April 4, 2005

                                                                                                              Wellman, Iowa 52356

 

 

     The Wellman City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building at 7:00pm. 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 from the news media, Sheriff Jerry Dunbar, City Engineer Doug Fredericks, USDA Rural Development Specialist Larry Fair and sixteen citizens.

     Goodrich moved to approve the Agenda, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     The Public Hearing to receive comments on the proposed Municipal Maintenance Building Project was opened at 7:02pm. There were no written or oral comments. Therefore, the hearing was promptly closed. Resolution No. 05-13 to approve the Plans, Specifications, Form of Contract for the 2005 Maintenance building Project was introduced and caused to be read. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-13 Swartzendruber seconded and upon roll call aye votes were: Seward, Goodrich Oldfield and Swartzendruber; no votes: Kisner. The Mayor did not immediately sign the Resolution.

The bids for the Maintenance Building Project were then opened with the following results: J & L Construction of Washington, $346,546.88; Bushong Construction of Montezuma, $369,279.00; Garling Construction of Belle Plaine, $266,000.70; and Shadwick Construction of Independence, $347,400.00. Resolution No. 05-14 was then introduced and caused to be read to award the contact contingent on the review and verification of the engineer for the apparent low bidder. Seward moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-14, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call there were aye votes as follows: Swartzendruber, Seward, Goodrich and no votes: Oldfield and Kisner. Motion passed with the Mayor not immediately affixing his signature to the resolution.

     The bill list was reviewed and discussed with Oldfield moving, Goodrich seconding, and all voting aye to pay the following:

GENERAL GOVERNMENT FUND

POLICE PROTECTION:

Washington County Auditor – Apr law contract                                                          4,890.63

Wellman Telephone Co – phone to law center                                                                  32.11

FIRE PROTECTION:   

Alliant Energy – fire station                                                                                             216.39

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                           237.70

City of Wellman – fire station Feb gas                                                                            559.25

CIVIL DEFENSE:

Alliant Energy – weather siren                                                                                          11.26

Mellinger Cabinet Shop – fire siren Apr electric                                                                15.00

ANIMAL CONTROL:

Paws & More – Apr payment                                                                                         80.00

TRAFFIC CONTROL:

Alliant Energy – highway flashing light                                                                               11.50

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense                                                                                                          2,031.95

Wellman Telephone Co – library phones                                                                          57.49

PARKS:

Payroll expense                                                                                                               46.57

Alliant Energy – electric services                                                                                      71.97

SENIOR DINING:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             418.46

Alliant Energy – electric services                                                                                    202.09

City of Wellman – Feb utilities                                                                                        331.84

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             117.37

Alliant Energy – municipal building                                                                                  220.40

Aramark Uniform Services – mats,mops,etc                                                                     55.16

Freeman Foods – bleach                                                                                                   1.92

General Pest Control – Apr service                                                                                  11.00

Glenn Guenergich – fluorescent bulbs                                                                             129.60

City of Wellman – Municipal Building Feb gas                                                                275.26

Wellman Telephone Co – city hall phones                                                                      167.17

LEGISLATIVE:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             227.80

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

Petty Cash Fund – certified letter to Aramark to cancel contract                                         3.97

Quill Corporation – envelopes                                                                                        364.17

Washington County Minibus Service – Apr contribution                                                 125.00

Wellman Advance – publications                                                                                    662.11

                                                                                        TOTAL                          11,575.14

INSURANCE TAX LEVY FUND:

General Government

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      8,962.00

Fire Protection

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      6,005.00

Parks & Recreation

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      1,569.00

Street Department

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      2,531.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                          19,067.00

STREETS & SIDEWALKS TAX CREDIT FUND:

Wellman Auto Supply – 9pc ½ deep SAE imp                                                                 19.99

RECREATION CENTER:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             831.80

Alliant Energy – skating rink electric                                                                               184.83

Aramark Uniform Services – mops,etc                                                                             35.56

Farner-Bocken Company – misc concession items                                                         519.93

Freeman Foods – frozen pizzas,water,etc                                                                       210.36

Mahaska Bottling Co – Pepsi products                                                                            64.00

Menards – repairs                                                                                                           75.40

Petty Cash Fund - Dixie cups                                                                                             6.96

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      1,574.00

David Tornow – reimburse for repair supplies                                                                533.85

Treasurer State of Iowa – Mar sales tax                                                                         257.91

City of Wellman – skating rink Feb services                                                                   445.58

Wellman Telephone Co – rink phone                                                                               24.05

Yoder Heating & Plumbing – spray assembly for sink                                                       75.90

                                                                                         TOTAL                            4,840.13

LOCAL ACCESS CHANNEL:

Staples – mem stick digital media                                                                                     44.64

University of Iowa surplus – cart & podium box                                                               20.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                                 64.64

EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT:

Slagle Pharmacy – employee health insurance benefit                                                      292.53

PAYROLL TAXES & DEDUCTIONS:

Federation Bank – fed wht & fica/medicare                                                                 3,309.82

IPERS – employee retirement fund                                                                              2,122.91

Treasurer State of Iowa – state wht                                                                                879.16

AFLAC – employee insurance                                                                                       301.30

Wellmark – payroll deduction                                                                                        401.96

                                                                                         TOTAL                           7,015.15

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                             389.10

Alliant Energy – street lighting                                                                                      1,414.99

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                             72.55

Wellman Auto Supply – parts                                                                                          35.95

                                                                                        TOTAL                             1,912.59

STREETS CAPITAL PROJECT

Dorsey & Whitney – legal work/special assessments                                                   2,794.76

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          2,774.96

Alliant Energy – gas regulator                                                                                           19.83

CJ Cooper & Assoc – random drug test                                                                          29.00

Iowa Assn Municipal Utilities – workshop,newsletter                                                      283.56

Donald Morrison – refund gas deposit                                                                              76.52

Municipal Gas System – refund gas deposits                                                                  283.14

Municipal Supply – gas line materials                                                                           2,611.01

Rediger Tires & Service – tire,rims,etc                                                                           139.60

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                           156.00

Project Share request                                                                                                    100.00

Quill Corporation – 1/3 cost of envelopes for billing statements                                         74.99

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      2,844.00

Treasurer State of Iowa – Mar sales tax                                                                      2,857.14

Washington County Hospital – Huston random drug test                                                   23.50

                                                                                         TOTAL                          12,273.25

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          5,031.41

Alliant Energy –  electric services                                                                                1,270.29

Aramark Services – shirt service                                                                                      13.28

Douds Stone – roadstone                                                                                              422.71

Fisher Automotive – Ford Ranger repairs                                                                       151.69

Freeman Foods – bottled water                                                                                       14.85

Gambles – rental of saw & blade                                                                                     92.59

Iowa Rural Water Assn – membership dues                                                                   337.50

Donald Morrison – refund water deposit                                                                          76.52

Municipal Supply – cplg for copper/plastic                                                                     131.60

Municipal Water System – refund water deposits to accounts                                         283.05

Petty Cash Fund – postage/radium water sample                                                                5.63

Quill Corporation – 1/3 cost of envelopes for billing statements                                         74.98

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                           460.00

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      5,842.00

Treasurer State of Iowa – Mar sales tax                                                                         894.28

Wellman Auto Supply – ratchet                                                                                        13.55

City of Wellman – water plant Mar gas                                                                          248.26

                                    maintenance shed Mar gas                                                         223.70

Wellman Telephone Co – water plant alarm                                                                     24.09

Yoder Heating & Plumbing – Ύ K copper                                                                       14.40

                                                                                         TOTAL                          15,626.38

WATER CAPITAL PROJECTS

Bockenstedt Excavating – pay estimate 9th Avenue project                                        56,558.90

