City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

April 9, 2007

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 9, 2007 at City Hall. Mayor David L. Furry called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Council members present for roll call were Jeff Christianson, Larry Beck and Karrie Johnson. Absent:  Hall and Logue-Newcomb.  Others present included Jim Barber, Sherie Paup, Rhett Taylor, Alan Zerbe, Dorothy Russell, Donna Kuehnle, Dan Paidar, Doug Cook, Jan Kuda.

OPPORTUNITY for any citizen present to discuss items not on the agenda: 

Donna Kuehnle and Dorothy Russell addressed the council concerning the Trees Forever plans to plant trees at the Pioneer Valley Mobile Home court on April 27.  This is also the day that the trees for residential plantings will be available for pick up.  The rain date is scheduled for May 4.  The city has up to $350 to contribute to the matching portion of the Trees Forever grant.  Next year the plan is to plant trees at the new elementary school.

CONSENT AGENDA: Larry motioned, Karrie seconded to approve the consent agenda including the agenda, minutes from 3/19/07, finance reports, and claims. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Christianson, Beck and Johnson.  Nays:  None.  Logue-Newcomb and Hall were absent.  Motion carried.

The claims approved were as follows:

CEDAR COUNTY RECORDER	RECORD FEE	108.00
JONES COUNTY RECORDER	RECORD FEE	58.00
PAYROLL	WAGES	5,789.60
WELLMARK	HEALTH INS	2,553.06
HOWARD STAHMER	REFUND DEP	11.22
JACQUELINE SALYARS	REFUND DEP	50.00
ALLIANT ENERGY	UTILITIES	465.34
ED M. FELD EQUIP. CO.	CAPITAL EQ	900.00
CEDAR COUNTY RECORDER	RECORD FEE	27.00
SEEHUSEN INS. AGENCY,INC	INSURANCE	25,446.00
MGN EXTERIORS	BLDG MAINT	12,066.44
I M F O A	MILEAGE	35.00
PAYROLL	WAGES	5,354.72
BRIDGE COMMUNITY BANK	FICA/MC	3,526.13
I P E R S	IPERS	1,572.27
TREAS, STATE OF IOWA	P.T. WAGES	1,668.96
US POSTMASTER	POSTAGE	114.96
BRICE GREENE	REFUND DEP	50.00
ALLIANCE MEDICAL	MED SUPPLY	217.70
ALLIANT ENERGY	UTILITIES	6,940.02
ERICA PITLICK	AMB TRAIN/CONF	40.00
BIECHLER ELECTRIC	MINOR EQUIP	188.00
CARROT-TOP INDUSTRIES	FLAGS	297.75
COPYWORKS	AMB OFFICE SUP	122.50
L E DENDINGER	ATTY SERVICES	805.00
ELLIOT EQUIP. COMPANY	VEH REPAIR	746.16
JOHNSON CO REFUSE INC	RECYCLING	2,232.50
FARM PLAN	MINOR EQUIP	47.33
IA FIREMEN'S ASSN.	DUES/MEMBER	310.00
IA ASSN MUN UTILITIES	FEES	414.34
IOWA WIRELESS	TELEPHONE	216.10
JIMS AUTO BODY	VEH REPAIR	22.85
KEYSTONE LAB, INC	TEST FEES	300.90
CONNIE KNUTSEN	AMB TRAIN/CONF	40.00
LISBON-MTVERNON AMB SERV	MUTUAL AID	225.00
MATT PARROTT & SONS CO.	OFFICE SUP	43.37
MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.	COMP EQUIP	365.48
DOUG BEAN	HOUSING REHAB	15,393.00
MUNICIPAL PIPE TOOL CO	MAINTENANCE	2,954.35
ODD JOBBER	BRUSH & TREE REM	230.00
ODD JOBS INC-JERRY DAKE	BURIALS	375.00
QUILL CORPORATION	TESTING EQ	49.41
STRACKBEINS, INC.	VEH REPAIR	88.54
CONSERVATIVE PUBLISHING	PUBLICATION	399.16
TIPTON TIRE AND AUTO	VEH REPAIR	286.16
WALMART	MISC SUPPLY	16.42
AMAZON.COM	LIB BOOKS	541.50
BARNES & NOBLE	LIB BOOKS	52.57
BARNES & NOBLE	LIB BOOKS	182.86
TREAS, STATE OF IOWA	SALES TAX	960.00
CASEY'S GENERAL STORE	VEH SUPPLY	152.18
CEDAR CO. SOLID WASTE	FEES LANDFILL	934.50
KEYSTONE LAB, INC	PMTS TO AG	20.00
NEW HORIZON FS INC.	VEH SUPPLY	1,040.47
ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICE	CLOTH ALLOW	86.80
IWPCA	TRAIN/CONF	40.00
BUSINESS RADIO SALES	OP EQ REPA	188.43
RHETT TAYLOR	MINOR EQUIP	80.17
PAYROLL	WAGES	5,397.08
IA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIO	BACKGROUND CHK	60.00
J & M DISPLAYS, INC	FIREWORKS INS	745.00
HACH COMPANY	OP SUPPLY	128.25
DORSEY AND WHITNEY LLP	ATTY SERVICES	1,581.50
AIRGAS, INC.	MED SUPPLY	190.96
HYGIENIC LABORATORY	PMTS TO AG	30.00
ALLIANCE MEDICAL	AMB MED SUPPLY	14.23
SHEPLEY PHARMACY	AMB MED SUPPLY	34.08
ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION	AMB OFFICE SUP	86.96

Total Receipts for the month of March by fund:

Agency-Water	200.00
Ambulance Trust	4,825.17
Fire Trust	134.44
General	39,931.62
Library Trust	18.85
Road Use Tax	10,188.12
Sewer Utility	6,598.20
Solid Waste	8,182.53
Special Revenue	6,285.46
Employee Benefit	726.91
Water	8,480.59
Water Sinking Fund	2,500.00

Total disbursements for the month of March by fund:

Agency-Water	61.22
Ambulance Trust	2,843.02
General	76,999.18
Road Use Tax	6,560.42
Sewer Utility	6,657.86
Solid Waste	6,689.86
Special Revenue Emp Benefit	2,515.78
Water Utility	7,069.39

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Ambulance Report: Sherie Paup reported 17 calls with 4 being traumas and 13 medical.  Sherie also reported that an application from Ashley McCormick was received.  A request to pay for class, books, and testing at a cost of approx. $1200 was approved by Larry Beck, seconded by Jeff Christianson.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.   It was noted that the next class isn’t scheduled until later in the summer/early fall.  Sherie also reported that the state inspection was completed on March 29 and there was only one area that needed to be worked on and that was the change in the new protocols.  The ambulance members have 30 days to complete and submit.

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT:  Rhett Taylor reported 5 calls for the last month with 1 being a barn fire mutual aid with Lisbon, 2 alarms at the school, a severe weather warning drill and 1 car accident.

A request to purchase 5 pagers @ $400 each, a request to certify the 20 SCBA’s @ $75 each and a request to certify the pumper at $1750 were approved with a motion from Jeff, second from Karrie.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

Discussion was held on passing a resolution to transfer any unspent balances of the fire department budget be transferred to the Fire Trust Fund (Truck Reserve).  Sample resolutions will need to be researched and then reviewed with the city attorney.

Truck Maintenance Routine:  Taylor requested that an independent mechanic be hired to inspect the 6 trucks and resolve any issues during the regular oil change and fluid check.  It was noted that 165 has issues with the carburetor and 162 with the transmission.  Recently “165” was leaking and Cliff Taylor welded on some patches on the tank.  Jeff motioned to have Kevin Flockhart inspect the trucks and perform the necessary oil and fluid changes and other repairs as needed at a cost not to exceed $1,500.  Karrie seconded the motion.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

Truck Info on financing: Taylor suggested a plan for paying for a new fire truck which included using Local Option sales tax revenue and leaving the increase in the township trustee property taxes in place for the next 5 years.  Other ideas included proceeding with doing a letter fund drive and a donation from the Mechanicsville Fire & Ambulance Volunteers, Inc.  There have been two grant applications completed, (Hamburger Helper and the Dubuque Racing Grant) and a third one is being worked on through FEMA.  He also presented a proposed fee schedule for implementing a charge for calls.  In summary, in order to purchase the truck a down payment would need to be made with the balances on hand and the balance of it financed over time unless the FEMA grant would be successful.  The FEMA grant provides for 95% of the funding with a 5% local match (on a $200,000 truck the city would need to supply $10,000).  The deadline to apply is May 4 with the grant application currently 72% complete.  A motion was made by Jeff, seconded by Karrie, to set May 14 at 6:50 as the date for a public hearing on the financing of a new fire truck and possibly entering into a purchase contract.  Aye all.  Motion carried.   If a purchase contract is entered into now, that purchase is not eligible to be reimbursed with the potential grant funds.  A separate purchase contract would need to be entered into if the grant is awarded.

