June 6, 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 Engineer, 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, and nine citizens.

     The agenda was approved upon motion by Goodrich, second by Swartzendruber and all aye votes.

     City Engineer Hart requested Resolution No. 05-22 be introduced prior to the Public Hearing on the 2005 9th Avenue South Watermain Extension Project. The Resolution was to adopt plans, specifications, and form of contract for this project. Swartzendruber moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-22, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

     Mayor Lewis then opened the Public Hearing to receive comments on the 9th Avenue South Watermain Project at 7:04pm. There were no written or oral comments. The Hearing was closed at 7:06pm. City Engineer Mike Hart proceeded to open the bids for this project with the following being submitted: D.A. Drish Drainage, Washington: $174,930.87; Seaton Construction, Deep River: $170,663.32; G & R Miller Construction, Washington: $178,953.20; R & R Excavating, Sigourney: $217,887.95; and DeLong Keith Construction, Washington: $168,821.60.

     Resolution No. 05-23 to approve Award of Contract for the 9th Avenue Watermain Extension Project upon review of the bids and recommendation by the project engineer was introduced and caused to be read. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-23, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. Mayor Lewis affixed his signature.

     In the matter of Agenda Item 10 on 9th Avenue water drainage, Hart will meet with the property owner to discuss his concerns.

     Minutes of the previous regular meeting and May 23 special session were presented. With no additions or corrections the minutes stand approved as read.

     The bills were reviewed with a lengthy discussion held on a bill submitted to the City by Kenny B. Kempf for backhoe rental and labor to repair sewer leakage on the Alice Kempf property. It was questioned as to why this might be the City’s responsibility. Kenneth D. Kempf arrived at the meeting to explain their position. He stated they dug up the area and determined it was not their sewer water but rather grey water coming from the east. He did not feel it was their problem so he had city workers come and inspect the line. Kempf said the workers plugged the line and closed the hole. It was his opinion they should not have to pay for the work if the problem was coming from another source. After further discussion Goodrich moved to pay the bills including the Kempf request. Swartzendruber seconded the motion and all voted aye to pay the following:

 

 

 

 

GENERAL GOVERNMENT FUND

POLICE PROTECTION:

Washington County Auditor – Jun law contract                                                           4,890.63

Wellman Telephone Co – phone to law center                                                                  31.66

FIRE PROTECTION:   

Alliant Energy – fire station electric                                                                                 203.93

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                             73.00

City of Wellman – fire station Apr gas                                                                            106.60

CIVIL DEFENSE:

Alliant Energy – weather siren                                                                                          11.26

Mellinger Cabinet Shop – fire siren Jun electric                                                                 15.00

ANIMAL CONTROL:

Paws & More – Jun payment                                                                                          80.00

TRAFFIC CONTROL:

Alliant Energy – highway flashing light                                                                               11.52

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,890.07

Staples – library supplies                                                                                                  79.17

Wellman Advance – wage resolution for library director                                                   18.47

Wellman Community Club – annual membership                                                               50.00

Wellman Telephone Co – library phones                                                                          63.43

PARKS:

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,624.60

Action Services – service once a week/2 months                                                            150.00

Alliant Energy – park lighting                                                                                          192.40

Ebert Supply – supplies                                                                                                 152.11

Gambles – supplies                                                                                                          17.74

Glenn Guengerich – repairs at North park                                                                        87.50

Menards – paint & repair materials                                                                                316.62

Metal Works – steel,flat                                                                                                   20.00

David Raber – remove & replace North Park sign/labor & material                                400.00

Reggie Tire – fuel/mowers, etc                                                                                       175.25

S & G Materials – pea gravel for playground                                                                  146.80

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies                                                                                    228.88

Wellman Auto Parts – spark plug                                                                                       1.38

Wellman Telephone Co – concession stand phone                                                            21.40

SENIOR DINING:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             403.38

Alliant Energy – electric service/senior center storage room                                             251.66

City of Wellman – Apr utilities                                                                                        156.41

PLANNING & ZONING:

ISU Extension – P&Z workshop                                                                                    120.00

City of Mitchellville – zoning ordinance                                                                             12.50

Wellman Advance – Ordinance No. 170                                                                          13.82

