March 19, 2007

Wellman, Iowa 52356

 

 

     The Wellman City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building at 7:00p.m. 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, Deputy Sheriff Randy Tinnis and eleven citizens.

     The Consent Agenda was presented. Mayor Miller asked to remove Advanced Electric invoice from the bill list. This will be addressed later when it is determined what FEMA funds will be available.

Larry Thurman asked approval to order a channel video server for the WATV system that will allow better scheduling of programming. The cost is $6407.70 and has been approved by the Cable Commission.

Dick Durst presented bills totaling $483.89 from costs incurred to correct a sewer backup at his house on 11th Street. He indicated the problem was traced to across the street to a six-inch tile where several other services entered. Although this is not technically a city main, council members concurred it was not a private service line issue. Durst stated he had a clean-out installed and will repair the area in the neighbor’s yard. With that, Seward moved to approve the Consent Agenda to include these requests, the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting and the January financial statement. Oldfield seconded the motion and all voted aye. The bills approved for payment are as follows:

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

FIRE PROTECTION:

CVS Systems – flags                                                              38.00

Reggie Tire – fuel                                                                   103.35

LIBRARY SERVICES:

Payroll expense                                                                        2,400.23

American Library Assn – annual membership                              110.00

Baker & Taylor – library books                         121.23

Demco – library supplies                         119.66

Steve Miller – reimburse for videos & dvds                          83.00

Staples – library supplies                         90.65

Wellmark – employee insurance                                                                     197.74

PARKS & RECREATION:

Payroll expense                                                                        1,081.86

CVS Systems – flags                                                              486.50

Ebert Supply – summer supplies                                    295.45

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies & repairs                                      0.39

United Laboratories – insecticide                                                                                   216.00

SENIOR DINING:

Payroll expense                                                                        344.07

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies & repairs                                      8.58

 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

Iowa Department of Economic Development – downtown assessment                        2,500.00

LEGAL SERVICES:

Tindall and Kitchen – legal fees                                          93.00

CITY HALL:

Payroll expense                                                                        137.84

LL Window Cleaning – February cleaning                                    25.00

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies & repairs                                      22.36

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION:

Payroll expense                                                                        368.19

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES:

Petty Cash Fund – 5cent stamps                                     2.00

Bancard Center – Gazette ad/city administrator                            149.50

IMFOA – Wade registration/spring conference                           75.00

Pitney Bowes – quarter equipment rental                                        390.00

Quill Corporation – office supplies                           129.88

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT:

Dr Doug Campbell                                                         42.60

Hy-Vee Pharmacy                                                         68.71                                                              

Drs Puhl and Boysen                                                             149.00

STREETS & SIDEWALKS TAX CREDIT FUND:

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies & repairs                                      48.37

LIBRARY DONATION/MISC FUNDS:

Megabyteinfo.com – online directory                                  399.00

Sandy Miller – mileage                                     65.48

Sagebrush – software support                                    495.00

Southeastern Library Services – grant writing workshop                                 5.00

CABLE CHANNEL:

Wellman Telephone Co – install DSL modem                                     79.00

RECREATION CENTER FUND:

Payroll expense                                                                        239.50

ADT Security Services – April service                             47.86

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – February trash pickup                                      48.00

Teresa Lampe – reimburse for concessions                              295.90

Mahaska Bottling – concessions                              199.60

Quill Corporation – center sofpull towel                                        62.99

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies & repairs                                      28.64

Wellmark – employee insurance                                  6.30

Yoder Heating & Plumbing – repair reznor                             67.50

                                                                                        TOTAL                                   11,937.93

DISASTER CLEANUP EXPENSES

Hy-Vee – breakfast rolls/donuts                               59.90

Reggie Tire – fuel/brush cleanup                                    637.90

Tri-County Refrigeration – repair Senior Center refrigerator                               64.10

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies                                    43.89

                                                TOTAL             805.79

9TH AVENUE NORTH STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Wellman Advance – notice of filing of assessment x 2                                              62.14

ROAD USE TAX FUND

Payroll expense                                                                        1,216.07

Eastern Iowa Light & Power – Deer Meadows street lighting                            45.45

Farmers Supply Sales – parts                                                                 22.32

Reggie Tire – fuel                                           43.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                                   1,326.84

GAS SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                        1,493.45

Clayton Energy – February natural gas                                103,799.12

Matt Parrott and Sons Company – 1/3 cost billing forms                                       232.71

Reggie Tire – tires & service                          347.24

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies & repairs                                      7.03

Wellmark – employee insurance                                  600.00

                                                                                         TOTAL                                   106,479.65

WATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                        1,947.06

AWWA Iowa Section – workshop                                 35.00

Matt Parrott and Sons Company – 1/3 cost billing forms                                       232.71

Reggie Tire – fuel                                           49.00

Wellmark – employee insurance                                  459.30

                                                                                        TOTAL                                   2,723.07

WASTEWATER SYSTEM FUND

Payroll expense                                                                        1,672.77

Dreams Unlimited – backhoe work/Durst                               115.00

Eastern Iowa Light & Power – lift station                               29.28

Matt Parrott and Sons Company – 1/3 cost billing forms                                       232.71

Trio Gas & Hardware – supplies & repairs                                      29.86

