June 2, 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 from the news media, Sheriff Jerry Dunbar and thirteen citizens.

The consent Agenda, including the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, the bill list, Casey’s General Store beer and Sunday Sales permit renewal and Reggie’s Tire cigarette sales permit renewal was approved upon motion by Slaubaugh, second by Pennington, and all aye votes. The claims approved for payment are as follows:

Action Services	South Park units	160.00
AFLAC	employee benefit	371.15
Alliant Energy	electric/all departments	5,428.55
Baker Paper Company	paper supplies	89.05
Bancard	credit card charges	387.84
City of Wellman	Mar utilities & reimbrsmt	1,211.59
Duane Covington	operator service fee	1,500.00
Cox Sanitation & Recycling	Mar recycling & stickers	2,888.25
D&N Fence Company	water plant fence	6,850.00
Digicon Inc	move city website,emails	240.00
Federation Bank	federal wht,fica,medicare	2,840.57
Federation Bank	loan payments	154,019.54
Freeman Foods	supplies	177.27
Don Gingerich	permit inspect,Tif pymt	3,600.98
Groebner & Associates	gas parts,supplies	231.18
Hart-Frederick Consultants	3rd Street engineering	5,994.55
Hawkeye Foodservice	supplies	1,777.95
Hawkins Inc	water treatment chem	441.26
Housing fund	TIF transfer Stone Gates	1,627.09
Ideal Ready Mix	repair 7th Ave manhole	118.00
Internet Corporation	website search engine	37.50
IPERS	employee retirement	2,351.00
Keota Lawn & Power Equip	repair chain saws	103.25
Matt Parrott & Sons	animal tags	69.19
Menards	supplies,repairs	436.87
Midwest Electronic Recovery	e-waste disposal	522.80
Municipal Gas System	refund customer deposits	153.24
Municipal Water System	refund customer deposits	153.24
William Nickell	Jun lease payment	150.00
Payroll expense	transfers	13,554.05
Paws & More	Jun contribution	200.00
Petty Cash Fund	supplies, postage	5.00
Purchase Power Pitney Bowes	meter postage	900.00
Reha Greenhouse	plants	35.56
Dave Ross	May mileage	83.33
Schimberg Company	manhole repairs	356.64
Sewer Sinking Fund	transfers in for debt pymt	77,355.25
Standard Pest Control	May service	20.00
State Revolving Fund	wastewater debt pymt	79,688.20
Street Assessment Fund	TIF transfer for cap proj	30,000.00
TestAmerica	wastewater testing	297.57
Treasurer State of Iowa	state wht & sales tax	3,993.00
Various Vendors	employee benefit	120.00
Washington County Auditor	Jun law contract	5,941.08
Water Sinking fund	tranfers in for debt pymt	97,864.75
Wellman Advance	publications	282.07
Wellman Telephone Company	phone services	522.06
Mildred Whetstine	reimburse for supplies	33.47
TOTAL EXPENDITURES		505,183.94

Resolution No. 08-34 to enter into a contract with Anderson Ladd for skating rink floor installation was introduced and caused to be read. Latcham moved to adopt Resolution 08-34, Slaubaugh seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature. Ross stated the contractor plans to start work in a week and be done by early July.

Resolution No. 08-35 to enter into a contract with Schwartz Construction for skating rink restroom remodel project was introduced and caused to be read. Slaubaugh moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-35, Pennington seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 08-36 authorizing an internal advance to tax increment revenue fund by interfund loan for grant awards to be reimbursed when TIF funds are available was introduced and caused to be read. Fisher moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-36, Slaubaugh seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 08-37 to set the date for a pubic hearing on a loan agreement for infrastructure improvements in a principal amount not to exceed $160,000 was introduced and caused to be read. Ross explained this loan would cover the costs for several projects, including: the street chip and seal work done by LL Pelling Co., 8^th Street culvert improvements, 3^rd Street water main and street work, Heritage Park sidewalk replacement, North Park drainage work, and 6^th Avenue North street drainage issues. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 08-37, Pennington seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Jeff Bernard has filed another request for the City to vacate the alleyway adjoining his property. The City has approved drainage work on that alley and under 8^th Street. Bernard will pay for half of this cost if the alley is vacated to him. After further discussion council consensus was to refer this to the Planning & Zoning for a study and recommendation.

Paul Brandt, water specialist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, reported on the City’s recent elevated Nitrite levels. He first explained the precautions needed for infants up to six months of age and the reactions of nitrites to the body. Nitrites are not in the city’s source water but ammonia is. Bacteria exist in the water distribution system that is converting the ammonia to nitrites. Brandt reviewed several options to remove the nitrites suggesting the best option might be to open up the Jordan well again, test it and look at ways of treatment to remove the radium from that water as it could be an easier fix than trying to remove the nitrites from the well #3 water. Contract operator Covington was present to report on operations at the plant. The nitrite presence was discovered by accident when Covington had problems with the water holding chlorine levels. He ran an ammonia test and found high levels. One thing led to another and elevated nitrites were discovered. He has thoroughly cleaned the filters and flushed hydrants. The plant is operating very well at this time but the system is still holding the bacteria that will convert the ammonia. The last test showed nitrites at 1.2mg/liter which is 0.2mg/liter above the required limit. The drinking water alert will remain in effect until the City determines the course of action to take. An engineering study will be done as a first step in this process.

Sheriff Dunbar arrived to give the police report stating there were fifty-eight calls of service. They did a project in Wellman recently and wrote several tickets for speeding, seat belts, and other violations. Deputy Chad Ellis was also present to report to the Council on the new devise they have available for loan to be used at events serving alcohol. It scans the driver’s license to check for legal age. The WIG group has reserved it for the July 5^th street dance. Ellis stated this is the first request for the unit.

Ross explained a proposed capital project at North Park to help with the drainage in the northeast corner at the intersection of 13^th Street and 1^st Avenue. There are culverts under both streets. The proposal is to extend the culverts to connect and install drop boxes at either end to collect the surface water. Use of the displaced dirt for the activity center would elevate the corner allowing for a drier, mow-able area. One bid has been received but the second one is not in as yet. After further discussion, Pennington moved to authorize the project not to exceed the submitted amount. Goodrich seconded and all voted aye. This will give Ross the authority to move forward. If the second bid comes in lower, that will be the contractor used.

WATV channel coordinator, Larry Thurman, requested approval to purchase editing software at a cost of $762 for the Mid-Prairie High School tech club. Funds would come from the collections from businesses last fall for sponsorship to televise the football games. When asked, Thurman said he collected all the funds this year but will turn that over to the tech club members in future years. Goodrich moved to approve the purchase, Slaubaugh seconded with four voting aye; Latcham, no.

After a brief general discussion Pennington moved for adjournment at 8:29pm, Latcham seconded and all voted aye. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, June 16, 2008, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval