Amber Mohmand

By Amber Mohmand and Tom Cullen | Storm Lake Times Cullen The Storm Lake City Council awarded a $3.1 million contract with Reding’s Excavating of Storm Lake for the reconstruction of Memorial Road, a move that resulted in the promise of litigation by the two contractors whose bids were thrown out. Work will begin later this spring. The council accepted the second-highest bid for the resurfacing and stormwater project. City Manager […]

By Amber Mohmand and Tom Cullen | Storm Lake Times Pilot The City of Storm Lake sued Buena Vista County in Buena Vista County District Court last week for over $5 million for tax-increment financing revenues that were misappropriated over the last 11 years. A 12-page lawsuit filed Friday by the city’s law firm, Dorsey & Whitney of Des Moines, alleged the county auditor’s office misappropriated at least $5 million from […]

By Amber Mohmand | Storm Lake Times Pilot Storm Lake’s chronic problems with strays and hoarded animals will be the subject of a work session by the city council next month. City Manager Keri Navratil announced the work session will take place at 5:30 p.m. April 8 at the Storm Lake High School Auditorium. An animal shelter will likely be discussed. Councilwoman Meg McKeon requested the work session […]

By Amber Mohmand | Storm Lake Times Pilot Public service is Keri Navratil’s calling. She got there in a roundabout way. She’s been city manager for just under nine years in Storm Lake. Before that, she was Algona’s city manager. She’s worn several different hats: a job recruiter and human resources director at a Fortune 500 company’s warehouse, a medical records clerk at a hospital and officer personnel […]

By Amber Mohmand | Storm Lake Times Pilot As a response to escalating crime and violence associated with late night alcohol consumption, the Storm Lake Police Department proposed an ordinance that requires businesses obtain a permit for alcohol consumption beyond 2 a.m. The proposed ordinance would bring regulations including a permitting process, background checks, insurance coverage and consent for police and fire department officials to enter the premises

The City of Storm Lake ended its fiscal year with a 179% increase in its tax increment financing fund deficit. An external audit conducted by Winther Stave & Co., of Spencer, showed the city had a $128,000 deficit from its TIF revenue fund in 2024. Last year, the city operated with a deficit of $45,000, according to an audit presentation […]

By Amber Mohmand | Storm Lake Times Pilot The Storm Lake City Council declined to waive an open records fee for a reporter who is investigating meat packing plants and its effects on the environment. John McCracken, a reporter who covers the industrial agriculture meat industry for Investigate Midwest, reached out to city officials for interviews and emails correspondence with Tyson Meats. Mayor Mike Porsch and City Manager […]

Friends, family struggle with Schultz’s death Truckers around the state are asked to participate in a memorial convoy for David Schultz, a Wall Lake trucker, whose body was found last month. “The Convoy for Truth: A David Schultz Memorial” will take place from 3-8 p.m. Friday at Sparky’s One Stop Truck Stop. The convoy of trucks will run a continuous […]

By Amber Mohmand | Storm Lake Times Pilot Only four people applied for the child care steering committee despite the City of Storm Lake’s advertising attempts for participants. Councilwoman Maggie Martinez, who is also on the committee, expressed her frustrations. “I'm gonna just say it. I was frustrated,” Martinez said. “I'm very frustrated and none of the people that (applied) were on the original steering committee, and I […]

By Amber Mohmand | Storm Lake Times Pilot The Storm Lake City Council explored the possibility of incorporating trap, neuter and release programs, acknowledging the potential benefits in managing stray animal populations during a work session on Monday. Councilwoman Meg McKeon requested city staff include this program to help with the feral cat population. “We are hearing continually concerns about the number of community cats which may or