June 20, 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 Swartz-endruber, Richard Oldfield, George Kisner, and James Seward; absent: no one. Also present were Mary Coblentz from the news media, County Engineer David Patterson and twelve citizens.

     The agenda was presented with Goodrich objecting to Item 10, “discussion and action as needed relative to the Kempf invoice for sewer work”. He asked that it be removed from the agenda. After discussion the item was left on with Oldfield moving to approve the Agenda, Kisner seconding and four aye votes, Goodrich voting no.

     Minutes of the previous meeting were presented. With no additions or corrections the minutes stand as presented.

     The bill list was reviewed. Swartzendruber moved, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye to pay the following:

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense                                                                                                          2,040.75

Baker & Taylor Books – library books                                                                          190.81

Demco – library supplies                                                                                                  67.97

Steve Miller – mileage to Mt Pleasant/library meeting                                                        38.88

Penworthy – library books                                                                                             552.93

State Library of Iowa – databases subscription fees                                                          59.83

Wallace Extinguisher Service – service fire extinguisher                                                       7.50

PARKS & RECREATION:

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,945.50

Ebert Supply – 2 cases large trash bags                                                                            61.10

Farm Plan/Farmers Supply Sales – mower parts                                                               58.48

SENIOR DINING:

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,561.00

Wallace Extinguisher Service – service 2 extinguishers                                                      15.00

The Water Shop – repairs to water softener                                                                     60.00

Mildred Whetstine – mileage                                                                                            63.18

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense                                                                                                               91.85

Aramark Uniform Services – mats,mops,etc                                                                     67.13

Ebert Supply – supplies                                                                                                   15.81           

LL Window Cleaning – building windows                                                                         25.00

Wallace Extinguisher Service – service fire extinguishers                                                   62.50

STREETS & SIDEWALKS/GENERAL:

Wallace Extinguisher Service – 2 new extinguishers                                                          95.00

PLANNING & ZONING:

Max Lewis – mileage to Mt Pleasant/zoning workshop                                                     39.69

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

Bancard – Symantec                                                                                                        34.95

Cable Television Fund – budgeted transfer                                                                     728.00

Internet Corporation Listing Service – annual website search engine 37.50

Iowa League of Cities – annual dues                                                                              590.00

Wellman Post Office – annual box rent                                                                             66.00

LIBRARY MISC FUNDS:

Ames Public Library – replace lost book                                                                          26.95

Freeman Foods – deli trays for Aggson reception                                                             51.00

Steve Miller - reimburse/gifts for Aggson retirement                                                          60.00

CDBG HOUSING GRANT:

ECICOG – housing rehab administration                                                                        765.00

PARKS DONATION FUND:

Graber Supply – materials for Frisbee golf course                                                           480.54

RECREATION CENTER FUND:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             117.37

ADT Security Services – monthly billing                                                                           43.00

Aramark Uniform Services – mops,etc                                                                             52.33

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – 5 stops/May                                                                      60.00

Ebert Supply – case of roll towels                                                                                    27.82

Farner-Bocken Company – concessions                                                                        602.53

I Wireless – cell phone                                                                 49.10

Mahaska Bottling – pepsi products                                                                                112.00

Wallace Extinguisher Service – service 2 fire extinguishers                                                15.00

CABLE CHANNEL FUND:

Larry Thurman – reimburse for cable from ECS, Inc                                                         22.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                          11,061.00

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                             651.45

Douds Stone Inc – clean stone/5th Street                                                                        198.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                               849.45

2005 MAINTENANCE SHED PROJECT

Alliant Energy – temporary electric service                                                                     122.00

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          3,500.85

Bancard – Farrier lodging/gas workshop at IAMU                                                         215.44

Clayton Energy – April natural gas purchase                                                             20,137.29

Douds Stone Inc – roadstone&clean stone/9th Ave gas main                                           802.90

Max Lewis – mileage to Iowa City                                                                                   21.06

