March 3, 2008

                                                                                                              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 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 and Tim Groff from the news media, and 43 citizens and contractors.

     The Consent Agenda was approved by motion from Goodrich, second from Slaubaugh and all aye votes to include the agenda minutes of previous meeting and the bill list with claims as follows:

AFLAC

 

employee benefit

 

371.15

Alliant Energy

 

electric/all departments

 

4,344.40

Baker & Taylor

 

library books

 

1,030.70

Bancard

 

credit card charges

 

383.94

City of Wellman

 

Jan utilities & reimbrsmt

 

3,204.24

Duane Covington

 

operator service fee

 

2,000.00

Cox Sanitation & Recycling

 

Feb recycling  & stickers

 

2,822.50

Demco

 

library supplies

 

159.60

Gambles

 

supplies

 

4.19

HACH Company

 

supplies

 

25.35

Hawkins Inc

 

water treatment chemicals

 

436.90

I Wireless

 

cell phones

 

124.30

Iowa Library Association

 

annual memberships

 

95.00

Kalonial Lawn Care

 

salt/sanding

 

320.00

Koch Brothers

 

annual maintenance

 

990.00

Laboratory Corp of America

 

employee benefit

 

14.54

Mellinger Cabinet Shop

 

electric/fire siren

 

15.00

Mid-Prairie Community Schools

 

copies made

 

24.00

Miller's Medicine Cabinet

 

employee benefit

 

148.52

Ryan Miller

 

Feb mileage

 

40.40

William Nickell

 

Mar lease payment

 

150.00

Paws & More

 

Mar contribution

 

200.00

Perfection Learning

 

library books

 

144.39

Petty Cash Fund

 

supplies, postage

 

40.70

Quill Corporation

 

office supplies

 

291.69

Reggie Tire

 

fuel,repairs

 

1,022.50

Dave Ross

 

mileage,meals,reimbursmt

 

102.01

Sam's Club

 

concessions

 

478.08

Senior Citizens

 

reimbursement

 

359.39

Sewer Capital Project Fund

 

transfers

 

2,792.98

Standard Pest Control

 

Mar service

 

15.00

Teledyne ISCO

 

repair wastewater sampler

 

346.83

TERRA Enterprises

 

sand,hauling

 

166.88

Towncrest Internal Medicine

 

employee benefit

 

20.00

Urologic Associates

 

employee benefit

 

20.00

Washington County Auditor

 

Mar law contract

 

5,941.08

Wellman Advance

 

publications

 

102.33

Wellman Auto Supply

 

parts,repairs

 

82.83

Wellman Telephone Company

 

phone services

 

506.71

WT Cox Subscriptions

 

library subscriptions

 

519.50

    TOTAL EXPENDITURES

 

 

 

29,338.13

     Goodrich moved to open the Public Hearing to receive comments on the proposed fy09 budget at 7:02pm. Fisher seconded the motion and all voted aye. Max Lewis addressed several questions he had concerning various items on the budget forms. With no other comments at 7:07pm Goodrich moved to close the Public Hearing, Slaubaugh seconded and all voted aye.

     Deputy Randy Tinnis from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department reported on calls of service for the month of February. There were no comments for the Sheriff’s office.

     Seven bids were presented to Architect Brian Gotwalls for the Parkside Activities Center. Base bids and three alternate bids were submitted. Base bids received were as follows: Knutson Construction Services, Iowa City, IA: $5,247,400; Merit Construction Company, Cedar Rapids, IA: $5,483,000; Selzer Werderitsch Associates (SWA), Iowa City, IA: $5,695,000; Frank Baxter General Contractor, Fort Madison, IA: $5,480,000; S.G. Construction Company, Burlington, IA: $5,304,000; McComas-Lacina Construction, Iowa City, IA: $5,289,000; and Bi-State Contracting Inc, Burlington, IA: $5,100,000. The bids will be reviewed before the decision to award is made.

     Resolution No. 08-13 to adopt the fy09 city budget was introduced and caused to be read. Fisher moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-13, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.  The Mayor affixed his signature.

     Resolution No. 08-14 to accept the 2007 9th Avenue sewer relining project was introduced and caused to be read. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-14, Slaubaugh seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

     Resolution No. 08-15 to accept a bid and approve the contract for the 2nd Street Bridge Replacement Project was introduced and caused to be read. The culvert to be installed was estimated to cost $198,000 with the bid being at $139,742. A grant from the federal government will pay for eighty percent of the project. The contractor, Peterson Contractors of Reinbeck, must start the project no later than September 15, 2008 with a thirty-five day completion. Latcham moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-15, Slaubaugh seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

     Ross revised the policy statement in the Employee Handbook regarding the hiring process to reflect the Council’s participation in interviewing applicants. Slaubaugh moved to approve the policy change, Latcham seconded and all voted aye.

     During the Public Forum Max Lewis read excerpts from a recent newspaper article regarding the City of Cedar Rapids infrastructure needs and voiced his agreement that this needs to be addressed in this community as well.

Mary Lee Ehrenfelt voiced her concerns over the recent petitions that were passed to require a vote on the Activities Center had been circulated and signed by individuals that did not understand what they were signing or why.

Andy Blauvelt, a local contractor, stated his support of the Activities Center project pointing out if the project goes forward, local contractors could be working on it therefore keeping the money here in our community.

Kim Stout spoke on behalf of the Wellman Ball Association, announcing the state Babe Ruth tournament will be held here in Wellman starting July 18. She noted what great opportunity for our community and asked for support and help from local citizens.

     During the general administrative discussion, Ross announced two grants have been received by the City. One grant will provide three defibrillators to be placed at City Hall, the Senior Center and North Park ball fields. The second grant will fund writing a hazard mitigation plan for the City. Ross reported the water alert for high nitrites is still in place. The IDNR has pulled samples and waiting on results to determine if the levels have returned to normal. The two new city employees, Rory White and Jesse Gingerich, started today.

     With no further business Goodrich moved for adjournment at 7:49pm to enter into work session. Pennington seconded and all voted aye.

     The work session involved discussion with Allen Leichty to hear his request for the City to partner with him in his efforts to bring a medical clinic to Wellman. Discussion was held on the process the local panel has gone through in screening possible clinics. They are close to signing papers with a Nurse Practitioner to open the clinic as soon as April. Leichty plans to borrow the funds to construct the clinic in his section of the Wellman Emporium. He is asking that the City, at a minimum, agree on a TIF incentive to help repay the investment on the clinic over a ten year period. After further discussion Ross stated he would meet with the City’s bonding attorneys and bring two options back to the Council for consideration.

     The Council returned to open session to adjourn the meeting at 8:34pm by motion from Pennigton, second from Latcham and all aye votes. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, March 17, 2008, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

 

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.