proper oversight as required by our oath of office.”

While no formal motion was made, members of the city council gave their acknowledgment and support of the directive.

Clayton also said he expected the meeting time to be changed before another meeting is held.

“I’d like to have that up on the agenda before the next meeting, on the agenda for the park and rec, the next meeting for the park and rec,” Clayton said. “They need to have it up on there and change the meeting time. They were given the directive. I gave it Mike Taylor, Mike Taylor gave it to Rusty Zimmerman, Rusty Zimmerman delivered it to the chair.”

While no official motion was made regarding the directive, the council did approve the addition of Chris Lane to the park board. Lane will take the position left empty by Katie Turner, who resigned in June.