July 2, 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 Administrator, 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, Sheriff Jerry Dunbar and twelve citizens.

     The consent agenda was presented with Councilman Oldfield noting a word of thanks to Dennis Miller for the cleanup work at South Park. Oldfield moved to approve the consent agenda, Seward seconded and all voted aye. This included the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, and the bill list. Bills approved for payment are as follows:

Action Services

 

South Park unit service

 

160.00

AFLAC

 

employee benefit

 

371.15

Alliant Energy

 

electric/all departments

 

6,789.99

Auditor, State of Iowa

 

fy06 audit filing

 

250.00

Bancard Center

 

credit card charges

 

174.49

Capital Projects Fund

 

transfer

 

967.50

City of Wellman

 

utilities

 

373.03

Computerdesign

 

move city hall computer

 

80.00

Concrete Cutting & Coring

 

water valves

 

300.00

Cox Sanitation & Recycling

 

Jun recycling, trash bags

 

6,165.52

Don Gingerich

 

permit inspections

 

175.00

Dennis Miller Trucking

 

South Park cleanup

 

2,025.00

Dorsey & Whitney

 

extend TIF district

 

2,045.30

Ebert Supply

 

park paper supplies

 

81.57

Farner-Bocken Company

 

concessions

 

195.89

Federation Bank

 

payroll taxes

 

4,257.24

Freeman Foods

 

supplies

 

115.08

Hawkeye Foodservice

 

supplies

 

1,083.18

Hawkins Inc

 

treatment chemicals

 

560.07

H&H Foodservice

 

supplies

 

134.15

Chris Huston

 

employee benefit&mileage

2,422.24

I Wireless

 

cell phones

 

141.48

Iowa Assn Municipal Utilities

 

fees & services

 

1,191.11

Iowa League of Cities

 

membership

 

644.00

IPERS

 

employee benefit

 

2,390.04

James Miller

 

reimbursement

 

47.00

Kalona Builders Supply

 

South Park repairs

 

60.00

Kalonial Lawn Care

 

June  park mowings

 

2,408.00

Teresa Lampe

 

reimbursement&emp benefit

974.22

LL Window Cleaning

 

building windows

 

25.00

Mahaska Bottling Co

 

concessions

 

300.40

Maple Avenue Greenhouse

 

trees

 

607.40

Mellinger Cabinet Shop

 

electric/fire siren

 

15.00

Menards

 

supplies

 

455.37

Ann M Menke, CPA

 

balance of audit

 

4,700.00

Mercy Kalona Family Practice

 

employee benefit

 

8.30

Mercy Iowa City

 

employee benefit

 

10.25

Steve Miller

 

reimbursement

 

128.99

Municipal Gas Fund

 

refund customer deposits

 

381.65

Municipal Sewer Capital Project Fund

 

transfer

 

4,030.00

Municipal Water Fund

 

refund customer deposits

 

228.75

Nisly Clerking Service

 

trees

 

350.00

Richard Oldfield II

 

employee benefit

 

506.56

Paws & More

 

July contribution

 

200.00

Payroll Expense 

 

transfers

 

15,246.54

Petty Cash Fund

 

supplies, postage

 

31.25

Purchase Power

 

postage for meter

 

900.00

Radiologic Medical Services

 

employee benefit

 

5.40

Reggie Tire

 

fuel, repairs

 

783.20

Reha Greenhouses

 

flowers, etc

 

93.40

David Ross

 

mileage

 

108.16

Standard Pest Control

 

July service

 

15.00

TestAmerica

 

wastewater testing

 

537.66

Tindall and Kitchen

 

city attorney fees

 

1,287.00

Treasurer State of Iowa

 

state wht &consumer tax

 

1,455.00

Washington County Auditor

 

July law contract

 

5,941.08

Wayne Wasson

 

labor

 

1,020.00

Wellman Advance

 

publications

 

241.39

Wellman Auto Supply

 

parts,repairs

 

7.92

Wellman Telephone Co

 

phone services

 

479.56

Mildred Whetstine

 

reimbursement

 

56.53

    TOTAL EXPENDITURES

 

 

 

76,739.01

     In the Public Forum Steve and Deb Semler of 913 9th Avenue shared their problems of water backup on their property resulting from recent heavy rains. A city engineer had checked the area and recommended a pipe near the property be cleaned put. They reported water coming up out of a hole in their yard. The council will discuss this issue further and try to resolve the issue.