Municipal Gas System – refund Boone deposit to account                                                87.63

Plumbers Supply Co – gas line parts                                                                              122.06

Wallace Extinguisher Service – service 5 extinguishers                                                      37.50

Washington County Hospital – x-rays                                                                            103.00

Wellman Skating Rink – budgeted transfer                                                                  3,600.00

Wellmark – Slaubaugh health insurance                                                                          676.55

                                                                                         TOTAL                         29,304.28

GAS SYSTEM CAPITAL PROJECT/ELECTRIC MUNICIPALIZATION

Brick, Gentry, Bowers, Swartz, Stoltze, Schuling & Levis, PC Trust Account

                                    First budgeted payment for expenses                                     24,040.00

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,965.86

Aramark – shirt service                                                                20.60

I Wireless – cell phones                                                                                                   88.75

Municipal Water System – refund customer deposit to account                                        87.63

Wallace Extinguisher Service – service 5 extinguishers                                                      37.50

Wellmark – Farrier health insurance                                                                               198.84

Wellmark – Andrea Farrier quarterly premium                                                             1,347.90

                                                                                        TOTAL                             3,747.08

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,481.52

Eastern Iowa Light & Power – lift station                                                                         80.55

Iowa Department of Natural Resources – Slaubaugh license renewal 60.00

Wallace Extinguisher Service – service 5 extinguishers                                                      37.50

Wellman Farm Center – end cap                                                                                        1.20

Wellmark – Oldfield insurance                                                                                       218.88

Wellmark – Wade insurance                                                                                          413.63

                                                                                         TOTAL                            2,293.28

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                               25.69

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – trash bags                                                                     1,981.25

                                    May cleanup days                                                                   1,680.90

                                                                                         TOTAL                            3,687.84

SENIOR DINING COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                               54.70

                                                                                         TOTAL                                 54.70

Bills for approval to be issued after beginning of fy06/July 1:

AMBULANCE SERVICE:

Wellman Volunteer Ambulance – budgeted donation                                                   8,000.00

PARKS & RECREATION:

Sunrise Child Care – ½ advance for summer rec program                                            2,000.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                          10,000.00

                                                                          GRAND TOTAL                        85,159.63

          The May financial statement was reviewed. Seward moved, Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye to approve the statement which included May revenues as follows:

     MAY REVENUES

General Fund                                                                                                              7,785.36

Employee Benefit Tax Fund                                                                                           731.37

Support Public Library Fund                                                                                          211.55

Community Development Block Grant                                                                        4,875.00

Liability/Property Insurance                                                                                            857.49

Local Option Sales Tax                                                                                             6,863.65

Road Use Tax Fund                                                                                                  7,742.03

Tax Credit Reimbursement Fund                                                                                      24.50

Tax Increment Financing Fund                                                                                    2,393.65

Debt Service Fund                                                                                                         168.18

Library Services Fund                                                                                                    492.73

Recreation Center                                                                                                       2,922.25

Trust & Agency Funds                                                                                                   555.27

Capital Reserve Fund                                                                                                        0.00

Municipal Gas System Fund                                                                                      69,415.76

Municipal Gas System CD                                                                                                 0.00

Municipal Water System Fund                                                                                  13,713.52

Municipal Water Sinking Fund                                                                                  50,031.63

Municipal Water System CD                                                                                            0.00

Water Utility Capital Project                                                                                              0.00

Municipal Sewer System Fund                                                                                  10,791.69

Sewer Sinking Fund                                                                                                        25.14

Solid Waste Disposal Fund                                                                                         4,822.99

Senior Dining HAA Fund                                                                                            3,204.97

Senior Center Donation Fund                                                                                         570.91

Senior Center CD                                                                                                              0.00

                                                   TOTAL MAY REVENUES                             188,199.64

     Licenses and permits were presented from Freeman Foods for cigarette/tobacco sales, Reggie Tire for cigarette/tobacco sales, and Casey’s General Stores for off-premises liquor, wine or beer sales. Oldfield moved to approve permits as submitted, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye.

