February 5, 2007

                                                                                                              Wellman, Iowa 52356

 

 

     The Wellman City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building at 7:00pm. Mayor Ryan Miller presided with the City Attorney, City Clerk and following Council Members: Richard Oldfield, Robert Goodrich, James Seward, Karri Fisher, and Robert Swartzendruber; absent: no one. Also present were Mary Coblentz from the news media, Chief Deputy Darren Dennler and thirteen citizens.

     The Consent agenda was presented to include: the approval of the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting and the bill list. After a few comments and clarifications of the bill list Swartzendruber moved to approve the Consent Agenda, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye. Bills approved are as follows:

     GENERAL GOVERNMENT FUND

 

FIRE PROTECTION:                                                                         

Alliant Energy – fire station electric                                                                                 212.53

City of Wellman – fire station Dec gas                                                                            595.60

POLICE PROTECTION:

Washington County Auditor – Feb law contract                                                          5,493.80

Wellman Telephone Co – phone to law center                                                                  28.83

CIVIL DEFENSE:

Alliant Energy – weather siren                                                                                          13.93

Mellinger Cabinet Shop – fire siren Feb electric                                                                15.00

ANIMAL CONTROL:

Paws & More – Feb payment                                                                                        200.00

TRAFFIC CONTROL:

Alliant Energy – highway flashing light                                                                               14.11

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense                                                                                                          2,532.51

Wellman Advance – publications                                                                                      30.00

Wellman Telephone Co – phone services                                                                         56.21

PARKS:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             905.44

Alliant Energy – park lighting                                                                                          -49.83

Day & Bordwell Abstracts – south park land abstract                                                    507.00

Honohan, Epley, Braddock & Brenneman – park land conveyance                                 175.00

Teresa Lampe – reimburse supplies                                                                                105.20

McFall’s Auto Trim – Ranger pickup seat                                                                      181.00

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies, repairs                                                                         46.18

Wellman Auto Supply – parts, supplies                                                                            22.18

SENIOR DINING:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             297.47

Alliant Energy – electric services                                                                                    164.44

 

PLANNING & ZONING:

Don Gingerich – building permit inspections                                                                      70.00

Wellman Advance – publications                                                                                      30.14

LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION:

Payroll expense                                                                                                               96.49

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             400.94

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             119.29

Alliant Energy – municipal building                                                                                  258.68

Freeman Foods – supplies                                                                                               32.19

Standard Pest Control – Feb service                                                                                  9.00

City of Wellman – Municipal Building Dec gas                                                                279.76

Wellman Telephone Company – phone services                                                             123.79

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

ComputerDesign – computer upgrade                                                                         2,350.13

Koch Brothers – quarter maintenance contract                                                                 34.20

Shive-Hattery Funding Seminar – 4 registrations                                                               40.00

Wellman Advance – publications                                                                                    493.73

PAYROLL TAXES & DEDUCTIONS:

AFLAC                                                                                                                          79.50

Federation Bank – fed wht & fica/medicare                                                                 3,335.96

IPERS – employee retirement fund                                                                              2,201.98

Treasurer State of Iowa – state wht                                                                                811.00

Wellmark – payroll deduction                                                                                          82.96

I Wireless – employee portion of cell phone use                                                               20.00

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT:

AFLAC                                                                                                                        258.50

Chris Huston reimbursement per payroll                                                                         345.57

HyVee Pharmacy                                                                                                            40.00

Miller’s Medicine Cabinet                                                                                              137.84

STREETS & SIDEWALKS TAX CREDIT FUND:

Alliant Energy – electric services                                                                                    141.40

Iwireless – city worker cell phones                                                                                   91.05

Kalona Machine Shop – material                                                                                     46.20

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies, repairs                                                                         92.77

Wellman Auto Supply – parts, supplies                                                                          174.71

City of Wellman – Dec city utility services                                                                      490.60

Wellman Telephone Co – phone service                                                                           20.50

TAX INCREMENT FINANCING FUND:

Capital Projects – 9th Avenue Street project transfer                                                      300.00

CABLE CHANNEL:

Wellman Telephone Co – phone service                                                                           29.13

RECREATION CENTER:

Payroll expense                                                                                                             261.45

Alliant Energy – skating rink electric                                                                               169.92

Bancard – supplies,repairs,etc                                                                                        568.58

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – January pickup x 3                                                             38.88

Farner-Bocken – concessions items                                                                               252.69

Freeman Foods – concessions                                                                                       233.81

I Wireless – Lampe cell phone                                                                                         42.33

Dale Lampe – plexiglass protection on counter                                                               161.90