Trio Gas & Hardware – parts/Durst                               39.90

Wellmark – employee insurance                                  204.04

Yoder Heating & Plumbing – labor,etc/Durst                         304.85

                                                                                         TOTAL                                   2,628.41

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FUND

Cox Sanitation & Recycling – February recycling & bags                                         4,376.25

SENIOR DINING HAA FUND

Payroll expense                                                                        959.32

SENIOR DINING COMMISSION FUND

Payroll expense                                                                        61.24

                                                                           GRAND TOTAL                                   131,360.54

The approved January Financial Statement includes revenues as follows:

JANUARY REVENUES

General Fund       8,912.66

Employee Benefit Tax Fund     391.51

Support Public Library Fund     106.44

Community Development Block Grant                  0.00

Liability/Property Insurance     317.22

Community Development Daycare Grant               0.00

Local Option Sales Tax        8,690.67

Road Use Tax Fund 10,044.82

Tax Credit Reimbursement Fund                61.22

Tax Increment Financing Fund            94.41

Debt Service Fund                288.76

Library Services Fund          614.65

Parks & Rec Donation Funds               2.47

Recreation Center        4,303.23

Cable Channel Fund        5.53

Senior Center Donation Fund   734.50

Senior Center CD          0.00

Senior Dining HAA Fund        3,159.85

Housing Improvement Fund        7.22

Capital Reserve Fund                300.32

Municipal Water System Fund 17,627.62

Municipal Water Sinking Fund      20.64 

Municipal Water System CD          0.00

Water Utility Capital Project            0.00   

Municipal Sewer System Fund 14,456.71

Sewer Sinking Fund        9.79

Municipal Gas System Fund   75,969.80

Municipal Gas System CD       0.00

Solid Waste Disposal Fund        5,564.50

                                                   TOTAL JANUARY REVENUES    151,684.54

     Deputy Tinnis from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department was present to receive comments. He reported ten calls of service for the previous month. Councilman Goodrich reported observing vehicles traveling close to fifty miles per hour on 9th Avenue south of Highway 22. Tinnis noted this.

     Bob Freeman of the Wellman Improvements Group asked to use main street for a street dance to be held on June 30 in conjunction with the July 4th celebration. Proceeds from the dance will be used to help fund the fire works display. Swartzendruber moved to approve the event, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     Freeman reported the Lone Tree group has asked to hold another garden tractor pull at South Park on July 4th. Sponsors are in place for this event. Goodrich moved to approve use of South Park, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

     Chris Ewalt presented to the Council his proposed Eagle Scout project. He intends to construct a bridge across the creek behind the skating rink. Many children are using this path to the skating rink.  The bridge will be anchored with cement and anchor bolts. Ewalt plans to have the project completed by late April. Oldfield moved to approve the project, Seward seconded and all voted aye. Ewalt indicated materials would cost approximately $500.

     During the public forum, Kim Stout addressed the Council in regards to tournaments being scheduled by the Wellman Ball Association. They will be holding two major Babe Ruth tournaments and asked permission to charge a gate admission of $2.00 (approximately) to cover the costs of umpires. It was the consensus of the Council to allow the admission charge. These tournaments will be held two week-ends in June. The Association is also applying to host the state five-day Babe Ruth tournament in July.

Jeff Fair asked the council for permission to set off fireworks if the state tournament is scheduled for Wellman. This is a traditional event. Fair said it would be smaller fireworks than those on July 4th. He also asked to be allowed to stockpile lime in the east parking lot. He stated they plan to do more upgrading to the fields and was concerned of damaging the turf with heavy trucks to transport to the fields. The Council agreed to these requests.

Terry Blum reported Ace Electric should have all the material this week to begin work by next week on the new ball lights.

     As the TIF information is not yet available, discussion on the Parkside Activities Complex was tabled.

     The Council reviewed options to handle spring cleanup. They set a tentative date of May 19 and will hope to use some service organizations to help with the project. It was proposed to charge a fee this year for using the service.

     Oldfield moved to set April 16, 2007, 7:00pm for two Public Hearings: to receive comments on the proposed amendment to the fiscal year 2007 budget and to receive comments on the proposed fiscal year 2008 budget. Goodrich seconded the motion and all voted aye.

     Urban Revitalization Districts and Tax Abatement was briefly discussed in regard to the Down Town area. It was pointed out if tax abatement is implemented the City will not be losing property tax. It will continue to be collected at the present rate. A developer or investor will not have to pay any additional taxes on the improvements made on the property for a period of time. Without tax abatement, those improvements would not exist. Therefore, by offering abatement, improvements and new business will be possible and encouraged.

     The City has received several applications for City Administrator position. A special work session was set for Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 7:00pm to go over the score sheets, select ones to interview and the time to do so.

     Under General Administrative discussion, Fisher reported a tractorcade will be driving through Wellman on July 21st and asked for groups to provide food and drinks at South Park. Freeman indicated the WIG group would be willing to help.

     After a brief discussion, the meeting was closed at 7:55pm to enter into closed session in regard to pending litigation. At 8:25pm Goodrich moved to enter into open session, Swartzendruber seconded and all voted aye. No action was taken but Council consensus was to commit additional funding for the Electric Municipalization Project. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm upon motion by Goodrich, second by Seward and all aye votes. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, April 2, 2007, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

 

 

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.