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             142.89

Alliant Energy – municipal building electric                                                                      276.93

Aramark Uniform Services – mats,mops,etc                                                                     58.11

Freeman Foods – cleaning supplies, etc                                                                            39.88

General Pest Control – Jun service                                                                                   11.00

Glenn Guengerich – repair electric eye/building outside lights                                             38.00

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies                                                                                        9.48

City of Wellman – Municipal Building Apr gas                                                                  50.19

Wellman Telephone Co – city hall phones                                                                      166.99

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

Petty Cash Fund – certified mail/Morrison mowing abatement                                             3.60

Pitney Bowes – meter postage                                                                                       250.00

Proforma – laser checks printed                                                                                     135.25

Wellman Advance – publications                                                                                    464.54

LIBRARY MISC FUNDS:

Payroll Expense                                                                                                             916.13

PARKS DONATION FUND:

Freeman Foods – bag ice,scoop/farmers market snow cones                                              6.80

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies/Frisbee Golf                                                                192.91

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FUND:

Freeman Foods – supplies for benefit concessions                                                            88.50

LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX:

Dreams Unlimited – 4 ½ hrs dozer work for new shed                                                    382.50

RECREATION CENTER:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             507.76

ADT Security Service                                                                234.20

Alliant Energy – skating rink electric                                                                               207.93

Aramark Uniform Services – mops,etc                                                                             59.06

Ebert Supply – air freshner x 2 cans                                                                                   7.90

Freeman Foods – concessions                                                                                         57.56

I wireless – cell phone                                                                                                    114.65

Mid-Prairie Schools – napkins                                                                                         18.40

Petty Cash Fund – 3-400 w bulbs                                                                                    43.00

Treasurer State of Iowa – May sales tax                                                                        121.55

City of Wellman – skating rink Apr services                                                                   136.06

Wellman Telephone Co – skating rink phone                                                                    23.72

LOCAL ACCESS CHANNEL:

Susan McClellen – reimburse for notebook,inkjet CD/DVD labels                                    17.48

Petty Cash Fund – DVD jewel cases                                                                                 7.39

EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT:

Slagle Pharmacy – employee health benefits                                                                1,016.04

PAYROLL TAXES & DEDUCTIONS:

Federation Bank – fed wht & fica/medicare                                                                 2,913.67

IPERS – employee retirement fund                                                                              2,296.43

Treasurer State of Iowa – state wht                                                                                807.00

AFLAC – employee insurance                                                                                       301.30

Wellmark – payroll deduction                                                                                        200.98

                                                                                         TOTAL                          24,342.97

 

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                             649.68

Alliant Energy – street lighting                                                                                      1,478.84

Douds Stone – roadstone at High School/Elm Avenue                                                    137.11

LL Pelling – premix                                                                                                        599.80

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                           249.30

                                                                                        TOTAL                             3,114.73

STREETS CAPITAL PROJECT – 9TH AVENUE

LL Pelling Company – pay estimate #2                                                                     76,274.78

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          2,893.83

Alliant Energy – gas regulator station                                                                                21.80

Douds Stone Inc – clean stone/gas main                                                                           69.13

Gambles – rental equipment                                                                                             96.00

Iowa Assn Municipal Utilities – workshops,etc                                                               256.00

J & M Displays Inc – July 4th fireworks display                                                           6,200.00

Menards – 2000’ trace wire for gas main                                                                       100.00

Municipal Gas System – refund deposits to customer accounts                                       381.38

Municipal Supply – supplies                                                                                           155.13

Petty Cash Fund – Farrier meals/Ankeny workshop                                                         14.20

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                           217.15

David Stockman – refund gas deposit to customer                                                            75.32

Treasurer State of Iowa – May sales tax                                                                     1,006.91

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies                                                                                    159.31

Wellman Auto Parts – wiper blade                                                                                   12.48

                                                                                         TOTAL                         11,658.64

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,995.70

Alliant Energy –  electric services                                                                                1,071.78

Aramark Services – shirt service                                                                                      20.26    

Dreams Unlimited – contract work/water main break                                                      210.00

Hawkins Water Treatment – water treatment chemicals                                                  312.55

I wireless – cell phones                                                                                                  102.45

Ideal Ready Mix Co – main street patch                                                                           27.65

