March 21, 2005

Wellman, Iowa 52356

The Wellman City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building. Mayor Max Lewis presided with the City Attorney, City Clerk and following Council Members: Robert Goodrich, Robert Swartzendruber, Richard Oldfield, George Kisner, and James Seward; absent: no one. Also present were Mary Coblentz and Katherine Anderson from the news media and eleven citizens.

The Agenda was approved upon motion by Oldfield second by Seward and all aye votes.

Minutes of the previous meetings, March 3, March 7 and March 10 were presented. With no additions or corrections the minutes stand approved as read.

The list of bills were reviewed and discussed. Swartzendruber moved, Oldfield seconded, and all voted aye to pay the following:

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense 2,020.53

Baker & Taylor Books – library books 286.06

Farm Business Association Foundation – library book 14.00

Perfection Learning Corporation – library books 132.07

Southeastern Library Services – rotations,workshop 610.00

State Historical Society – library subscription 39.90

State of Iowa Treasurer – postage/Iowa Code 13.00

WT Cox Subscriptions – library magazine subscriptions 595.23

Wellmark – health insurance 799.49

PARKS & RECREATION:

Payroll expense 100.22

Bancard Center – lodging,goods 90.64

Ebert Supply – cleaning supplies 219.26

Gambles – safety equipment/chain saw 156.44

Bill Steckly – tree work & hanging banners 225.00

SENIOR DINING:

Payroll expense 481.30

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense 152.62

Aramark – mats,mops,etc 54.66

Ebert Supply – cleaning supplies 81.57

LL Window Cleaning – building windows 25.00

PLANNING & ZONING:

Donna Wade – mileage to Washington/meet with Kitchen on zoning 15.39

LEGAL SERVICES:

Tindal and Kitchen – legal services 442.50

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION:

Wellmark – Wade insurance 481.22

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

Bankcard Center - 1&1 website hosting 29.94

IMFOA – conference registration/Wade & Huston 150.00

Pitney Bowes – quarter meter fee 321.00

TOTAL 7,537.04

CDBG HOUSING GRANT:

East Central Iowa Council of Govt – housing administration 2,560.00

STREETS & SIDEWALKS TAX CREDIT FUND

Aramark – shirt service 13.28

I Wireless – cell phones 78.85

TOTAL 92.13

RECREATION CENTER FUND

Payroll expense 770.55

Aramark Uniform Services – mops,towels,etc 30.05

Bancard Center – Oriental Trading Co/concessions 256.23

Farner-Bocken Company – misc concession items 854.89

Freeman Foods – concessions 21.11

I Wireless – cell phone 18.35

Mahaska Bottling – pepsi products 76.40

Menards – repairs,supplies 60.51

TOTAL 2,088.09

PAYROLL TAXES & DEDUCTIONS:

Federation Bank – fed wht & fica/medicare 2,572.73

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense 396.47

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 2,565.32

Clayton Energy – January natural gas purchase 67,758.36

Chris Huston – mileage to Washington/random drug test 14.58

IAMU – registration/workshops 150.00

Slabach Construction – bore gas line/80 feet 640.00

Wellmark – Slaubaugh health insurance 781.75

(a portion of this is paid by payroll deduction)

TOTAL 72,060.01

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 2,888.87

Bancard Center – ½ lodging for IRWA conference 189.66

Douds Stone Inc – clean stone 389.58

Fisher Automotive – repairs to 1996 Ford Ranger 348.92

IAMU – registration/workshops 9.00

Wellmark – health insurance 1,575.41

TOTAL 5,401.44

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 1,352.88

Bancard Center – ½ lodging for IRWA conference 189.66

Eastern Iowa Light & Power – lift station 102.82

TestAmerica – wastewater testing 208.80

Wellmark – Oldfield insurance 251.18

TOTAL 2,105.34

SENIOR DINING HAA FUND

Payroll expense 865.45

Mildred Whetstine – mileage to Cedar Rapids/HAA meeting 38.07

TOTAL 903.52

SENIOR DINING COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense 56.12

GRAND TOTAL 95,822.89

The February financial statement was presented and discussed. Seward moved, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye to approve the statement which included February revenues as follows:

FEBRUARY REVENUE

General Fund 5,857.76

Employee Benefit Tax Fund 69.38

Support Public Library Fund 26.26

Community Development Block Grant 0.00

Liability/Property Insurance Levy 88.72

Local Option Sales Tax 6,588.68

Road Use Tax Fund 10,790.71

Tax Credit Reimbursement Fund 14.12

Tax Increment Financing Fund 46.62

Debt Service Fund 24.73

Library Services Fund 255.86

Recreation Center 6,282.02

Trust & Agency Funds 6,502.89

Municipal Gas System Fund 87,248.95

Municipal Gas System CD 0.00

Municipal Water System Fund 13,202.52

Municipal Water Sinking Fund 7.67

Municipal Water System CD 97.20

Water Utility Capital Project 0.00

Municipal Sewer System Fund 9,889.13

Sewer Sinking Fund 21.46

Solid Waste Disposal Fund 4,565.62

Senior Dining HAA Fund 3,088.82

Senior Center Donation Fund 1,107.34

TOTAL FEBRUARY REVENUES 155,776.46

Kathy Conway and Kim Parrott were present to represent the TTT Society in presenting a check to the Parks & Recreation Board in the amount of $1,000 for the Playground Equipment Project. James Miller, President of the Parks Board accepted the check noting this is a great start to the fund-raiser to provide new equipment to North Park. Conway and Parrott reported the funds were raised at the tea the Society hosted at last year’s Quasquicentennial celebration.