Police Report:  Police Chief Jim Barber presented the council with his written report of activity for the month which included 9 agency assists; 2 animal cases, 4 arrests; 1 building check 1 found unsecured; 11 citizen’s assist; 1 domestic assault, 2 - 911,  3 traffic stops with 3 warning’s.  In addition to 2 nuisance abatements filed, with 6 code violation warnings for abandoned refrigerator, alcohol in public, and illegal parking.

Public Works Report:  Zerbe requested to attend IWPCA Region 6 Conference on May 9 at a cost of $40.  Karrie Johnson motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve the request.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  He reported having cleaned out a storm sewer that was full of sticks and leaves causing a backlog of water on East Second Street.  Council directed that other items that need to be worked on include replacing the park pavilion vents, research on the garbage truck replacement, fixing the street sweeper water system; and possibly replacing the box on the dump truck.  There was also discussion about stricter enforcement of the No Blowing the Grass in the Street Ordinance.

Administration Report:

Coppess shared information with the council that she had received from ECIA regarding the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Old Business:

Discussion and possible action on:

Resolution 2007-9 approving plat of Country View Subdivision, Fourth Addition: A motion was made by Larry Beck, seconded by Jeff Christianson, to approve the resolution approving the plat of Country View Subdivision, Fourth Addition.  Roll call vote:  Larry Beck, Karrie Johnson, Jeff Christianson.  Nays:  None.  Absent:  Hall and Logue-Newcomb.  Resolution adopted.

Approval of the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements:  Council reviewed the letter from IIW Engineers certifying that the improvements have been completed according to the contract.  Council confirmed that the defective generator had been replaced and the louvers had been installed for ventilation of heat.  Zerbe mentioned that the float system that regulates the water depth and alarm system has caused him some problems, but it is due to the way it was designed.  The one outstanding issue was the previous hoist being removed from the site and not being returned.  A motion was made by Larry, seconded by Jeff to accept the project as being completed with the final payment to be made in 30 days less the purchase price of the replacement hoist.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

First Street Improvements:  No action.

New Business:

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON:

Liquor license for Friends & Co:  Motion was made by Larry, seconded by Karrie to approve the liquor license application pending the background check being completed.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

Request for step railing on East First Street:  Council discussed the possibility of adding a railing to aid in climbing the step.  The Senior Citizens have offered to provide funding for the project.  It was motioned by Karrie, seconded by Larry, to proceed with researching a possible solution.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

Request to replace refrigerator in basement of MB:  Larry motioned, Karrie seconded to purchase a new refrigerator at a cost of $400.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

Proposal to remove old restroom building from park:  The council reviewed a proposal received from Luke Oberbreckling and Sons to remove the brick building and level out the ground for a cost of $1250.  It was motioned by Larry, seconded by Jeff, to accept the proposal.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  It was also noted that the power service line would need to be unhooked and a call placed to Iowa One Call.

Committee Reports: No additional reports.

Correspondence:  Letters were received from the Cedar County Emergency Management for a meeting on Wednesday, April 18; notice about Red Cross Training coming up, and FEMA Public Assistance is available if we incurred over $1000 in uninsured losses during the recent ice storm.

Mayors Comments:   Mayor Furry indicated that he had spoken with Heidi Scott and a group of students are looking for an Earth Day project to do on April 20.  Council discussed possibly checking with the Garden Club members to see if they could use some help.

Set next regular meeting date: 5-14-07 at 6:50 p.m. for a public hearing

ADJOURN:  There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Christianson motioned, Beck seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:42 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

ATTEST:

____________________________                     _______________________________

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

City Clerk/Finance Officer