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,987.79

Alliant Energy – electric services                                                                                 1,191.82

Freeman Foods – ice                                                                                                         6.58

Quill Corporation – 1/3 cost of envelopes for billing statements                                         74.98

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – property,liability,workers comp etc                      4,756.00

Treasurer State of Iowa – Mar sales tax                                                                         105.58

City of Wellman – wastewater treatment plant Feb gas                                                     49.32

Wellman Telephone Co – phone services                                                                         85.19

                                                                                         TOTAL                            8,257.26

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FUND

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – Mar recycling                                                                2,565.00

                                    stickers sold                                                                              158.00

Southeast Iowa Insurance Service – workers comp                                                        153.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                            2,876.00

SENIOR DINING HAA FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                             883.29

Freeman Foods – raw food                                                                                             42.00

General Pest Control – Mar service                                                                                   9.00

H & H Foodservice – raw food                                                                                     114.62

 

Hawkeye Foodservice – raw food, supplies                                                                1,594.38

Mildred Whetstine – reimburse/raw food,supplies                                                             81.68

                                                                                         TOTAL                            2,724.97

SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                               56.13

                                                                            GRAND TOTAL                     145,954.82

     Sheriff Dunbar was present and reported they have received approval to open the jail to a limited number and type of prisoners. He stated deputies are stopping in at the skating rink as requested. A discussion was also held on sexual offenders and their living in close proximity to schools and parks. Although the law may remain on the books, Dunbar indicated it was a difficult law to enforce. Tarin Allen stated she lived on 9th Avenue and voiced concerns of the speed of vehicles on that street indicating there were no visible speed limit signs in that area. The Mayor will post additional speed limit signs with the sheriff looking at increased patrol.

     As Shawn Powell had not yet arrived to the meeting the insurance item was skipped over to the Parks & Recreation Board report. James Miller, President of the Board reported a record setting month for the skating rink in March. Lampe has asked for $200 - $300 to construct a raised platform for the sound system so the operator can look over the skaters as well as make it safer. She has been approached to construct a Frisbee golf course in the parks. The Mid-Prairie High School welding class has offered to make the equipment. Mose Levy Company of Washington will be asked to provide the material at a possible reduced price. Lampe plans to hold fund raisers for the cost of the materials. It is planned the course will be set up around the outside perimeter of North Park. The units will be padlocked in place for easy removal as needed. Businesses will also be asked to donate with their names being placed on one of the units.

The Board will meet at North Park at the April meeting to inspect park equipment and needs. Sunrise Child Care will be supervising the Summer Recreation Program for the city.

     In Planning and Zoning issues, the rewriting of the ordinance was discussed. It was decided the R3 district will be amended immediately to provide for single family dwellings. The code will be rewritten to change all districts but this will at least allow for current issues to be handled. In review of a request for a temporary carport to be placed on 3rd Street, the City Attorney’s opinion was, as there was nothing in the zoning ordinance that either allowed or disallowed temporary structures and/or carports, he felt the requested carport before the Planning & Zoning Commission could go ahead and be done with no permits. He noted the Council needed to address this issue when rewriting the ordinance so that it is clear as to how these structures should be handled. Seward moved to set April 18, 2005, 7:00pm for a Public Hearing to amend the Wellman Zoning Ordinance in regards to the R3 district. Oldfield seconded the motion and all voted aye.

     Resolution No. 05-15 to write-off certain unpaid accounts was introduced and caused to be read. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-15, Seward seconded and upon roll call the vote was four ayes with Kisner voting no. The Mayor affixed his signature.

     Resolution No. 05-16 to dispose of the east shallow well property was introduced and caused to be read. The Resolution provides for setting a public hearing on April 18, 2005 for the purpose of selling the property to the Mid-Prairie School district. Swartzendruber moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-16, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous aye votes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

     A brief discussion was held on continued funding of the Washington County Minibus. The City currently is giving $125 per month to the service. Kisner moved to continue the funding and Swartzendruber seconded, stating only to allow the motion to go to a vote. Upon roll call the vote was: Kisner, aye; Seward, no; Goodrich, no; Swartzendruber, no; Oldfield, no.

