September 19, 2005

Wellman, Iowa 52356

The Wellman City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building. Mayor ProTem Robert Swartzendruber presided in the absence of Mayor Lewis with the City Attorney and City Clerk. Other Council Members present were: Robert Goodrich, Richard Oldfield, George Kisner, and James Seward. Also present were Mary Coblentz from the news media and sixteen citizens.

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

Minutes of the September 6^th meeting was presented. With no additions or corrections the minutes stand approved as read.

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

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

TRAFFIC SAFETY:

Mid-Prairie Community Schools – ½ crossing guard 04/05 year 1,714.50

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense 2,421.37

Baker & Taylor Books – library books 172.42

Sandy Miller – milage & parking to Iowa City/workshop 27.32

Wellmark – employee health insurance 218.88

PARKS & RECREATION:

Payroll expense 1,161.43

Cox Sanitation – ball park trash - 2 container rentals 24.00

Freeman Foods – refreshments for summer rec 21.36

Reggie Tire – fuel 18.00

SENIOR CENTER:

Payroll expense 296.93

LEGAL SERVICES:

Tindal and Kitchen – city attorney fees 315.00

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense 96.96

Aramark Uniform Services – mop,towel,airfresh,mats 32.48

Freeman Foods – cleaning supplies, etc 57.28

LL Window Cleaning – building windows 25.00

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION:

Payroll expense 506.09

Wellmark – Wade insurance 413.63

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

Bancard – renew antivirus 46.94

Fern Bontrager – mileage to Reha’s 4.46

Bob Goodrich – hotel & mileage 327.24

IMFOA – registration for Wade & Huston/fall conference 150.00

Max Lewis – milege to Washington/public safety board meeting 13.77

Quill Corporation – office supplies 10.31

EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT:

Dr. Stuart Cobb 125.80

Dr Teri Downes 47.80

Miller’s Medicine Cabinet 14.93

Slagle Pharmacy 65.18

CDBG HOUSING REHAB PROJECT:

AEC – housing rehab contract 1,278.00

Conrad Construction – housing rehab project 24,089.00

ECICOG – administration 3,010.00

LIBRARY DONATION FUNDS:

Freeman Foods – elementary teachers’ luncheon 104.52

RECREATION CENTER FUND:

Payroll expense 678.04

ADT – security system charges 43.00

Bancard – charges at Walmart/supplies & annual fee 174.60

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – 3 stops/August 36.00

Freeman Foods – bottled water 108.00

Mahaska Bottling – pepsi products/park pop machine 107.60

Quill Corporation – office supplies 12.99

CABLE CHANNEL:

Bancard – tapes from Pro Tape Comm & Supply 127.10

TOTAL 38,057.93

MAINTENANCE SHED CAPITAL PROJECT

Alliant Energy – underground electric service to shop 667.10

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense 385.85

Eastern Iowa Light & Power – Deer Meadows street lighting 45.45

Martin Equipment of IA-IL – repairs to road grader 976.30

Reggie Tire – fuel 127.00

TOTAL 1,534.60

9^TH AVENUE NORTH STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

LL Pelling Company – pay estimate #5 20,569.78

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 1,189.36

Justin Black – refund deposit 75.31

Clayton Energy – August natural gas purchase 6,551.75

Farmers Supply/Farm Plan – weighed bolts 8.13

Greobner & Associates – parts 540.32

HACAP – refund LIHEAP funds 145.85

Helmuth Repair – parts 27.34

Iowa One Call – line locates 35.10

Municipal Gas System – refund customer deposits to account 49.25

Eric Murphy – refund deposit 25.91

Reggie Tire – fuel 65.12

Tindal & Kitchen – collection costs 396.09

Wellmark – Slaubaugh health insurance 676.55

ELECTRIC MUNICIPALIZATION PROJECT

Brick, Gentry, Bowers, Etc – 30% contribution for expenses 14,424.00

TOTAL 24,210.08

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 3,535.95

Justin Black – refund deposit 7.45

Helmuth Repair – parts for power washer 31.95

Ideal Ready Mix – stone for water hydrant repair 220.50

Iowa Rural Water Assn – Slaubaugh registration/Dubuque fall conference 85.00

Municipal Water System – refund customer deposits to accounts 218.97

Reggie Tire – fuel 37.00

Wellman Telephone Co – repair line at 12^th Ave & 8^th St 172.50

Wellmark – Farrier health insurance 198.84

Andrea’s quarterly premium 1,347.90

TOTAL 5,856.06

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense 1,600.38

Eastern Iowa Light & Power – lift station 28.56

Freeman Foods – ice for wastewater samplesx2 6.58

Iowa Rural Water Assn – Oldfield registration/Dubuque fall conference 85.00

Utility Equipment – manhole covers 470.90

Wellmark – Oldfield insurance 218.88

TOTAL 2,410.30

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FUND

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – trash bags 3,331.25

SENIOR CENTER HAA FUND

Payroll expense 917.65

SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense 53.29

GRAND TOTAL 97,608.04

The August financial statement was presented with general ledger postings to transfer investment funds into the gas system fund. Seward moved, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye to approve the financial statement and general ledger postings that included August revenues as follows:

AUGUST REVENUES

General Fund 31,870.73

Employee Benefit Tax Fund 6.47

Support Public Library Fund 11.87

Community Development Block Grant 0.00

Liability/Property Insurance 11.50

Local Option Sales Tax 6,179.69

Road Use Tax Fund 10,182.91

Tax Credit Reimbursement Fund 18.59

Tax Increment Financing Fund 42.84

Debt Service Fund 5.82

Library Services Fund 1,033.61

Recreation Center 573.92

Trust & Agency Funds 2,334.13

Capital Reserve Fund 150,818.04

Municipal Gas System Fund 39,863.02

Municipal Gas System CD -239.18

Municipal Water System Fund 21,049.65

Municipal Water Sinking Fund 134,840.72

Municipal Water System CD 129.52

Water Utility Capital Project 25,350.00

Municipal Sewer System Fund 14,574.05

Sewer Sinking Fund 1.33

Solid Waste Disposal Fund 6,080.44

Senior Dining HAA Fund 3,744.91

Senior Center Donation Fund 979.96

Senior Center CD 0.00

TOTAL AUGUST REVENUES 449,464.54

Ed Raber, Director of the Washington Economic Develoment Group, was present to present plans for the proposed Washington County jail project. The fifty-one million dollar project will be funded by a bond issue and cash reserves. This proposal will be on the November ballot. Raber pointed out that well over a million dollars have been spent by the County in housing prisoners in other County facilities and the enormous liability potential in transporting these prisoners. The funds spent on housing prisoners outside the County can be used to operate the new facility. Mr. Raber explained the floor plan and the improved safety features of the facility. Video equipment will allow a direct link to the Court House so that prisoners will not always have to be transported there for court appearances. The new jail would be built on Lexington Blvd off of Highway 1 just north and west of Washington. Washington County voters will decide on November 8 if this project will go forward. Raber stated that the old jail is being operated now on a limited basis on a variance from the state provided an alternative is being planned.

Shannon McCain was present to request waiver of $250 in hookup assessment fees for new water and sewer services. This issue dates back to over a year ago when McCain claimed during construction of his new house on 14^th Street, the water tower ran over and undermined foundation work on his lot. At that time the Council agreed to pay to have the water service taken to his property line in return for his signing a release stating he would not hold the City liable for any additional damages from this incident. The City paid for the line but Mr. McCain has not yet signed the release. He stated the Boyses did all the work, not the City so the City should not be charging him for this hookup. It was explained the assessment is by Ordinance and not related to actual work of connecting services. McCain believed at the time the City agreed to run the service line that these assessments were included in the waiver for him. The Council noted from minutes of the February, 2005 they had determined McCain was liable for the hookup assessments. McCain stated a city official told him it made more sense to waive this hookup for him than the recent approval to pay for a sewer line repair to a property owner. After further discussion Oldfield moved to table the issue until the minutes of the meetings where approval to pay for the line could be made available for review. Goodrich seconded the motion and all voted aye.

Ordinance No. 172 entitled “Mayor” was introduced and caused to be read for its second reading. Seward moved to approve the second reading of Ordinance No. 172, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

Ordinance No. 173 entitled “Council” was introduced and caused to be read for its second reading. Oldfield stated he would vote no on approval of this Ordinance as he did not favor raising his own wages. With that he made a motion to vote on Ordinance No. 173, second reading. Kisner seconded the motion and upon roll call the vote was four ayes; Oldfield, no.

Ordinance No. 174 entitled “Nuisance Abatement Procedure” to provide for height of grass and weeds as well as other provisions was introduced and caused to be read for its second reading. Oldfield moved to approve Ordinance No. 174, second reading, Seward seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

Ordinance No. 176 to establish a Wellman Senior Center Commission was introduced and caused to be read for its second reading. Seward moved to approve the second reading of Ordinance No. 176, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

Resolution No. 05-34 to approve the annual Street Finance Report was introduced and caused to be read. Oldfield moved to adopt Resolution No. 05-34, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. Mayor Protem Swartzendruber affixed his signature.

Contractors on the 9^th Avenue South Watermain Project has requested a tree be removed at the corner of 5^th Street and 9^th Avenue. The tree stands by a hydrant that will be changed causing excessive damage to the tree roots. Goodrich moved to have tree removed, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

Mayor Lewis requested an amendment to the Employee Handbook that would outline reporting requirements for damage done to City vehicles and equipment to be added to the section entitled “City Resources and Equipment”. Provision is already present under “Business Travel” but Lewis did not feel that applies to day-to-day use of city property. Oldfield moved to include the revisions, Kisner seconded and all voted aye. Goodrich then asked if the city pickup had been repaired as approved at the last meeting. He was told it has not been done.

Goodrich moved to set Trick or Treat night for Wellman to be held Monday, October 31, 5:30pm–7:00pm. Kisner seconded and all voted aye. Council members have objected to setting this night annually so it was suggested this date be established by the Parks and Recreation Board or the Community Club in future years.

A work session will be held to continue review of the Code of Ordinances. The next session will be Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at 7:00pm.

In General Administrative discussion Kisner thanked city employees and contractors for their quick response at his home. The Kisners were out of town when services were being connected to the new water main. His old service line snapped causing water to flow into his house. Workers quickly responded and have been cleaning up and drying out the basement area.

Goodrich asked to include discussion of the Employee Handbook on the work session agenda. He also reported a complaint by a citizen of slow response by the Sheriff’s Department on a recent incident on 3^rd Street.

In the Public Forum Ryan Miller thanked Evan Parrott and Teresa Lampe for their work on the REAP grant application. They went to Des Moines today with some elementary school children to appear at the IDNR hearing on the grants.

Tarin Allen announced the Sunrise Child Care Center will be holding an open house on Saturday, 1:00-3:00 to raise money for the new center.

Swartzendruber and Goodrich reported on their trip to Des Moines to attend the Iowa League of Cities annual conference.

With no further the business the meeting was adjourned at 8:15pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, October 3, 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.