Mahaska Bottling – concessions                                                                                     162.00

Petty Cash Fund – reimbursements                                                                                  75.00

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies, repairs                                                                         13.64

Treasurer State of Iowa – January sales tax                                                                    171.00

City of Wellman – skating rink Dec services                                                                   460.89

 

Wellman Advance – publications                                                                                      35.52

Wellman Telephone Company – skating rink phone                                                          28.90

Yoder Heating & Plumbing – repairs                                                                                77.45

                                                                                        TOTAL                           27,338.57

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          2,120.79

Alliant Energy – street lighting                                                                                      1,505.87

Hawkeye Ready Mix – Eco-salt                                                                                    500.00

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                           538.50

River Products – sand                                                                                                    188.12

                                                                                           TOTAL                          4,853.28

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,498.11

Alliant Energy – gas regulator station                                                                                21.34

ComputerDesign – computer upgrade                                                                            617.70

Groebner & Associates – parts                                                                                        32.46

Iowa League of Cities – DATA consortium                                                                      30.00

Iowa Utilities Board – fy07 direct assessment                                                                   12.00

Municipal Gas System – rebates                                                                                    100.00

Municipal Gas System – gas deposit refunds                                                                  227.75           

Petty Cash Fund – fold bills&newsletters                                                                          15.00

Treasurer State of Iowa – January sales tax                                                                 2,419.00

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies, repairs                                                                       109.36

                                                                                       TOTAL                              5,082.72

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          3,110.89

Aerosaw Inc – 8th Avenue Street cutting                                                                        250.00

Alliant Energy – electric services                                                                                 1,127.01

ComputerDesign – computer upgrade                                                                            617.69

Douds Stone Inc – clean stone/water leaks                                                                     652.30

Municipal Supply – supplies                                                                                               9.70

Municipal Water System – refund water deposit                                                             151.67             

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                           162.70

Treasurer State of Iowa – January sales tax                                                                    969.00

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies, repairs                                                                         19.97

City of Wellman – water plant Dec gas                                                                           132.58

Wellman Telephone Company –  phone services                                                              25.04

Yoder Heating & Plumbing – copper                                                                             105.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                            7,333.55

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                          1,659.36

Alliant Energy – wastewater plant                                                                                1,306.91

ComputerDesign – computer upgrade                                                                            640.00

Freeman Foods – ice                                                                                                         3.29

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                                                             52.00           

TestAmerica – wastewater testing                                                                                  537.66

Treasurer State of Iowa – December sales tax                                                                  95.00

City of Wellman – disposal plant Dec gas                                                                         71.91

Wellman Telephone Company – phone services                                                               64.70

                                                                                         TOTAL                            4,430.83

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – recycling & bags,stickers                                               4,711.50   

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies, repairs                                                                         26.26

                                                                                         TOTAL                            4,737.76

SENIOR DINING HAA FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                            944.61

Freeman Foods – raw food                                                                                             63.42

H&H Foodservice – raw food                                                                                         38.00

Hawkeye Foodservice – raw food & supplies                                                                977.95

Standard Pest Control – Feb service                                                                                  6.00

Wellman Telephone Co – center phone                                                                            19.42

Mildred Whetstine – reimburse for raw food,supplies                                                       17.88

                                                                                         TOTAL                            2,067.28

SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense                                                                                                               30.61

                                                                            GRAND TOTAL                      55,874.60

     Shawn Powell, City insurance agent, presented the Council with a check of $3,295 as a dividend reflecting savings in low claims in the safety group pool. Powell reported Wellman had three claims this past year, $1600 auto claim on damage to a city vehicle, $1100 claim not yet closed on water damage from a main break to a business basement and $1489 workers comp claim on an employee injury.

     Deputy Dennler reported on the two traffic trailers they are demonstrating. One has been located on Highway 22 and 7th Avenue here in Wellman. Council commented on the response to the presence of the trailer, slowing down traffic. The other trailer was positioned in West Chester. Dennler indicated the Board of Supervisors is working on costs for the law contract for fiscal 2008. They are looking at raising the contract by a percentage and adjusting up or down based on the number of calls of service in the previous year. The cities should be informed by next Tuesday the level of funding requested. He stated Wellman’s calls decreased by one and one-half percent over the previous year.

     Agenda item 5 was tabled as the employees were not present to hold the discussion on some maintenance issues.