Municipal Supply – service saddle                                                                                    71.65

Municipal Water System – refund deposits to customer accounts                                    381.35

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                             29.00

David Stockman – refund water deposit to customer                                                        75.32

Townsend Crane Service – use of boom truck/main street light                                         60.00

Treasurer State of Iowa – May sales tax                                                                        907.91

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies                                                                                      21.79

Wellman Auto Parts – parts                                                                                               5.68

City of Wellman – gas services                                                                                       167.27

Wellman Telephone Co – water plant alarm                                                                     23.79

                                                                                         TOTAL                           5,484.15

 

 

WATER/WASTEWATER 9TH AVENUE CAPITAL PROJECT

Dreams Unlimited – water line repair on 9th Avenue                                                        420.00

Dolores Foster – cleaning, supplies, materials/sewer backup                                           206.00

Yoder Heating & Plumbing – Foster sewer backup                                                        296.15

                                                                                         TOTAL                               922.15

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,540.51

Alliant Energy – disposal plant phone                                                                          1,246.83

Freeman Foods – ice/wastewater samples                                                                          6.58

Glenn Guengerich – repairs at plant                                                                                  60.00

Iowa Dept of Natural Resources – licenses renewal                                                        120.00

Kenny B Kempf – reimburse for sewer leak labor & rental                                             240.00

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                             20.00

Testamerica – wastewater testing                                                                                   505.80

Treasurer State of Iowa – May sales tax                                                                        101.52

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies                                                                                      30.45

City of Wellman – wastewater treatment plant Apr gas                                                     18.92

 Wellman Telephone Co – phone services                                                                        64.88

                                                                                         TOTAL                            3,955.49

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                               25.64

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – May recycling                                                               2,535.00

                                    stickers sold                                                                              116.00

Dreams Unlimited – 4 ½ hrs dozer work for brush pile/dirt pile                                       450.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                            3,126.64

SENIOR DINING HAA FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                             830.55

Freeman Foods – raw food                                                                                             60.17

General Pest Control – May service                                                                                   9.00

H & H Foodservice – raw food                                                                                     120.40

Hawkeye Foodservice – raw food, supplies                                                                1,424.71

Hobart Corporation – dish washer repairs                                                                      771.40

Mildred Whetstine – reimburse/raw food,supplies                                                             75.10

                                                                                         TOTAL                            3,291.33

SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                               56.14

                                                                            GRAND TOTAL                     132,227.02

The council further discussed requests for new tools. Allan Boone requested a battery operated saws-all and drill for the park work. It was decided he should obtain costs for the tools. Phil Slaubaugh asked to purchase a cut off saw. They have been renting one from Gambles, Kalona. He had submitted some costs which indicated prices over $1,000. It was decided the Mayor will discuss this further with the city workers before a decision is made.

     Casey’s General Stores and Chat & Chew/CC Connection submitted renewals for Cigarette/Tobacco Sales Permit. Goodrich moved to approve both renewals, Seward seconded and all voted aye.

     Sheriff Dunbar reported they are looking for a registered sex offender who had been residing in Wellman by the last name of Bowie. He is from Minnesota and has been known to be in the Iowa City area also. He asked for the public’s help in locating him. There was nothing for the Sheriff from the Council Members.

     James Miller, President of the Parks & Recreation Board reported the board had decided to charge $25 for the summer recreation program that will include the $10 cost of a T-shirt. No one will be turned away, however, if unable to pay. Teresa Lampe has been in contact with a person through the Iowa Parks & Recreation Association that can be available this summer to give youth tennis lessons. The Frisbee Golf Course is ready to be installed. The Board has made Lampe full-time retroactive to April 1 for benefit purposes. The first Arts Festival in the park was a success. Plans are being made to have gospel music performances some Sunday evening and another type of music later in the summer. Miller reported Lampe has a great group of volunteers at the skating rink and also wanted to thank the fire department for using their equipment to clean up the band shell for the Arts Festival. The shell had been vandalized with mud being splattered over the newly painted surface. It was suggested a motion light should be installed to help prevent such activity. Councilman Swartzendruber stated there are a lot of dead branches in the North Park trees that need to be trimmed out. Goodrich then moved to accept the Parks & Recreation report and recommendations, Kisner seconded and all voted aye.

