September 17, 2007

Wellman, Iowa 523256

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 Administrator, City Clerk and following Council Members: Richard Oldfield, Robert Goodrich, James Seward, Karri Fisher, and Robert Swartzendruber; absent: no one. Also present were Mary Coblentz and Kristie Schulman from the news media and four citizens.

The consent agenda was approved upon motion by Goodrich, second by Seward and all aye votes. This included approval of the agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, the bill list and August financial statement. The bills approved for payment are as follows:

Baker & Taylor Books	library books	204.43
Bancard	credit card purchases	222.20
Bank of America	credit card purchases	298.41
Bob's Tree Service	tree trimming,removal	1,325.00
Clayton Energy	Aug natural gas purchase	5,529.96
Justina Duwa	utility overpayment refund	10.26
East Central Iowa Council of Govt	CDBG administration	768.00
Eastern Iowa Light and Power	street lighting,etc	84.98
Electric Pump	watre pump	858.24
Farner-Bocken Company	concessions	349.59
Federation Bank	fica,medicare,fed wht	2,654.94
First Class Apparel	WATV jackets	228.72
Freeman Foods	supplies	149.00
Janet Goss	water deposit refund	46.29
Groebner & Associates	gas parts	471.17
Glenn Guengerich	repairs	177.00
Hart-Frederick Consultants	engineering	2,868.85
Dr John Helscher	employee benefit	101.00
Hy-Vee Pharmacy	employee benefit	50.00
I Wireless	utility cell phones	78.90
Industrial Sales	gas parts	1,279.52
Kalona Machine Shop	material	164.63
Kalonial Lawn Care	August mowing	3,500.00
Mahaska Bottling	concessions	179.20
Mitinet Inc	library subscription	189.00
Municipal Gas System	gas deposit refunds	76.23
Municipal Sewer Sinking Fund	transfer	1,980.47
Municipal Water System	water deposit refund	105.46
Payroll Expenses	transfers	12,611.69
Quill Corporation	office supplies	95.90
Petty Cash	supplies	26.44
Reggie Tire	fuel	124.35
SF Travel Publications	library books	126.90
Slechta Communications	library subscription	37.50
Testamerica	wastewater testing	322.60
Trio Gas & Hardware	supplies, repairs	446.60
Washington County Clerk of Court	court costs	30.00
Washington Public Library	summer reading program	100.00
Wellman Advance	publications	128.22
Wellman Auto Supply	supplies	6.99
Wellmark	employee benefit	2,139.58
TOTAL EXPENDITURES		39,943.79

The approved August Financial Statement includes revenues as follows:

General Fund	54,440.59
Special Tax Levy Funds	82.81
CDBG Sunrise Childcare Project	0.00
Local Option Sales Tax	10,330.09
Road Use Tax	10,274.29
Tax Credit Reimbursements	28.82
Tax Increment Financing Fund	43.11
Debt Service Fund	13.31
Library Services Funds	325.08
Parks & Recreation Funds	1,302.27
Cable Channel Fund	4.86
Senior Center Funds	4,492.16
Housing Improvement Fund	7.88
Capital Project Funds	19,714.91
Municipal Water Funds	18,848.72
Municipal Sewer Funds	14,261.18
Municipal Electric Fund	0.00
Municipal Gas Funds	25,232.66
Solid Waste Funds	6,155.83
TOTAL REVENUES	165,558.57

Justin Widmer was present to ask for Council approval on his Eagle Scout project to replace the wooden doors on the city storage shed to aluminum doors. Oldfield moved to approve, Seward seconded and all voted aye.

The Wellman Cable Commission has been offered software and system to provide a weather station for WATV by Bob and Pat Freeman. It would give local weather for the Wellman channel as well as on the websites. The cost is approximately $260 and would be purchased from Radio Shack in Kalona. Channel Coordinator, Larry Thurman stated when the weather is broadcast on the channel, name recognition for the Freeman donation would also be broadcast for the first twenty-four months. Swartzendruber moved to accept the donation and allow the name recognition. Fisher seconded and all voted aye.

During the Public Forum Raymond Curl reported he had a visit from the city concerning grass being thrown into the street when his property is mown. He believed this was frivolous and that the city should be taking care of more important issues, listing such things as speeding on Highway 22, stolen parts from his vehicles and street lights being out.

Resolution No. 07-35 to apply for a grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation for improvements at the Wellman Recreation Center was introduced and caused to be read. Seward moved to adopt Resolution No. 07-35, Swartzendruber seconded and upon roll call the votes were unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 07-36 to approve the fiscal year 2007 Street Finance Report was introduced and caused to be read. Oldfield moved to adopt Resolution No. 07-36, Goodrich seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Resolution No. 07-37 to apply for a grant for financial assistance from the Iowa Department of Economic Development for rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing was introduced and caused to be read. Goodrich moved to adopt Resolution No. 07-37, Oldfield seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. The Mayor affixed his signature.

Under General Administrative discussion Swartzendruber reported the tall grass along 1^st Avenue at 11^th Street causes a visual problem when entering 1^st Avenue.

Oldfield reported some street light outages.

Goodrich asked to check a property on 9^th Avenue as complaints have been received about the tall grass and weeds.

Ross reviewed some minor changes in the new employee handbook that included some salary pay ranges and schedule. The no smoking policy was discussed that would prohibit smoking in city vehicles as well as facilities. Ross asked for an exemption for one employee who smokes to allow that in one service vehicle. After further discussion it was the consensus that the rule should be enforced for all if it was to be implemented. Goodrich then moved to approve the employee handbook and job descriptions. Swartzendruber seconded the motion with the vote being four ayes; Oldfield, no.

Discussion was held on increasing the meter reading contract from $200 per month to $300. The current contract reader has asked to be let out of the contract. Ross feels the time it takes to read meters warrants more pay. Members were agreeable to increasing the contract, with action to be taken at a later meeting.

The contract adopted by Resolution at an earlier meeting to provide for city yardwaste disposal at the Jim Goodrich property has not been signed by Goodrich. City Attorney Kitchen has written a simplified lease agreement that was reviewed by the Council. The lease will allow organic waste only to be taken to the site. Swartzendruber moved to approve the lease agreement and authorize Mayor Miller to sign. Seward seconded the motion and four members voted aye; Goodrich abstained. In related matters, the Council further discussed brush pickup issues. It was suggested a part time person be hired to read meters, pickup brush, ordinance enforcement, animal control and other miscellaneous duties. Kitchen stated it would be necessary to have this position an employee of the city rather than a contract position if ordinance enforcement was part of the job requirements. It was suggested a pickup day be implemented for all yardwaste and not allow any public use of the current brush pile to avoid DNR regulations at that site. It would also allow for handling the waste one time as it could then be hauled directly to the rural site. More discussion will be held on this issue.

At 7:45pm Oldfield moved to enter into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent.

At 7:59pm Goodrich moved to enter back into open session, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye. Seward moved for adjournment, Oldfield seconded and all voted aye.

The next regular City Council meeting will be Monday, October 1, 2007, 7:00pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building at 7:00pm.

__________________________ ______________________________

Ryan J. Miller, Mayor Donna B. Wade, City Clerk