The Wellman City Council met in regular
session in the Council Chambers of the
The Consent agenda was approved upon motion by Goodrich, second by Oldfield, and all aye votes. This included the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, the December financial statement, and the bills for payment as follows:
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT
FIRE PROTECTION:
Alliant Energy
fire station 378.72
LIBRARY SERVICES:
Payroll expense 2,191.47
Baker & Taylor
Books library books 54.90
Steve Miller
reimburse for books purchased 109.14
Southeastern
Library Services rotations 600.00
Wellmark employee insurance 197.74
PARKS &
RECREATION:
Payroll expense 1,121.75
Alliant Energy
park lighting 217.54
Glenn Guengerich Christmas lights 35.00
Hart-Frederick
Consultants survey east drainage area 1,225.00
Reggie Tire fuel 25.00
SENIOR DINING:
Payroll expense 756.68
Aliant Energy senior center storage room 75.00
Donna Wade
mileage to Cedar Rapids/Heritage contract meeting 42.68
PLANNING &
ZONING:
Hart-Frederick
Consultants review Ponds View Subdivision 225.00
LEGAL SERVICES:
Tindall & Kitchen city attorney fees/see attached
invoice 240.00
FINANCIAL
ADMINISTRATION:
Payroll expense 368.19
CITY HALL:
Payroll expense 82.17
Alliant Energy
municipal building 395.24
Ebert Supply Co
cleaning & paper supplies 98.71
Freeman Foods
supplies 9.77
Trio Gas &
Hardware supplies, repairs 26.46
OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:
Quill Corporation office supplies 338.90
PAYROLL TAXES
& DEDUCTIONS:
Federation Bank
fed wht & fica/medicare 2,801.86
EMPLOYEE HEALTH
BENEFIT:
CCIC 15.00
Hy-Vee Pharmacy 17.99
Kain Family Eye Care 120.00
Millers Medicine
Cabinet 71.01
STREETS &
SIDEWALKS TAX CREDIT FUND:
Alliant Energy
storage shed 39.01
Trio Gas &
Hardware supplies, repairs 65.96
Wellman Auto
Supply parts, repairs 49.60
CABLE CHANNEL:
Quill Corporation
supplies 14.37
LIBRARY SPECIAL
FUNDS:
Sandy Miller
mileage to
Steve Miller reimburse for memorial purchase 62.95
Staples office
supplies 92.20
RECREATION CENTER
FUND:
Payroll expense 266.98
Cox Sanitation
& Recycling December trash pickup 38.88
Farner-Bocken Company concession items 355.30
Freeman Foods
concession items 152.86
Trio Gas &
Hardware supplies, repairs 54.76
Wellmark employee insurance 6.30
TOTAL 13,850.04
9TH
AVENUE
Hart-Frederick
Consultants engineering thru Dec 1 602.50
ROAD
USE TAX FUND
Payroll expense 902.82
Alliant Energy
street lighting 1,495.33
Kalona Machine
Shop materials 173.81
LL Pelling Co premix for street patch 350.40
Wellman Auto
Supply parts & repairs 178.45
TOTAL 3,146.26
GAS
SYSTEM FUND
Payroll
expense 1,705.20
Alliant
Energy gas regulator station 26.95
Clayton
Energy December natural gas 94,482.69
Jason
Denning refund gas deposit to customer 75.58
Matt
Parrott & Sons ½ cost disconnect notices 89.65
Trio Gas &
Hardware supplies, repairs 37.17
Wellman
Auto Supply parts, repairs 14.57
Wellmark employee health insurance 1,059.30
TOTAL 97,906.72
WATER
SYSTEM FUND
Payroll expense 2,125.60
Alliant Energy
electric services 774.77
Jason
Denning refund water deposit to customer 55.49
Hart-Frederick
Consultants engineering thru Dec 1 55.00
Hawkins Inc chemical
treatment 261.00
Hygienic
Laboratory quarterly water testing 66.00
Matt
Parrott & Sons ½ cost disconnect notices 89.65
Municipal
Water System refund deposits to accounts 20.09
Reggie Tire fuel 21.30
Utility Equipment
Co repair parts 527.52
Wellman Auto
Supply parts & repairs 11.99
TOTAL 4,158.41
WASTEWATER
SYSTEM FUND
Payroll expense 1,968.28
Alliant Energy
wastewater plant electric 1,397.54
Freeman Foods
ice for wastewater samples 6.58
Trio Gas &
Hardware supplies, repairs 5.49
United
Laboratories water treatment blocks 499.80
Wellmark employee insurance 204.04
TOTAL 4,122.44
SOLID
WASTE DISPOSAL FUND
Payroll expense 138.05
Cox Sanitation
& Recycling trash bags 3,187.50
TOTAL 3,325.55
SENIOR
DINING HAA FUND
Payroll expense 1,016.70
Nutri-Systems Corp bowls, etc 111.30
TOTAL 1,128.00
Payroll expense 61.24
GRAND TOTAL 128,301.16
The
approved December Financial Statement includes revenues as follows:
DECEMBER
REVENUES
General Fund 1,624.83
Employee Benefit Tax Fund 1,022.55
Support Public Library Fund 250.13
Liability/Property Insurance 790.62
Community Development Daycare
Grant 0.00
Local Option Sales Tax
8,679.25
Road Use Tax Fund
9,454.13
Tax Credit Reimbursement Fund 5,564.85
Tax Increment Financing Fund 1,694.67
Debt Service Fund 782.72
Library Services Fund 2,220.22
Parks & Rec Donation Funds 255.62
Recreation Center 3,296.18
Cable Channel Fund 225.68
Senior Center CD 0.00
Senior Dining HAA Fund 3,619.66
Housing Improvement Fund 7.26
Capital Reserve Fund 0.74
Municipal Water System Fund 16,941.89
Municipal Water Sinking Fund 16,538.92
Municipal Water System CD 0.00
Water Utility Capital Project 0.00
Municipal Sewer System Fund 13,254.51
Sewer Sinking Fund 9.78
Municipal Gas System Fund
47,125.21
Solid Waste Disposal Fund 5,343.70
TOTAL DECEMBER REVENUES 139,067.22
Members of the Wellman Area Foundation were present to answer questions and report on the Parkside Activities Complex project. Tom Buckwalter stated the current drive has brought in an additional $210,000. Grant writer Katherine Ollendieck had planned to attend this meeting but due to weather and road conditions, did not travel to Wellman. Ed Raber addressed the Council also. He stated he has involvement in four aspects of the project as he is the director of the Washington Economic Development Group, on the Board of Directors at ECICOG that wrote the Sunrise CDBG grant, member of the Washington Riverboat Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Washington YMCA. He challenged the Council to get involved with this project noting Wellman has been a leading city in the County with the nicest municipal building and obtaining the childcare block grant, the only one of its kind in the County. In addition, the Riverboat foundation unanimously awarded two million dollars for this project with a CAT grant to be applied for that may bring another million dollars. He spoke of the involvement the YMCA will have and the great opportunity for Wellman to become a Y community. Oldfield fielded questions and his concern of financing the project and whose responsibility it would be to carry the debt. The response was that many questions still need to be answered in this regard. However, the plans are still in place to let bids in February and break ground in the spring. Mayor Miller presented TIF figures that would support use of those funds for the Citys contribution to the project. He suggested more information could be collected and then sit down in a work session with the Council and members of the steering committee and interested parties to further explore the issues.
