City of Mechanicsville

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING

March 19, 2007

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in session on Monday, March 19, 2007 at the City Hall.  Mayor David L. Furry called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Council members present for roll call were Larry Beck, Jeff Christianson, Karrie Johnson, Pam Logue-Newcomb.  Absent: Thomas Hall. Others present included Jim Barber, Rhett Taylor, Doug Cook, Sherie Paup,  Tom Decker, Dynamic Broadband; Carla Barnhart,  Chris Yancey, Jacob Yancey, Earnest Albaugh, and Jan Kuda.

 

OPPORTUNITY for any citizen present to discuss items not on the agenda:  Jan Kuda addressed the council about her concerns for a need for a pre-plan to be in place for caring for the victims of a disaster.  She has spoken to Jeff Kaufman, Sue Faith, Cedar County Disaster Coordinator; Pat Chamberlin, Red Cross; and will also be contacting Rick Fleishin, Cedar County Health.  She has met with her church board members and plans to send letters to the other churches in town to get volunteers.  She is asking for support, cooperation and a person from the council to be on the core committee.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Pam motioned, Larry seconded to approve the consent agenda including the agenda, and the minutes from 3/12/07. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Christianson, Logue-Newcomb, Beck and Johnson.  Hall was absent.  Nays: None. Motion carried.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Administration Report:  Coppess reported that IDED had been in the office to complete their monitoring visit on the Housing Contract with Tim Crabb. As a follow up, we received a response letter indicating that the guidelines were being followed.  A Dubuque Racing Grant application was completed for assistance with the fire truck.  Rambo and Associates has indicated that the 4” sewer service line should be adequate for the school.  The first FEMA grant that the fire department received has been officially closed out; the second one continues to be worked on.  The budget amendment and next year’s budgets were filed with the County Auditor and the Department of Management.  A water construction permit was received from the DNR.

 

Coppess also requested to attend the IMFOA Spring Meeting on April 19 at a cost of $35, the March 29 Clerk’s Planning Meeting at ECIA in Dubuque, and to use a vacation day on Friday, March 23.  Larry Beck motioned, Karrie Johnson seconded to approve the requests.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: 

Request to approve Rhett Taylor as newly elected Fire Chief:  Larry Beck motioned, Jeff Christianson seconded to approve Rhett Taylor as Fire Chief.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  A request to purchase Bunker pants and coat for Joel Polhamus at a cost of $900 and to purchase Fireworks Insurance and authorize the Mayor to sign the permit for the Fourth of July activities was approved with a motion by Jeff, second by Pam.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  Taylor also reported that training was held on February 19 with 16 members present.  The training was for traffic control and accident scene control.  The department had a total of 6 calls which included power lines down across Hwy 30 and opening the station as an emergency shelter during the ice storm; a report of smoke in house, a carbon dioxide detector alarm; landing life guard, traffic control on Hwy 30 to reconnect the power line; and a controlled burn.  There was also additional discussion about the plan for updating the trucks of which a sound financial plan still needs to be worked out.

 

AMBULANCE REPORT: Sherie Paup reported 21 calls with 6 being traumas and 14 medical and 1 transfer.  There were 4 mutual aids and 3 refusals and 2 transported by lifeguard.    

 

Police Report:  Police Chief Jim Barber presented the council with his summary of activity for the month which included 1 accident, 10 agency assists; 1 animal case, 3 assist motorists, 1 assault, 1 burglary, 15 citizen’s assist; 1 harassment; 10 - 911, 1 theft;  5 traffic stops with 5 warning’s, and 3 welfare checks.  In addition to 3 nuisance abatements filed, with 18 code violation warnings for abandon vehicle, juvenile’s possession alcohol; snow emergency parking, and 4 citations for illegal parking and possession alcohol persons under age.

 

A request to purchase tires for the police car at $346.16 was approved by Larry, seconded by Karrie.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Public Works Report:  Zerbe reported that they have been busy keeping the streets clean from the weather; a seal light came on in one of the pumps at the lift station and 2 of the 3 pumps were pulled and the oil was changed in them.  Ordered parts for the street sweeper and included new curtains.  April 7 they will begin the yard waste collection at the city shed from 8 to Noon the first Saturday of each month.  A request for vacation days April 25-27; to set date for spring clean up for April 17 and April 16 the Cemetery will be cleaned off was approved by a motion from Pam, and seconded by Karrie.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Zerbe also indicated the tree in the East Park suffered storm damage a motion by Larry, seconded by Jeff to have removed at a cost of $150.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Old Business:

Dynamic Broadband proposed agreement:  After another review of the proposed agreement requesting authorization to place equipment on top of the water tower, a motion was made by Larry, seconded by Karrie to not enter into the agreement at this time.  Ayes:  Beck, Johnson, Christianson.  Nays:  Logue-Newcomb Absent:  Hall.  Motion carried.

 

Review IIW First Street Improvement Plan:  No additional information available at this time.

New Business:  

Approve liquor license for Bubba’s Sports Bar & Grill:  Motioned by Larry seconded by Jeff to approve the liquor license.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Request from North Cedar Trailblazers to install 2-55 gallon garbage cans: The group indicated that they would like to place one at the Elementary school and another at the Nursing home.   Pam motioned and Karrie seconded to graciously decline the offer.  Ayes all. Motion carried.  It was suggested that perhaps the group would be interested in purchasing /planting trees at the new school and may have a more long term benefit to the community.

 

Ordinance 207 providing for the division of taxes levied on taxable property in the 2007 addition to the Mechanicsville Urban Renewal Area of the City of Mechanicsville:  Karrie motioned, Jeff seconded to approve the first reading of the ordinance.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Larry motioned, Jeff seconded to waive the 2nd and third readings.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

A motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Larry, and seconded by Karrie.  Roll call vote:  Ayes:  Larry Beck, Jeff Christianson, Karrie Johnson, Pam Logue-Newcomb.  Nays:  None.  Absent: Hall.  Motion carried and ordinance declared adopted.

 

Authorization for Mayor and Clerk to sign the sub divider’s agreement with John and Patricia Sandberg and upon completion and acceptance of said water and sanitary sewer mains the city shall reimburse the sub divider a lump sum of $40,000.  Larry motioned, Pam seconded to authorize the signing of the agreement.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Resolution 2007-5 to approve the proposed route through Mechanicsville for the Lincoln Highway:  Pam motioned Karrie seconded to adopt the resolution.  Ayes:  Larry Beck, Jeff Christianson, Karrie Johnson, and Pam Logue-Newcomb.  Nays:  None.  Absent: Thomas Hall.  Resolution adopted.

 

Resolution 2007-6 to set wages for 2007-2008 Fiscal year:  Jeff motioned, Larry seconded to adopt the resolution setting the wages for the 2007-2008 Fiscal year.  Ayes:  Larry Beck, Jeff Christianson, Karrie Johnson, and Pam Logue-Newcomb.  Nays:  None.  Absent: Thomas Hall.  Resolution adopted.

 

Resolution 2007-7 to increase ambulance incentive program amounts:  Pam motioned, Karrie seconded to adopt the resolution modifying the ambulance incentive program. Ayes:  Larry Beck, Jeff Christianson, Karrie Johnson, and Pam Logue-Newcomb.  Nays:  None.  Absent: Thomas Hall.  Resolution adopted.

 

Request to purchase 12 – 3x5 flag at a cost of $222:  A motion was made by Pam, seconded by Larry to approve the purchase.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Long distance proposal:  No action taken.

 

Proposal from Shamrock Construction Company, Municipal Street Improvements, and LL Pelling were all reviewed.  Larry motioned, Karrie seconded, that the proposal from L. L. Pelling be accepted for the street construction.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Update on garbage truck packer/truck:  A letter from Eddy-Walker regarding the possibility of putting a new 20 yard packer on the existing truck was reviewed.  The letter pointed out that the existing chassis is only 117 inches and would need to be extended in order have the larger packer fit.  Eddy-Walker will not do because the rear of the frame carries a lot of weight and the liability issues are huge.  A proposal for a 25 yard used truck that is currently available was also reviewed.  Zerbe was directed to put together a specification sheet so that it could be competitively bid between multiple vendors and the pricing on a new one should include trading in the current one.

 

Income Survey need to develop plan for reaching 80%:  Council will plan to schedule a time to go door to door.

 

Request to submit Project Main Street 2007 grant application:  Jeff motioned, Pam seconded to approve submitting the grant application for banners and planters to beautify the downtown and Hwy 30 area.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Request for dirt on North and West sides of Park Pavilion:  The Garden Club has requested additional dirt to help eliminate the water standing in this area.  They also inquired about the possibility of eave spouting.  Tom and Larry will look at and see what can be done.

 

Committee Reports: The safety committee reported that on March 29 the Ambulance Service would be going through an Iowa EMS Inspection.  Sherie added that at the last ambulance meeting they discussed recommending changing the amount budgeted for a transfer from the Ambulance Trust to the Fire Trust from $5,000 to $20,000.  Also, some discussion about drafting an ordinance to establish fees for fire trucks providing traffic control.

 

Correspondence:  IDNR has enhanced their services, the IDOT did not fund the Safe Routes to School grant application and an invitation to attend the US Highway 30 Coalition meeting on May 17, 2007 were received.

 

Mayors Comments:   The Mayor extended his appreciation to the Police, Fire and Ambulance departments for the extra services they provided during the recent extended power outage and ice storm.

 

Set next regular meeting date:  4-9-07 at 7:00 p.m.

 

ADJOURN:  There2 being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Beck motioned, Christianson seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:47 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                     _______________________________

Linda K. Coppess, CMC                                         David L. Furry, Mayor

City Clerk/Finance Officer