     Washington County Engineer David Patterson was present to report on the upcoming 1st Avenue/Ginkgo Avenue road construction project. Patterson stated that the contractor is expected to begin work in the Wellman area in mid-August. They will bring a portable cement plant and set up at one end of the project. The road will be closed to through traffic but local access will be maintained throughout the project with the exception of twenty-four to forty-eight hours when cement is poured. There will, however, still be some shoulder access for local traffic. He explained shoulder work will be done first, then an inch of asphalt laid over the existing cement surface to seal it. The road will be surveyed followed by the pouring of the concrete surface which is expected to take three to four days. The shoulders will then be rebuilt with the total project time being four to five weeks, weather permitting. The width of the road will go from twenty-two feet to twenty-four feet and be eight inches higher.

     Larry Thurman, Coordinator for WATV reported they held the first movie marathon last Sunday on the local channel. They plan to continue with this on Sundays with old movies that have expired copyrights. In the new fiscal year they plan to add DVD and VHS players to their equipment inventory. They will also be investigating some government grants that might be available for local channel stations. They would like to start their own website to keep station information updated which would be linked to the City’s website. Thurman is also looking for a TV monitor in the area of $200 in cost. He will be running a cable up to the Council Chambers that will provide television service to that room. The commission has discussed sponsoring theater in the park sometime this summer to use the bandshell as a stage for various productions that can be televised. They would also like to setup interviews with older Wellman citizens to record local history of our community.

     Resolution No. 05-22 to establish fy06 employee wages was introduced and caused to be read. Generally the wages reflect a three percent increase for each employee, with the exception of library staff. Kisner moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-22, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call there was a unanimous aye vote. Mayor Lewis affixed his signature.

     In the matter of payment to Ken Kempf for sewer work done on his mother’s property, Lewis stated city workers had information on the issue that was not available at the last meeting. Oldfield had a piece of the perforated pipe that had been unearthed. Kempf again stated the grey water was coming from the east and the leak was not his mother’s problem. He indicated the footing tile from his mother’s house runs into the creek in the other direction from the lines dug up. Lewis asked for a motion to rescind payment to Kempf as he (Lewis) believed this was not the city’s responsibility. No motion was made. Seward reminded the Mayor the Council stated at the last meeting that the City would pay the cost and when it was discovered whose line it was, they would be billed for this cost. Seward then moved to have the Clerk present the check to the Mayor for his signature and then give it to Mr. Kempf. Goodrich seconded the motion with three voting aye, Oldfield and Kisner voting no. The Clerk and Mayor signed the check which was then presented to Kempf.

     City worker Slaubaugh was present and asked permission to purchase a cutoff saw with a diamond blade. The cost will be between $950 to $1300. They have been renting one for $90/day. Oldfield moved to purchase the saw and blade, Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye. In the matter of battery-operated sawsall and drill, the park maintenance worker will submit costs for approval at the next meeting.

     The Council decided to wait until after the Planning & Zoning Commission meet to set the date for the public hearing on proposed district changes.

     In the matter of a disputed account on a 9th Avenue residence, the customer was not present at the meeting. Kisner moved the account was their responsibility and to collect it. Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye.

     The Clerk reported on funding issues for the Senior Dining program. Heritage Agency has reduced the amount that was budgeted for fy05 based on reduced meals served. That will require the City to make up the difference for June expenses. There are limited funds that can be used from the waiver meals but otherwise general fund will have to be used or request from the Senior Dining Commission to help fund some of the expenses. Heritage is not paying for the repair costs for the dish washer that totals $1280. This has already been taken out of the waiver meal funds. Heritage has placed Wellman on the priority list to receive a new dish washer in fy06. The fy06 contract was presented for approval. Kisner moved to approve the contract, Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye.