Larry Thurman, WATV channel coordinator, presented a tentative schedule for programming on WATV to be implemented in August.

Jeff Bernard, who lives near the Semlers, continued the discussion of water runoff problems in relation to his property and the property south of him owned by Darlene Gingerich. He suggested drainage be opened up to allow the water to run into the grassy alleyway to the south of 8th Street to help eliminate some of their problems.

Councilman Oldfield addressed the public and council regarding his concerns of a recently called special meeting to discuss a situation in the city that involved the authority of the city administrator. Oldfield did not feel the meeting was appropriate as there had not been a twenty-four hour notice. As it turned out, the meeting was not held but two council members did arrive at city hall. Mayor Miller expressed his concern that the administrator needed clarification to allow him to properly carry out his duties and that was the reason to call the meeting.

Sheriff Dunbar arrived at 7:20pm with copies of the fy08 contracts for law enforcement services between the county and city. He reviewed the number of calls of service for Wellman for the past month. Apparently the street dance on June 30 went well with no reported problems. The sheriff was asked about fireworks complaints, small vehicles using city streets in non-compliance with the recently passed ordinance, and speeding in the area of 9th Avenue.

     Resolution No. 07-25 to enter into a contract agreement with the Washington YMCA to manage the Wellman Parkside Activities Complex was introduced and caused to be read. Darin Pickles of the YMCA reviewed the process the Wellman Area Foundation has been through to arrive at this point as well as contract stipulations. Following further discussion Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 07-25. Swartzendruber seconded the motion and upon roll call there were four aye votes; Oldfield, no. The Mayor affixed his signature.

     Ordinance No. 196 to raise water rates was introduced and caused to be read for the first consideration. Oldfield moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 196, Swartzendruber seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

     Ordinance No. 197 to raise sewer rates was introduced and caused to be read for the first consideration. Oldfield moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 196, Fisher seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.

     Under general administrative discussion Goodrich thanked Kevin Yoder for ditch mowing along 1st Avenue. Ross reported five people have shown interest in the meter reading contract position.

     Goodrich moved to approve a new city employment application form. Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     Oldfield moved to approve entering into an agreement with One Source to perform background checks on new employee applicants. Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye.

     Ross reported on several properties he is working with owners to abate nuisances that exist. He asked the council for other properties in need of cleanup.

     Ross presented several new policies for implementation. The job application and hiring process was reviewed with Swartzendruber moving to approve, Fisher seconding and all voting aye.

The Equal Employment opportunity policy was approved by motion from Goodrich, second by Seward and all aye votes.

Building and vehicle security policy was discussed with Goodrich moving, Swartzendruber seconding and all voting aye to approve.

Employee Code of conduct was reviewed with Oldfield taking issue with the term “insubordination” in one section of the statement. Further discussion was held with Ross noting some minor changes in the wording in other sections of the policy. Goodrich moved to approve with the Ross changes as suggested, Fisher seconded and four voted aye; Oldfield, no.

Hiring and employment of relatives statement was presented. Oldfield moved to approve, Seward seconded and all voted aye.

Chain of command and discipline was presented with Ross noting the probationary period being changed from ninety days to six months. Oldfield took issue with the statement not allowing employees to call council members. He stated that he had always encouraged this. Goodrich moved to approve the policy, Swartzendruber seconded and three voted aye; Oldfield, no and Seward, no.

A policy to require wearing reflective vests was approved with a motion from Oldfield, second from Seward and all aye votes.

     Ross recommended the work session be tabled until a later meeting. With that Seward moved to enter into closed session, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye. The council went into closed session at approximately 8:15pm. At 8:35pm Goodrich moved to enter back into open session, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     Seward moved to adjourn the meeting, Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye. The next regular meeting of the Wellman City Council will be Monday, July 16, 2007, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

 

 

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.