The Wellman Lions Club requested use of South Park for three events over the July 4^th weekend. The Parks & Recreation Board has recommended the request. Councilmen asked about the cleanup afterwards with Fred Wagner, Chair of the Lions Club, indicating it would be expected to have everything replaced by August 1st with the fence being removed by July 15^th. He stated the proceeds from the Saturday event would be donated to the Playground Equipment fund. Kisner moved to approve the use by the Lions Club, Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye.

Joan Miller, director of the Washington County Minibus, was present to ask that the City continue to contribute to their service. She reported they no longer provide rides to the Senior Center as ridership was too low. They continue to serve Wellman, however, as they do all county communities on an as-needed basis. They routinely provide rides to children to school as well as adult rides when called for out-of-town appointments, etc.

Dale Scheibe, president of the non-profit group working for state approval of a gaming license to build the Riverside Casino was present to report on their activities. He quoted figures that are estimated for revenues and attendance for the facility that will include an eighteen-hole golf course, two hundred room hotel and twelve hundred seat theater/convention center. It is projected the facility will provide eight hundred thirty new jobs. With estimated revenues he stated Wellman could receive $83,000 from the revenues generated at the casino. Scheibe has received letters from Crawsfordville, Ainsworth, Brighton and Washington for support of the project. He did not approach Kalona due to the strong support against the project and was unable to arrange a time to meet with West Chester. He presented a resolution to the Council for their consideration that would express the support of the Wellman City Council to the State of Iowa to issue a gaming license to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, Inc. and the Washington County Riverboat Casino, LLC. Seward moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-12, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call there were three aye votes: Seward, Goodrich, and Oldfield and two no votes: Kisner and Swartzendruber. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 05-10 to approve the contract for 9^th Avenue Street Improvement Project was introduced and caused to be read. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-10, Swartzendruber seconded and upon roll call there were unanimous aye votes. Mayor Lewis affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 05-11 to approve funding for the IAMU/Community Joint Efforts for Electric Municipalization was introduced and caused to be read. The resolution provided for funding of $50,000 from the gas utility fund and $50,000 for Local Option Sales Tax fund as needed and available to fund this effort. Mayor Lewis took issue with using LOST funds for this as it was his opinion this was not an infrastructure project. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-11, Seward seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous aye votes.

The Iowa Department of Transportation submitted agreement documents for the federal funding to replace the bridge on 2^nd Street west. After a brief discussion, Swartzendruber moved to authorize signing the agreements, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

In the matter of setting a spring cleanup day, it was decided to hold it on April 29 and 30^th in the same manner as last year. Oldfield moved, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye.

Swartzendruber reported he would like the city to purchase a digital camera to keep better records of water breaks and other city projects as well as provide pictures for the website and WATV. He has one reserved in Iowa City for a cost under $200. Oldfield moved to purchase the camera, Seward seconded and all voted aye.

Final-billed unpaid accounts were reviewed. After a brief discussion it was decided the City Attorney and City Clerk should meet to review the accounts and determine if collection is possible or if they should be written off.

Mr. Kitchen reported on the issue of changing the R3 district as it now disallows single family dwellings. It was uncertain if the wording of the R3 district could be changed or if the areas now zoned R3 should be changed to R2. Kitchen will research it and report to the Planning & Zoning Commission. After further discussion of various issues relative to rewriting the zoning ordinance, Seward moved to give the matter to the P & Z Commission for their study and recommendations. Swartzendruber seconded the motion and all voted aye.

A brief discussion was also held on recodifying the City’s Code Book. Work sessions will be planned to do a complete review of the codes and contact Simmering & Cory of Clear Lake for codification services.

In general discussion, Seward reported a citizen calling him who was without water over the weekend. Two numbers had been tried with no answer and was unsure who to contact. It was decided the clerk will start forwarding the city hall phone to the cell phone of the person on duty for the weekend so someone can be reached at these times.

Swartzendruber wanted it on the record his reason for voting no on the casino resolution. He voted no because the voters of Wellman had not passed the issue.

Oldfield asked that the city engineer be instructed to proceed with design plans to replace the watermain south of Highway 22 on 9^th Avenue rather than waiting until contractors were “hungry” for work. Oldfield voiced concerns that costs would only escalate and the sooner the project is bid the cheaper it would be.

The Mayor reported he had spoken to Owen White, Emergency Management Coordinator, and was told the Wellman Fire Department had received a generator and light through a grant. White will attempt to obtain one for the City as well.

Mr. Kitchen reported the deed work is done for the Federation Bank property on the west end of the Bidwell-Slockett Minipark which will be the site of a new Pergola. He has to meet with bank officials to finalize the transfer. He also has the resolution ready for starting the process of transferring the east shallow well property to the Mid-Prairie High School.

Phil Slaubaugh informed the Council city workers have found the gas main on 9^th Avenue should be replaced while construction in that area is going on. He has requests for material bids out to various suppliers and will report back as to costs and delivery time. The approximately twenty five hundred feet of main will cost somewhat over $10,000 for replacement material.

In the Public Forum Angela Wasson asked about city laws pertaining to cats roaming free. She is having an ongoing problem and would like it resolved. Mayor Lewis told her to call him when these issues occurred.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:33pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, April 4, 2005 in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.