September 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 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 and thirteen citizens. A moment of silence was observed in remembrance of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Goodrich then moved to approve the agenda, Seward seconded, and all voted aye.

Minutes of the August 15 regular meeting and August 29 special session were presented. Swartzendruber asked if the access to the basement by WATV volunteers had been resolved and indicated it should be an agenda item to do so. With no additions or corrections the minutes stand approved as presented.

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

GENERAL GOVERNMENT FUND

POLICE PROTECTION:

Washington County Auditor – Sep law contract 5,037.35

Wellman Telephone Co – phone to law center 33.45

FIRE PROTECTION:

Alliant Energy – fire station 229.81

Reggie Tire – fuel/fire trucks 63.00

City of Wellman – fire station Jul gas 6.00

CIVIL DEFENSE:

Alliant Energy – weather siren 10.85

Mellinger Cabinet Shop – fire siren Sep electric 15.00

ANIMAL CONTROL:

Paws & More – Sep payment 140.00

TRAFFIC CONTROL:

Alliant Energy – highway flashing light 10.85

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense 2,346.96

Amazon Credit Plan – library books 34.28

Staples – office/computer supplies 224.94

Steve Miller – reimburse for disc cleaner 36.92

Wellman Telephone Co – library phones 58.06

PARKS:

Payroll expense 1,109.88

Action Services – August service 160.00

Alliant Energy – electric services 198.07

Hart-Frederick Consultants – REAP grant 55.00

Iowa Park & Recreation Assn – additional registration/Lampe 20.00

Petty Cash – postage/REAP grant 5.20

Plumbers Supply Co – parts 16.01

Reggie Tire – fuel 150.33

Reha Landscaping – peat moss etc 23.47

Staples – copying for REAP grant application 74.48

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies,repairs 142.03

Washington Rental – trimmer head 24.95

Wellman Auto Supply – parts 10.75

SENIOR DINING:

Payroll expense 505.09

Alliant Energy – electric services 471.53

Trio Gas & Hardware – service call 40.00

City of Wellman – Jul utilities 113.40

PLANNING & ZONING:

Wellman Advance – publish ordinance change 106.00

LEGISLATIVE:

Payroll expense 53.83

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION:

Payroll expense 549.36

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense 122.48

Alliant Energy – municipal building 502.48

Aramark Uniform Services – mats, etc 99.25

Ebert Supply – cleaning supplies 67.31

General Pest Control – Sep service 11.00

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies,repairs 30.77

City of Wellman – Municipal Building Jul gas 14.81

Washington County Treasurer – property tax 592.00

Wellman Telephone Co – city hall phones 142.84

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

Petty Cash Fund – postage/certified letters for property cleanup 8.84

ComputerDesign Inc – web site editing 80.00

William Dusenbery – reimburse for shelter rent/not used 15.00

ECICOG – Employment Handbook update 50.00

Quill Corporation – office supplies 526.38

Wellman Advance – publications 441.80

EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT:

Dr Dennis Miller 10.00

Riverside Family Dental Practice 473.00

PAYROLL TAXES & DEDUCTIONS:

Federation Bank – fed wht & fica/medicare 3,236.15

IPERS – employee retirement fund 2,258.22

Treasurer State of Iowa – state wht 797.00

AFLAC – employee insurance 226.60

Wellmark – payroll deduction 124.70

CDBG HOUSING REHAB PROJECT:

Aaron Fleming – relocation costs 800.00

STREETS & SIDEWALKS GENERAL FUND:

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies,repairs 67.35

Wayne Wasson – cement work and tree trimming and removal 5,005.00

RECREATION CENTER:

Payroll expense 626.73

ADT Security Service – Sept service 46.01

Alliant Energy – skating rink electric 240.80

iwireless – cell phone service 79.67

Mahaska Bottling – soft drinks 226.56

Quill Corporation – supplies 64.78

Treasurer State of Iowa – August sales tax 21.33

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies,repairs 29.43

City of Wellman – skating rink Jul services 115.80

Wellman Telephone Co – skating rink phone&repairs 43.15

LOCAL ACCESS CHANNEL:

Larry Thurman – reimburse for signs made at Timberline Sign 90.10

TOTAL 29,364.19

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense 1,320.14

Alliant Energy – street lighting 1,457.77

Douds Stone Inc – roadstone for stock 320.21

LL Pelling – premix 541.87

Reggie Tire – fuel 249.10

TOTAL 3,889.09

9^TH AVENUE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Dorsey & Whitney – legal services/special assessment project 888.50

Hart-Frederick Consultants – 9^th Ave curb & gutter engineering 10,939.26

LL Pelling Company – pay estimate #4 163,993.45

TOTAL 175,821.21

MAINTENANCE SHED CAPITAL PROJECT

Garling Construction – pay estimate #3 25,840.83

Hart-Frederick Consultants – maintenance building engineering 1,262.12

TOTAL 27,102.95

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 2,142.63

Alliant Energy – gas regulator station 21.62

Energy Economics Inc – field test large rotary meters 620.00

Iowa Utilities Board – 1^st quarter estimated assessment 103.00

Jerry Olson – refund deposit to customer 75.73

Pitney Bowes – postage for postage meter 300.00

Reggie Tire – fuel 160.00

Treasurer State of Iowa – August sales tax 657.76

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies,repairs 115.98

Donna Wade – mileage to Kalona/cash CD 6.08

Wellman Auto Supply – handipak gasket material 7.28

TOTAL 4,210.08

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 2,414.03

Advanced Water Technology – PolyQuest product 526.72

Alliant Energy – electric services 1,399.88

Gambles – parts 58.95

Hawkins Water Treatment – chemical treatment products 267.50

Iowa Assn Municipal Utilities – workshop CEU’s 30.00

Jerry Olson – refund deposit to customer 75.73

Pitney Bowes – postage for postage meter 300.00

Reggie Tire – fuel 87.10

Treasurer State of Iowa – August sales tax 1,035.95

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies,repairs 54.25

Wellman Advance – public hearing on water note 10.62

Wellman Auto Supply – spark plug 1.38

City of Wellman – water plant Jul gas 6.00

Wellman Telephone Co – water plant alarm 24.07

TOTAL 6,292.18

9^TH AVENUE NORTH WATER/SEWER MAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Bockenstedt Excavating – final payment 8,966.88

Hart-Frederick Consultants – watermain project enginring 233.56

Wellman Federation Bank – principal,interest on project note 134,834.94

TOTAL 144,035.38

9^TH AVENUE SOUTH WATERMAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Hart-Frederick Consultants – engineering fees 3,405.03

Seaton Construction – pay estimate #2 62,837.22

TOTAL 66,242.25

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 2,173.55

Alliant Energy – electric services 1,411.20

Iwireless – cell phones 68.24

Iowa Rural Water Assn – CEU’s equipment workshop 30.00

Pitney Bowes – postage for postage meter 300.00

Quill Corporation – supplies 64.78

Reggie Tire – fuel 35.00

Testamerica – wastewater testing 417.60

Treasurer State of Iowa – August sales tax 112.96

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies,repairs 40.56

Wellman Advance – public hearing on Bohr land trade 19.12

City of Wellman – Jul gas services 29.63

Wellman Telephone Co – phone services 65.22

TOTAL 4,767.86

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FUND

Payroll expense 34.93

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – Aug recycling 2,560.00

stickers sold 304.00

TOTAL 2,898.93

SENIOR DINING HAA FUND

Payroll expense 1,077.18

Freeman Foods – raw food 66.23

General Pest Control – Sep service 9.00

Hawkeye Foodservice – raw food & supplies 1,574.76

Mildred Whetstine – reimburse supplies,raw food 38.86

TOTAL 2,766.03

SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense 53.29

GRAND TOTAL 467,443.44

No one from the Sheriff’s Department was present. The Council was given the monthly report on Wellman calls.

James Miller, President of the Parks and Recreation Board was present to report on their recent meeting. Recreation Director, Teresa Lampe has asked for a tether ball to be placed at North Park. This will wait until spring. Tarin Allen will attend the next Park & Rec meeting to report on the summer recreation program and present a financial statement. Lampe has contacted the Mid-Prairie High School shop class to weld cages for empty can collections as a fund raiser for playground equipment. She indicated there would be very little cost associated with the project. She is still waiting for bids for refurbishing the skate rink floor and remodeling the restrooms. Miller expressed concerns of the water shutoffs protruding from the ground at North Park causing a hazard. These need to be lowered and capped. The Park and Recreation Board discussed participation in the Sunrise Child Care construction project at North Park and decided they did not want to be involved at this time. Miller asked if the Council expected the skating rink to pay back the loans involved in purchasing the equipment, etc at the time the City took over management of the facility. The Board does not feel it should have to do this as the rink generates only enough to keep it operational and any profits need to go into improve-ments for the facility. He questioned the wages being paid to Lampe from that fund and asked the Clerk to report on hours. The Board felt her wages from the rink were quite high in July. The Clerk stated that Lampe tracks her hours for each department she works in and is paid out of those departments accordingly. She will audit her hours for that month to demonstrate where the wages were paid. Miller reported the sound equipment is obsolete at the rink. Lampe has everything computerized and now wants to get rid of the equipment that is there, perhaps taking it to a pawn shop. Goodrich moved, Seward seconded and all voted aye to allow Lampe to dispose of the equipment the best way. In other park and recreation discussion, Mayor Lewis asked for approval to have the portable restroom units removed from South Park for the winter. He voiced concerns that the power may not be shut off at the concession stand in regard to the electric bills. He has asked Boone to close the east rest rooms. Councilmen voiced opinions that they should remain open until the October 15 park closing date. The dumpster will be removed in the east parking lot. Swartzendruber stated there are some lights out along the walking paths. This will be checked out. In the matter of sealing the asphalt trails at North Park, a bid has been received. Lampe indicated it should be done yet this fall and that city employees and others need to be instructed not to drive vehicles on or across the paths.

The first reading of Ordinance No. 172 to replace the existing Mayor’s Ordinance with the original one codified in 1994 and adding to the ordinance some additional appointments made by the Mayor and raising the Mayor’s monthly salary from $200 to $300 was introduced and caused to be read. Seward moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 172, Swartzendruber seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

The first reading of Ordinance No. 173 to amend Chapter 17 entitled “Council” to provide for additional annual appointments made and to increase the meeting wage from $25 per meeting to $35 per meeting was introduced and caused to be read. Swartzendruber moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 173, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call the vote was as follows: Swartzendruber, aye; Oldfield, no; Seward, aye; Kisner, aye; Goodrich, aye.

The first reading of Ordinance No. 174 to amend Chapter 50 entitled “Nuisance Abatement Procedure” was introduced and caused to be read. The Ordinance allows for grass and weeds not to exceed eight inches in developed zones and twelve inches in undeveloped zones among other restrictions. Goodrich moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 174, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

The first reading of Ordinance No. 175 to amend Chapter 105 entitled “Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste” was introduced and caused to be read. The Ordinance provides for a ban of all backyard burning. Mary Ellen Driscoll was present to voice her objections to this burn ban. She reported she gardens and has several fruit trees that require pruning. She burns to remove diseased plants and insects from her gardens. It would be difficult for her to haul the tree prunings to the city brush pile. Goodrich stated he had received a call before the meeting in support of continued backyard burning. Susan McClellen reminded the Council when a Wellman Area Foundation survey was taken a few years ago that was the number one complaint, residents burning. Discussion ensued on options to consider rather than a burn ban. Seward stated the current law needs to be enforced so that only yardwaste and non-recyclable paper is allowed to be burned. With that Swartz-endruber moved to approve Ordinance No. 175 and Oldfield seconded. Upon roll call the vote was: Oldfield, no; Kisner, no; Swartzendruber, yes; Goodrich, no; Seward, no.

The first reading of Ordinance No. 176 to establish the Wellman Senior Center Commission was introduced and caused to be read. Seward moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 176, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

Under Old Business the discussion continued on the school crossing painted on Highway 22 at the intersection of 7^th Avenue. Seward indicated, although it doesn’t have to be painted on the Highway, if it is it must meet IDOT standards. He sited four reasons for his request to have it removed and painted correctly: 1. it does not meet IDOT standards; 2. there is a large liability in case an accident should occur at the intersection; 3. it is disrespectful to the Mid-Prairie School District; 4. it makes the whole community look bad. Based on that, Seward moved to replace the painted school to the original stenciled painting. A lengthy discussion ensued with the Mayor repeatedly stated he would not accept the motion. One reason for this, he stated, was because this is on someone else’s property, not the city’s. He reported he had met with Frank Rediker of the IDOT today and reviewed pictures of the area with him. Rediker had indicated to Lewis that the IDOT would accept the painting as it now exists. Lewis had also measured the width of the highway with the City engineer and the north lane is 1.3feet narrower than the south lane. Goodrich seconded the motion made by Seward. Further discussion followed with Councilmen, the Mayor and citizens voicing their opinions on the issue. After several minutes, Swartzendruber asked for a vote on the motion resulting in three aye votes with Kisner and Oldfield voting no. Seward asked the reasons for the no votes. Oldfield stated the painting will be faded out in a few weeks anyway.

In New Business the Library Board of Trustees recommends to the Council appointment of Paula Buckwalter and Martha Nye to the Library Board filling vacancies of retiring members Glennis Stutzman and Eileen Driscoll. Goodrich moved to appoint these two members to the Board, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

Bob Freeman, representing the Wellman Rotary Club, presented the club’s project to place “Welcome to Wellman” signs at the entrances on Highway 22. The first sign to be erected will be on private property on the Freeman development east of town. The sign will have space for the service and church signs and be landscaped. Oldfield moved to approve the sign, Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye. A letter will be sent to the Iowa Department of Transportation as a requirement by them in constructing the sign.

Mayor Lewis reported Ray Griffin of SEMCO Landfill, Richland, had asked if Wellman would be interested in providing a hazardous waste collection site. There are grants available for construction of a building but there could be additional expense to the City for operation. Seward moved not to do the project. Goodrich seconded and all voted aye.

Mayor Lewis reported on his meeting with the County Auditor in regards to providing an off-street handicap accessible parking space during elections as now required by federal law. Lewis would like to get the parking lot south of the Municipal Building done while LL Pelling is in town asphalting 9^th Avenue to provide the needed handicap parking. A seventy-five percent grant is available through the Secretary of State’s office to assist in funding. There was some concern as to proper grade on the sidewalk approach. Kisner moved to go ahead with the project if it will comply with ADA requirements. Oldfield seconded the motion and all voted aye.

Two bids were received for repair work on a damaged city pickup. Councilmen asked when the damage was done with Mayor Lewis stating he believed it happened this spring but he only discovered it about three weeks ago. It was pointed out that the employee handbook requires accidents and damage must be reported immediately and that the employee should be reprimanded for not doing so. Lewis indicated he would discuss this with the employee. After further discussion Seward moved to accept the lowest bid of $1,525.32 from Wellman Automotive, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye. The Mayor was asked to inspect all City vehicles and equipment to determine if there was other unreported damage.

In General Administrative discussion Lewis reported John Wilson has requested a City tree be removed from in front of his property and that he will be giving the Wellman Disaster Plan to the Planning & Zoning Commission for update.

Seward asked about the 8^th Avenue watermain project and the heated discussion between city employees and the project engineer. Mayor Lewis stated the discussion was not with city employees but contractors. He also reported the road grader will be picked up soon for repairs and the welder is now in the process of being repaired.

Goodrich asked why a culvert was not placed in the northeast corner of North Park as the Council had requested. Lewis stated city employee Slaubaugh said the other culvert was too high and it would not work. Goodrich indicated he had been hearing that the daycare facility will be built and then dumped on the city and the city can’t afford to run it. He stated that rumor is false. The YMCA will be running the exercise area and Sunrise the daycare. The City will own the building but have 28E agreements for its operations.

In the Public Forum Susan McClellen announced Quilters of America are sponsoring a drive to collect quilts and bedding for Hurricane Katrina victims. She asked that the public bring their unused quilts, sheets, etc to City Hall for collection. The items will then be shipped to Houston.

Larry Thurman offered his assistance to the Mayor for inspection forms for City vehicles and equipment as he has performed that duty in his employment. He also stated he had just gone up to Highway 22 to measure the lanes and the north side of the highway measured 23 feet 6 inches while the south side, the one at issue with the painted “school” positioning, measures wider at 24 feet 8 inches.

Bob Freeman asked when work would be done on the alleyway on the east side of mainstreet. Repairs to the storm sewer was done last year and it was to be chip and sealed but has not been done. Lewis indicated he would look into it. Freeman also asked that the Council not take lightly, the burning issue in town. It is a serious problem for a lot of people with respiratory problems.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, September 19, 2005, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

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