The Wellman City Council met in special session in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building at 6:00pm. Mayor Ryan Miller presided with the City Clerk and following Council Members: Marc Pennington, Steve Slaubaugh, Doug Powell, Fern Bontrager and Johnny Schwartz; absent: no one. The Consent Agenda was approved upon motion by Schwartz, second by Slaubaugh and all aye votes. The Consent Agenda includes the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, The Well and Freeman Foods liquor sales licenses renewals and the following claims:

Slaubaugh moved to enter into closed session pursuant to Iowa code section 21.5(1)(i) to interview a candidate for the City Administrator position at the request of the candidate and discuss the candidates interviewed to date. Powell seconded the motion and upon roll call the votes were unanimous ayes.

At 6:58pm Bontrager moved to return to open session, Pennington seconded and upon roll call the votes were unanimous ayes.

The Wellman City Council, with everyone present, met in regular session at 7:00pm. Also present were: City Attorney Kitchen, Washington County Deputy Jared Schneider Ranee Fladung from the news media, and two citizens and/or guests.

Deputy Schneider reported there were forty-eight calls of service which is about average. There has been some problems with youth knocking on doors in the north part of town and running away. There was also a discussion on golf cart use by children. The City Ordinance states a golf cart operator must have a valid driver’s license and a slow moving vehicle sign and flag placed on the cart.

Tom Buckwalter representing the Wellman Chamber of Commerce was present to request usage of grassy areas of North Park for vehicle parking for their first annual Quad-County Pork Fest. They anticipate serving one-thousand to fifteen hundred people at the day-long event on October 8. At the main, 13^th Street entrance to the park, the west drive will be reserved for vendors at the event and traffic will be brought in on the east drive and routed through the main parking lot to the grass area east of the tennis courts. Buckwalter assured the Council that if rainy weather would occur, they would not use the area for parking if it was going to cause damage. They plan to use shuttles in addition from the high school parking areas and area church lots. He listed the many events planned and reported a flyer would be sent out in the telephone bills. Mayor Miller offered any assistance the City could give to help with the event. The Council agreed and gave consent to use the park area for parking as needed.

Resolution No. 11-34 to authorize Internal Advance to Tax Increment Revenue Fund and approve business grants was introduced and caused to be read. Bontrager moved to adopt Resolution No. 11-34, Schwartz seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature. Funds will be expended from the Gas Fund for the grants and then reimbursed with TIF revenue as collected in 2012/13.

Mayor Miller has contacted a contractor in Coralville to do the street striping for parking spaces in the downtown area. It would cost approximately $425 for the work including paint. They can be here next week to do the work. City workers will need to have the street cleaned prior to their arrival. Slaubaugh moved to approve the work, Pennington seconded and all voted aye.

Mayor Miller reported the sander is in bad shape and public works would like to purchase a different one. There is a two to three year old stainless steel unit at Duwa’s Auction with a minimum bid of $3,000. Shumaker has checked on the internet and comparable new ones are priced at $4,500. Pennington moved to authorize a bid on the sander not to exceed $3,750. Slaubaugh seconded and all voted aye.

During the Public Forum Royce Buckwalter addressed the Council thanking them for the new reverse osmosis water system. He stated it is good for washing cars, taking showers, and his wife’s dishes.

In general administrative discussion Schwartz asked about the Jordan Well project and how it is going. Miller reported last Friday they were stuck at the 900 foot level and could not move up or down. Contractors were thinking the well could not be saved. However, he talked to the engineer today and they were able to get the drill out and have decided to start casing the well down to the blockage. They can then work at pushing the old broken material down the well. The engineer is confident they will be able to save the well.

Bontrager asked about the gas and water meter change outs. Miller said Shumaker was going to get costs of hiring a contractor to do the work rather than city workers.

With no further business Slaubaugh moved for adjournment at 7:32pm, Bontrager seconded and all voted aye. The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, September 19, 2011, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.

Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk subject to Council approval.