     The Planning & Zoning Commission report was given by City Clerk Donna Wade. She reported the commission has been working on rewriting the Zoning Ordinance to eliminate some inconsistencies that exist. The first step is to rezone all the residential areas into one district. It was decided to get the drafts written and reviewed by the commission and the city attorney and set the date for the public hearing at the next council meeting. Notices of the rezoning intentions will be sent out with the utility bills. A zoning issue as far as replacing a mobile home on 3rd Street will be reviewed by the City Attorney and a recommendation made.

     Jeff Bernard requested permission to asphalt a section of city alleyway next to his property as an entrance to his driveway. Goodrich moved to approve the asphalt with the stipulation he understands if utilities must be dug up in the area, the city will not repair the asphalt damage. Oldfield seconded the motion and all voted aye. The clerk will send him a letter and request a signed statement from him regarding this.

     Resolution No. 05-21 to Provide for Issuance of a Warrant in Connection with the 9th Avenue Street Improvements Project was introduced and caused to be read. The warrant is not to exceed $525,000 for the curb & gutter and asphalting of 9th Avenue. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-21, Seward seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous aye votes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

     Change Order #3 for the 9th Avenue Street Improvements Project was presented. This will allow for storm drain pieces being installed at 7th Street and 9th Avenue where, after the area was dug up it was discovered conditions would not allow for the planned design. The amount of the change order is $962.50. Seward moved to approve Change Order #3, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     The Clerk reported The Heritage Agency will not be funding the Senior Dining program for the remainder of this fiscal year. The amount paid to the City for this contract has been paid in full according to the agency based on actual meals served which is less than what was originally budgeted for. Therefore, meal costs, salaries, etc will need to be taken from reserve waiver meal funds and other sources. Further discussion and research will be made to determine options for the senior dining program.

     Richard Oldfield requested that the employee pay periods be changed from semi-monthly to every two weeks on behalf of city workers. The Clerk explained this system had been tried a year ago and was not only more work and more reports, etc. but also can cause problems in budgeting and closing monthly and yearly with unpaid hours being carried over. The current system being used allows for being better able to have wages fully paid at the end of calendar and fiscal years. Swartzendruber moved to leave the pay periods as they currently are, the fifteen and last day of each month. Kisner seconded and four voted aye, Oldfield, no.

     The Mayor asked Attorney Kitchen about past due utility bills on rental properties and the laws pertaining to landlords being responsible for unpaid balances. The various requirements were discussed and reviewed.

     In General Discussion, Seward asked why the weather siren had not sounded Saturday night during the tornado warning. The firemen activated the fire sirens for the warning signal. No one was aware the weather siren was not working. Mayor Lewis will check it out. Seward indicated they would continue using the fire sirens even when the weather siren is activated so that there is better coverage for the alert. They will also sound an all-clear with the fire sirens.

Goodrich voiced his concerns of people pushing baby carriages on city streets while out walking. He asked the attorney if there were any ordinances against walking in the streets. Kitchen stated currently there is not but it can be written into the ordinance that would require sidewalks be used where available.

Goodrich also asked if the fire and ambulance departments have been notified to be present at South Park during the Lions Club demo derby and other events over July 4th weekend. He indicated this should be required if the events are to be held.

Goodrich requested the no parking signs on 7th Street near 8th Avenue be installed as it had been decided weeks ago to place these as well as the “Park Patron Parking” signs for Wishard Park.

The clerk explained an ongoing issue with a customer who does not believe her water bill is accurate. Several telephone calls have been received with accusations made. In review of the account it was council consensus the bill was hers to pay and the Mayor will handle all future calls. This will be on the agenda for the next meeting.

     During the Public Forum Angela Wasson reported on events for the July 4th celebration. Plans are being made for a tug-o-war, dunk tank, and games for fund raisers as well as food booths and other activities.

Tracy Owens voiced concerns of the 1st Avenue construction as there will be no access to the golf course during that time. As they have several tournaments scheduled, he is concerned how this will be handled. Mayor Lewis will have the County Engineer attend the next council meeting to address some of these issues.

     With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:15pm. A work session was postponed due to the hour. The next regular City Council meeting will be held Monday, June 20, 2005, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

 

 

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