     James Miller, President of the Parks and Recreation Board, was present to report on the recent board meeting. The Wellman Ball Association members met with the board recently concerning the need for new ball lighting. Kim Stout, treasurer of the association, also spoke on the need to get a commitment soon. There is a large wooden bat tournament being organized for April 27 & 28 and the lights need to be installed by then. They are working with a contractor who indicates it will take about two weeks to install after a few weeks required to order and receive the equipment. The Association raised $2,000 at a soup supper last week to help funding this project. Council members agreed to use Riverboat Casino funds for this project. After further discussion Oldfield moved to borrow the funds needed for the project to be repaid when casino funds become available.  Goodrich seconded the motion and all voted aye. The association agreed to hold additional fund raisers and contribute what they can raise to help in the funding. The light contractor will meet with city officials soon to review the project and make further arrangements.

In other park board items, Mr. Miller announced they would be seeking grants for two projects. A committee of board members and citizens has been appointed to produce a plan for the playground equipment project. A Riverboat Foundation grant will be written to fund this project. The City is asked to provide matching funds of $15,000 from the casino payments to the City.  Also needed are ADA bathrooms at the skate rink. After considering the expense of expanding the existing restrooms involving removing the block walls, it was decided to build on a 20x40 addition to the west of the metal portion of the rink. The addition would include the restrooms and a game room to provide additional seating at nearly the same cost estimated for the remodeling the existing restrooms. A Casino Foundation grant application will be filed for this project also with the City being asked for another $15,000 match. Mayor Miller has started work on these applications and suggested writing one grant, combining the two projects.

The board recommended the City contract for park mowing in 2007. A bid by Kalonial Law Care for $445 to include mowing all parks was submitted for approval by the Council. Miller stated the board would like to retain Allan Boone for ten hours per week to do park maintenance and cleanup.

The Board has discussed changing their ordinance to empower them, similar to the Library Board, to operate the skating rink, deal with the budgeting, and other operational requirements. They asked for an ordinance amendment for this purpose. After a brief discussion Swartzendruber moved to approve these recommendations, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye.

     During the Public Forum Danette Blum expressed their appreciation to the community and all the ball families for their support at the ball lights benefit soup supper.

     No one has yet been found to fill the vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Board. Rural member, Rhonda Stoltzfus, has moved out of state.

     The Senior Dining Heritage Agency nutrition budget for fy08 was presented to the Council. Oldfield moved to approve the budget, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye.

     The Senior Center Commission has sought bids for replacing the eave spouts on the east end of the center to solve continued water runoff and icing problems. They have approved a proposal from All Eastern Iowa Seamless Gutter Inc for the guttering, tile drainage and leaf guard in the amount of $2,320. They ask that the City share in paying one-half the cost of this improvement. Swartzendruber moved to approve the request, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     Similar bids were requested for spouting with leaf guards on the south side of City Hall as well as snow cleats to be installed on the copper overhead on the west and north sides of the municipal building. This will prevent large blocks of snow from sliding onto the sidewalk. The All Eastern Iowa bid of $2,694 for spouting and snow cleats cost of $1,384 was approved upon motion by Seward, second by Swartzendruber and all aye votes.

     Swartzendruber suggested the City discontinue writing checks for certain fire department bills. Instead, the City would pay a lump sum to the fire department on a quarterly basis based on the annual budget and the department would pay all bills. The fire chief will discuss this with their treasurer and members and report back to the Council.

     The Parkside Activities Complex project will be discussed in detail with key members of the project at a work session set for Wednesday, February 7, 2007, 6:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

     As the next regular City Council meeting falls on a holiday, the meeting was set for Tuesday, February 20, 2007, 7:00pm.

     In General Administrative discussion Goodrich asked how to deal with someone burning toxic material (on a weekend). It was suggested starting at the sheriff’s office. With no other discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm. After a brief recess the Council reconvened for a work session.

     The first item was review of the job description for the City Administrator position. After a few minor changes the council agreed upon a final draft.  It will be adopted by Resolution at the next regular meeting. The employment ad was finalized and the benefit package. Deadline for applications was set for March 15, 2007.

     The meter reading position was briefly discussed. The Council agreed for the time being to have Teresa Lampe trained to read meters. After the City Administrator is hired, he/she will make recommendations as to whether any additional employees are needed in maintenance departments.

     The clerk reviewed various budget issues and concerns. It was decided to budget employee wages based on a cost of living raise of 3.6%. Some cuts will have to be made in the General Fund budget to meet the level of funding from property tax. The Council agreed to budget for an upgrade in the meter reading equipment that will include radio read and electric meter capabilities.

     The Council discussed some concerns regarding a recent water main break and decided city maintenance workers will be asked to attend the work session Wednesday, February 7 at 7:00pm to receive further input from them.

     The work session adjourned at 9:55pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be Tuesday, February 20, 2007, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

 

 

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.