Larry Thurman, Channel Coordinator, presented an annual report on the local access channel activities. He outlined projected budget figures for fy08. There were no complaints filed by local customers of Mediacom. He encouraged subscribers to use the Commission as an advocate for their complaints to assist in resolving issues with Mediacom when necessary. Commission members have taken on more responsibilities with Rex Link monitoring the finances/budget for the channel, Robert Hopper will work on developing the DVD library into a digital format, and Susan McClellen will offer her services to train new volunteers for the channel. WATV, Wellman Telephone and Kalona Telephone have joined to establish a video club for the High School. The Commission plans to move the annual report from January to the second meeting in July to better reflect the fiscal year revenue and expenditure activity. Thurman asked to be given a debit card with a five-hundred dollar limit to be used by WATV personnel for purchases. This will be addressed at a later date.
During the Public Forum Matt Latchem, a member of the Wellman Fire Department, announced
they had been awarded a grant of $110,400 for new gear for all firemen. This
was a FEMA, Homeland Security grant. The department must provide some matching
funds in the amount of $5,520. The funds are expected in about three weeks and
must be spent within a year. They can purchase complete outfits for the
firefighters which cost $1,860 per fireman and air packs for $4,000 each. The
air packs will match those used by the Kalona and
Henry Miller asked about a response to his recent letter to the Mayor concerning rain runoff on his property that floods his driveway, yard and into his basement. Miller stated he had discussed this with city workers who indicated short of installing curb and gutters the other option was to cut drainage ditches along the street. Further discussion ensued to suggest possible remedies. The Mayor will take this to the City workers to determine the best remedy for the time being.
The Public Hearing to receive comments on
vacating a portion of
Resolution No. 07-03 to acknowledge
location of
Resolution No. 07-04 to enter into a lease agreement with Dennis Berger and Son Inc. for use of farmland was introduced and caused to be read. Seward moved to adopt Resolution No. 07-04, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. Mayor Miller affixed his signature.
Ordinance No. 187 to establish a City Administrator position was introduced and caused to be read for the third and final reading. Goodrich moved to approve the third reading of Ordinance No. 187 and final adopt same. Swartzendruber seconded the motion and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.
Ordinance No. 188 to amend the Official Zoning Map of the City of Wellman to rezone 194 3rd Street from M-1 District to R-1 District was introduced and caused to be read for the second consideration. Oldfield moved to approve the second reading of Ordinance No. 188 and waive the third reading to final approve. Swartzendruber seconded the motion and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.
Allen Leichty, President of the Wellman Rotary Club, reported the Club is working to erect the second Welcome To Wellman sign, this one being at the west entrance on Highway 22. The estimated cost is $4,500. There is not enough grant monies remaining after the construction of the first sign to cover the cost of this second one. He requested the City help in financing this project. Mayor Miller suggested using economic development budget funds for this purpose. Leichty indicated $1,500 would be of help. Swartzendruber moved to approve the expenditure, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.
As no names have been submitted to fill the vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Board, this item was tabled until someone is nominated to serve.
In General Administrative discussion Swartzendruber complimented city workers for their snow removal efforts today.
Mayor Miller pointed out the rate study in the packets for water and sewer rates. This will be addressed at an upcoming work session on the budget. It was agreed to hold a work session following the regular meeting on February 5, 2007 for the fy08 budget.
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm. The Council then entered into a work session to review the job description for the City Administrator position. Several suggestions were made for additions and changes in the draft job description. The clerk will add these changes and get a final draft to council members along with a set of interview questions and salaries from the League of Cities survey. It was agreed that advertising for the position should be done soon.
In the
matter of the recent resignation of Mark Farrier,
discussion was held on filling that position. Farriers
final day will be January 26, 2007. It was decided nothing will be done for
replacement until the City Administrator is hired. That person can then
determine the need for any additional employees. With that the work session was
adjourned at 9:05pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday,
February 5, 2007, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the
Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk
subject to Council approval.