     The Senior Dining Commission submitted Vera Yoder and Betty Nichols for appointment to the commission to replace expiring terms of Juanita Seward and Alberta Walker and Mayor Lewis submitted George Miller Jr. to another term on the Board of Adjustment. Oldfield moved to approve these appointments, Seward seconded and all voted aye.

     The Council was informed the premium for the health insurance for fy06 has been reduced, therefore no changes were made to the plan. Swartzendruber moved to approve the foy06 health benefit plan, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye.

     An $80,000 gas CD is now due for renewal. Goodrich moved to cash the CD for deposit in the maintenance building capital project fund. Seward seconded and all voted aye.

     City Attorney Kitchen explained the request for a Quit Claim Deed from a Daytonville resident for a vacated alley. The alley was vacated years before the area was annexed into the City but apparently a deed was not recorded for the Plank property. His attorney has requested this be done. Oldfield moved to approve the deed, Swartzendruber seconded, and all voted aye.

     Mayor Lewis reported he had called H&D Grinding for a bid on chipping the brush pile. They will be in Kalona this week and will do Wellman’s brush for $300 to $600, no mileage added. T & W Grinding had bid $1000 for the work. Goodrich moved to hire H&D Grinding up to $600 to do the work. Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     Tarin Allen was present concerning the summer recreation budget. She distributed copies of the budget and the calendar of events voicing her displeasure with be called today to attend the meeting. She was uncertain why she was asked to be there. The budget reflected a total of $4,852, which is over the city budget by $852. Registration fees had been included in the budget expenditures. James Miller, President of the Parks & Recreation Board stated that there had been a misunderstanding in the purpose of the registration fees. The fees, not including the cost of the T-shirts, was to go to the City to recoup some of the costs for the program. Apparently, Sunrise was not aware of this. Allen reported there were increases in costs this year including payment to the bus driver and mileage costs. The program will start on July 11th. Goodrich moved to allow the extra expenditures for the program, Swartzendruber seconded, and all voted aye. Allen also asked permission to place a sign at North Park indicating “the future site of Sunrise Child Care Center” and was given permission to do so.

     In general discussion, Goodrich reported he had been told by a citizen that when Golfview Trailer Court was removed, there was to be no more trailer courts in Wellman. He suggested the Mayor talk to the citizen about this. He asked about resolution to a dog problem on 4th Street and was told it is being handled. Goodrich suggested the City might invest the funds given to Paws & More to hire a dog catcher.

Seward asked about the lack of progress on 9th Avenue. The Clerk reported speaking to the engineer earlier in the day and was told they will not return until all the gas line work is completed. A contractor will be coming the week of July 4th to complete the boring under Highway 22 for the 9th Avenue South Watermain Project.

Lewis suggested some tree trimming needed to be done on 8th Avenue with Oldfield stating he did not want any done. Lewis will have Wayne Wasson check the trees to see what might be needed.

Swartzendruber stated several properties in town are in need of mowing and yard cleanup. He asked that properties be done before the July 4th celebration.

The Clerk reported the Senior Dining Commission has not been empowered in the By-laws for hiring staff at the center. This needs to be addressed as they will be hiring a new cook to replace Betty Johnston. She also reported Pat Durian would like to hear from the Council as to who is responsible for inspecting work when a contractor completes a job for the City. He has been dissatisfied with the time it has taken to repair his lawn after the sewer line work was done at the skating rink. Wade requested permission to buy a commercial vacuum cleaner for the Municipal Building and was told to go ahead with it. Colors for the new maintenance shed must be selected. The Council members indicated they did not want to do this, and told the Clerk to check with city workers and select colors similar to the water and wastewater plants.

     During the Public Forum Larry Thurman announced he has purchased a cable that will allow the July 4th parade to be televised live on Channel 18.

     There being no further business, Mayor Lewis adjourned the meeting at 9:10pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, July 5, 2005, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

 

 

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