     Larry Fair was present to report he had received word this day that the Sunrise Child Care facility project had been awarded $50,000 in USDA funds in addition to the CDBG grant of $338,000. He needed mayoral signatures on preliminary documents to get the paperwork process started. Seward moved to authorize mayoral signature, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye. Seward moved to set the date of April 18, 2005 for a public hearing in regard to the grant. Kisner seconded the motion and all voted aye.

     Mayor Lewis presented a proposal to replace the backhoe with a new unit (at $107,251.00) to include a cement breaker (at $13,000.00). This does not include trade-in value of the old backhoe. Councilman Seward suggested looking into purchase of a skid loader instead with the cement breaker attachment like they have been renting and trading in the new tractor. Oldfield stated the tractor was purchased with the intention of getting a belly mower to help with park mowing. Mayor Lewis will get pricing for a skid loader unit noting he would also price trench boxes.

     Mayor Lewis asked for approval to have Bockenstedts seed down the area in front of the school where the city installed a watermain to the Freeman development as they will be doing the seeding for the work they (Bockenstedts) did on the west side of the school. The estimated cost to do this is $3,000. Swartzendruber moved to approve the work, Oldfield seconded, and all voted aye.

     The Eastern Iowa Sled Heads requested approval for their snowmobile route through Wellman for the 2005/06 season. Swartzendruber moved to approve the route, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     At this time Shawn Powell arrived at the meeting to review the new city insurance policy noting that there is more coverage with a lower premium this year. One addition to the policy is coverage for computer fraud and electronic funds transfer fraud. The Council briefly reviewed and discussed the policy.

     In general administrative discussion Kisner voiced his support of the day care project.

Seward asked about the 1st Avenue county project with concerns of it starting July 1st and interfering with the July 4th celebration activities. The Mayor will contact the County Engineer’s office and determine what their intentions are. Seward also discussed the need of additional valves in the watermain system in light of several recent breaks. He reported city workers had taken down the oil tank at the maintenance shed and it is now lying on the ground with the intentions of cutting it up. He told the Mayor in no way was that to be done due to the uncertainty of the contents of the tank which could cause serious safety issues. He also alluded to the fact if employees had time to take the tank down they should be working on installing the water valves, a more important project.

Bob Goodrich referred to a recent letter to the editor in the Wellman Advance in regards to the council vote on the Riverside casino noting it was a good letter. He stated he voted yes to the resolution because it was a county issue and the county passed the referendum. He noted Wellman could receive up to $80,000 from the casino and he was not willing to refuse the funds.

Oldfield suggested the Mayor have the portable restroom units installed at South Park and asked about the fire siren at the wastewater plant. It was reported it has been taken down so that Glenn Guengerich can check it to see if it is repairable.

The clerk reported a request from residents on 2nd Street to get tree sap down on Fir Avenue as it is quite dusty. This was part of the agreement to annexation earlier this year.

     In the public forum, James Miller stated the Parks Board was recommending the City do some weed spraying in the parks for dandelions, etc, mostly spraying in the outside edges of the park. He asked for bids from local businesses if possible. The Mayor will get bids for this service.

Shawn Powell asked when the street sweeper could be used to clean mainstreet. It has been quite dirty for some time now. The Mayor stated as soon as they get it running it will be used to clean streets.

Don Gingerich reminded the council, the parks board had recommended a couple years ago to clean up the area behind the band shell but this has not been done. It was suggested having high school students do the work on Earth Day.

Larry Thurman announced City Carton of Iowa City will be accepting televisions and computers for a nominal fee on Earth Day.

     With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:55pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be held Monday, April 18, 2005 at 7:00pm.

 

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk from written notes and/or audio tape subject to Council approval.