January 21, 2008

Wellman, Iowa 52356

The Wellman City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building at 6:00pm. Mayor Ryan Miller presided with the City Attorney, City Administrator, City Clerk and following Council Members: Robert Goodrich, Karri Fisher, Marc Pennington, Steve Slaubaugh, and Matt Latcham; absent: no one. Also present were Mary Coblentz, Norvin Coblentz, and Kristie Shulman from the news media and 12 citizens.

The Consent Agenda was approved upon motion by Goodrich, second by Pennington, and all aye votes. This included the Agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, the bill list, November financial statement and December financial statement. The bills approved for payment were:

AFLAC	employee insurance	371.15
Alliant Energy	Christmas lights	39.29
Baker & Taylor Books	library books	23.55
Bancard	credit card purchases	358.69
Central States Group	gas regulator parts	977.21
CCIC	employee benefit	20.00
Cox Sanitation & Recycling	supplies	4,470.13
Demco	library supplies	77.01
Eastern Iowa Light and Power	street lighting,etc	83.15
Farm Plan	parts	170.48
Federation Bank	fica,medicare,fed wht	3,977.68
Freeman Foods	supplies	86.09
Golden Horse LTD	library books	13.51
HACH Company	water testing supplies	123.95
H & H Foodservice	supplies	70.23
Hawkins Inc	water chemicals	262.60
Home Gas Inc	parts	7.95
Hy-Vee Pharmacy	employee benefit	25.00
J and N Enterprises Inc	gas monitor	1,438.96
Matt Parrott & Sons	forms	67.14
Mercy Services, Kalona	employee benefit	8.80
Oral Surgery Associates	employee benefit	250.00
Payroll Expenses	transfers	17,554.71
Petty Cash Fund	supplies	91.01
Quill Corporation	office supplies	213.98
Reggie Tire	fuel	201.15
Dave Ross	reimbursements/supplies	147.92
Shive-Hattery	architect fees	77,512.26
United Laboratories	supplies	144.60
Washington County Auditor	city election	870.39
Washington County Enviromental	rink food license	67.50
Wellman Advance	publications	173.63
Wellmark	employee insurance	1,116.02
TOTAL EXPENDITURES		110,644.59

The November financial statement included revenues as follows:

General Fund	21,874.19
Special Tax Levy Funds	4,190.86
CDBG Sunrise Childcare Project	0.00
Street Assessment Fund	358.95
Local Option Sales Tax	12,708.12
Road Use Tax	9,178.10
Tax Credit Reimbursements	264.13
Tax Increment Financing Fund	37,677.98
Debt Service Fund	3,020.87
Library Services Funds	1,728.62
Parks & Recreation Funds	4,256.53
Cable Channel Fund	3,726.41
Senior Center Funds	5,132.82
Housing Improvement Fund	1,687.56
Capital Project Funds	96,643.29
Municipal Water Funds	41,857.88
Municipal Sewer Funds	90,557.96
Municipal Electric Fund	34,983.75
Municipal Gas Funds	25,938.74
Solid Waste Funds	5,596.95
TOTAL REVENUES	401,383.71

The December financial statement included revenues as follows:

General Fund	6,515.87
Special Tax Levy Funds	1,391.64
CDBG Sunrise Childcare Project	0.00
Street Assessment Fund	1,380.49
Local Option Sales Tax	10,083.17
Road Use Tax	10,125.41
Tax Credit Reimbursements	5,244.86
Tax Increment Financing Fund	1,681.44
Debt Service Fund	691.48
Library Services Funds	496.65
Parks & Recreation Funds	22,159.62
Cable Channel Fund	422.51
Senior Center Funds	3,612.02
Housing Improvement Fund	61.29
Capital Project Funds	12,405.80
Municipal Water Funds	25,739.91
Municipal Sewer Funds	16,085.28
Municipal Electric Fund	0.00
Municipal Gas Funds	37,720.25
Solid Waste Funds	5,345.06
TOTAL REVENUES	161,162.75

At 6:03pm the employee termination hearing was opened in regard to Rich Oldfield. The employee, who was not present, did not request a closed session, therefore the hearing remained open. City Administrator Ross read the report submitted as a result of his investigation noting several points of misconduct. He reported a GPS tracking devise was installed in the City pickup used by Oldfield for a period of time from November 14, 2007 to December 13, 2007 after researching this option and getting opinions from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, the Iowa League of Cities’ General Counsel, the Mayor and the City Attorney. Ross listed problems of lack of maintenance and other issues at the wastewater treatment plant and demonstrated the GPS tracking record for one day showing the actual driving record of the pickup versus what had been written on the daily job log. The lengthy report is available in City records so will not be written into these minutes. In conclusion, Ross recommended termination of Rich Oldfield. There were no comments from the Council or public. Goodrich then moved for termination of Oldfield, Fisher seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The hearing closed at 6:50pm.

In discussion of opening applications for a second position, Ross reported he had received thirteen to date for Slaubaugh’s position. Goodrich encouraged all council members to read through all applications. Ross will be interviewing on Saturday and bring recommendations to the Council at the next meeting.

In the matter of contracting for water and wastewater services on a long term basis the Council discussed pros and cons of this. Duane Covington who is doing the work now agreed to continue through the end of February. It was decided to wait to see what experience applicants will provide for this position and determine the costs of certification versus contracting the work out.

The Council discussed summer mowing as to using employees rather than contracting. If water and wastewater services are contracted, it would free city employees to do more mowing. This too will wait until employees are hired to determine time available, equipment needed and costs.

Ross presented a new City policy to establish a date for payroll. As it stands now payroll is run on the 15^th and last days of the month but no exact date is set as pay days. The State Department of Labor requires an established day. Ross suggested continuing with the pay period with pay dates to be set “no later than” 7^th and 22^nd of each month. Council members indicated a preference to having it state specifically and establishing the 7^th and 22^nd as pay dates unless these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, then the last business day before that date. Pennington moved to approve the policy contingent on these changes, Latcham seconded and all voted aye.

No one spoke in the Public Forum.

Ross reported the street sander is broken and being checked out. Jared Miller of Kalonial Lawncare has agreed to help with sanding city streets until it is repaired. Ross also thanked all the city employees and the public who have offered to help and have helped in snow removal and other tasks during this time.

Latcham asked about the water break at the fire station. Ross stated an old repair the city had done was found. It was not holding so contractors installed a valve there to allow the water to be shut off to the fire station while continuing water supply to the fire hydrant and the wastewater plant. The actual break is not fixed as it is located under cement in front of the station. The fire chief has decided to wait until warmer weather for that repair.

With no further business Slaubaugh moved for adjournment at 7:20pm. Fisher seconded the motion and all voted aye. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, February 4, 2007, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.