WATERLOO - Mayor Tim Hurley threatened to halt public comments at the end of City Council meetings after a resident used them as a soapbox to criticize American workers.

"If this keeps up we do not have to have oral presentations," said Hurley, noting they are provided as an avenue for residents to have contact with their elected officials but are not required by ordinance or law.

Two City Council members, Reggie Schmitt and Carolyn Cole, voted against the generally mundane motion of making Lawrence Wheeler's comments part of the meeting's official record.

"I will not accept those comments," Cole said.

But Councilman Harold Getty said the presentation was made and should be in the minutes "whether we agree with those commends or not."

Wheeler, who frequently adds his two cents to various matters on the council agenda, rose to speak during the oral presentations section at the end of the meeting.

He began by saying the city should investigate buying solar-powered traffic signals, but the comments somehow morphed into Wheeler's thoughts on the May immigration raid at Agriprocessors in Postville.

American workers "are greedy" and refuse to work those jobs, he said, among other thoughts on the state of the economy.

Hurley attempted to steer Wheeler back onto discussion of the traffic signals and later said he disagreed with Wheeler's comments on the country.

Contact Tim Jamison

at (319) 291-1577 or

tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.