April 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 Clerk and following Council members: Richard Oldfield, Robert Goodrich, James Seward, Karri Fisher, and Robert Swartzendruber (arriving at 7:15pm); absent: no one. Also present were Mary Coblentz from the news media, Sheriff Jerry Dunbar and fourteen citizens.

The Consent Agenda was approved upon motion by Oldfield, second by Seward and all votes. The motion included the agenda, minutes of the previous meetings, the bill list and the February financial statement. Bills approved for payment are as follows:

AFLAC	employee benefit	371.15
Alliant Energy	electric/all departments	851.47
All Eastern Iowa Seamless Gutter	city hall,senior center	5,238.00
Altorfer Inc	wastewater generator	956.40
Calhoun-Burns & Associates	bridge inspections	600.00
Dr Doug Campbell	employee benefit	9.50
City of Wellman	utilities	2,706.21
Cox Sanitation & Recycling	March recycling	2,787.75
Energy Economics Inc	recondition gas meters	1,027.25
Farner-Bocken Company	concessions	526.73
Freeman Foods	Senior Dining supplies	67.82
Groegner & Associates Inc	parts	2,764.04
H&H Foodservice	Senior Dining supplies	242.08
Hart-Frederick Consultants	engineering	1,247.50
Hawkeye Foodservice	Senior Dining supplies	656.15
Hawkins	chemicals/water treatment	343.45
Dr John Helscher	employee benefit	63.00
Hy-Vee Pharmacy	employee benefit	48.64
I Wireless	cell phones	141.36
Iowa Assn Municipal Utilities	annual dues, newsletter	1,661.11
IPERS	employee retirement	2,019.47
LL Pelling Co	street patch	271.80
Mahaska Bottling	concessions	170.40
Mellinger Cabinet Shop	electric/fire siren	15.00
Paws & More	April contribution	200.00
Payroll Expense	transfers	13,235.01
Petty Cash Fund	folding,lunch	10.13
Purchase Power	postage for meter	900.00
Prinston server Group	WATV channel server	6,407.70
Quill Corporation	office supples	57.99
Raynor Door Inc	door repairs	183.50
Standard Pest Control	April service	15.00
Kim Stout	reimbursement	92.95
Surgical Services	employee benefit	25.00
TestAmerica	wastewater testing	430.13
Towncrest Internal Medicine	employee benefit	16.25
Treasurer State of Iowa	state wht	722.00
Washington County Auditor	April law contract	5,493.81
Washington County Engineer	dust control permit	5.00
Wellman Advance	publications	386.28
Wellman Auto Supply	parts,repairs	59.12
Wellmark	payroll deduction	13.72
Wellman Telephone Co	phone services	458.84
Mildred Whetstine	reimbursement	34.23
TOTAL EXPENDITURES		53,532.94

February financial statement included revenues as follows:

General Fund	11,852.18
Special Tax Levy Funds	167.37
Local Option Sales Tax	8,596.43
Road Use Tax	10,809.81
Tax Credit Reimbursements	43.33
Tax Increment Financing Fund	61.45
Debt Service Fund	54.96
Library Services Funds	265.62
Parks & Recreation Funds	3,202.54
Cable Channel Fund	1,771.47
Senior Center Funds	3,590.35
Housing Improvement Fund	7.46
Capital Project Funds	25,218.13
Municipal Water Funds	64,554.84
Municipal Sewer Funds	29,112.19
Municipal Gas Funds	80,610.57
Solid Waste Funds	3,743.05
TOTAL REVENUES	243,661.75

Bob Brophy of the Wellman Produce was present to discuss moving a gas line at his south plant to allow for adding a grain storage bin on that property. The gas line now lies under the area where the bin will be placed. It also serves the next property to the west. It was decided by motion from Oldfield, second by Goodrich and all aye votes that the City would put in a new main to allow for additional service lines and abandoned the lines that were now present.

James Miller, President of the Parks and Recreation Board, reported on their recent meeting. His recommendations were: increase the mowing contract with Kalonial Lawn Care to $500 per mowing to include the skate rink property; install a small set of new playground equipment now on sale for $13,970 by purchasing with the donated funds plus $10,000 from casino payments and placing them north of the ball diamonds; approve $10,000 from casino funds to be matched with a Riverboat Foundation grant application for a new floor at the skate rink; contract with Allan Boone for 12 hours per week to clean park shelter restrooms, and collect trash in parks and on mainstreet. Oldfield moved to approve all recommendations as presented, Goodrich seconded and all voted aye.

Sheriff Dunbar reported forty-five calls of service for Wellman the past month. The curfew law was discussed with the sheriff concurring the age differential was good.

During the Public Forum Allen Leichty asked about land use at the North Park where the activities complex will be constructed. Some questions arose as to whether parking can be expanded in the west lot area due to DNR restrictions. Mayor Miller will check into this and report back.

Lori Reece requested funding from the city in the amount of $3,000 to continue with the Art in the Park programs as state grants are not available this year. It was suggested the Community Club could assist in this project.

Kim Anderson asked the City Council what restrictions would be applied to use of golf carts. The City Attorney will look at this issue in relation to existing city laws and bring back an ordinance for consideration.

Henry Miller asked about the water drainage issue on 4^th Street and 5^th Avenue. City workers will be digging the ditches out to promote better drainage.

Resolution No. 07-13 was introduced and caused to be read to authorize application to the Washington County Riverboat Foundation for a grant to provide new flooring and ADA approved restrooms at the skating rink. Swartzendruber moved to adopt Resolution No. 07-13, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Swartzendruber moved to set Friday afternoon, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 as city-wide cleanup days to include a fee of $5 to participate or $15 if the items are picked up by volunteers. Goodrich seconded the motion and all voted aye.

A brief discussion was held on yardwaste collection and fall leaf pickup. More study will be done to obtain options and alternatives.

Seward moved to invest the Goodwin bequest funds of $150,000 for the Senior Center in a ninety-day certificate of deposit. Swartzendruber seconded the motion and all voted aye.

The City of Hills is in the process of installing a new water system. Consultants asked if Wellman would be interested in helping initially by reading the meters for them. After a brief discussion the Council consensus was not to do this. In matters of meter reading it was suggested Teresa Lampe continue helping with this as well as the possibility of having the Library Director assist as he has indicated he would be interested in doing so.

In general administrative discussion Swartzendruber asked about getting the North Park flag pole repaired as it was blown over during the recent ice storm.

Fisher asked about the vandalism to the small rider mower and tree trimming.

Oldfield suggested the water valve project move forward and extend repairs to 1^st Street.

Mayor Miller stated the city would stop picking up storm debris at the end of this week.

Attorney Kitchen reported there are still issues concerning 2^nd Avenue and correct surveys. He will work on this with the property owner’s attorneys.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:38pm. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday April 16, 2007, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building. A special session will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 6:30pm to interview city administrator applicants.

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.