City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

April 14, 2008

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 14, 2008 at City Hall.  Bryan Lovell was sworn into office prior to the meeting.  Mayor David L. Furry called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Council members present for roll call were Larry Beck, Carla Barnhart, Gene Brown, Jeff Christianson, and Bryan Lovell.   Others present included Jim Barber, Alan Zerbe, Tom Albaugh, Rhett Taylor, Sherie Paup, Doyle Pickering, Chris Yancey, Doug Cook, Luella Scott, Judy Furry, Randy Rouse, and Susan Scott.

 

OPPORTUNITY for any citizen present to discuss items not on the agenda: Randy Rouse inquired about the possibility of having a screen installed over the storm catch basin in order to keep the cats out of the sewer system and Doyle Pickering inquired about branches being removed from the right of way.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Bryan Lovell motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve the minutes from 3/10/08, finance reports, and claims. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Barnhart, Brown, Lovell, and Christianson.  Nays: None.  Motion carried.

 

The claims approved were as follows:

CEDAR COUNTY RECORDER

RECORD FEE

85.00

JONES COUNTY RECORDER

RECORD FEE

34.00

SHEPLEY SNYDER PHARMACY

MED SUPPLY

5.00

I M F O A

MILEAGE

50.00

WELLMARK

HEALTH INS

2928.22

PAYROLL

WAGES

5630.09

INTL REVENUE SERVICE

FICA/MC

3756.52

TREAS, STATE OF IOWA

IA WITHHOLDING

1856.80

I P E R S

IPERS

1700.36

BRIDGE COMMUNITY BANK

MISC CONTRACT

70.69

US POSTAL SERVICE

POSTAGE/BOX RENT

195.84

BRIDGE COMMUNITY BANK

MISC CONTRACT

20.87

TREAS, STATE OF IOWA

SALES TAX

944.00

PAYROLL

WAGES

5513.99

SCOTT PICKERING

REFUND DEP

14.75

BOYD STINE

REFUND DEP

50.00

PERFECT TOUCH

REFUND DEP

50.00

TRAVIS APPEL

REFUND DEP

50.00

RYAN HOWELL

REFUND DEP

50.00

PAMELA GOLDSMITH

REFUND DEP

50.00

KRISTEN BEQUEAITH

REFUND DEP

50.00

ACCO, UNLIMITED CORP.

OP SUPPLY

359.04

ALL MED

MED SUPPLY

252.86

ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICE

CLOTH ALLOW

201.15

BARRON EQUIPMENT CO

REPAIR BLDG

625.51

ALLIANT ENERGY

UTILITIES

6087.92

CASEY'S GENERAL STORE

VEH SUPPLY

125.41

CEDAR CO. SOLID WASTE

FEES LANDFILL

1188.00

FIRE SERV TRAIN BUREAU

TRAIN/CONF

300.00

FRIENDS OF THE ANIMALS

CONTR FEES

50.00

GEE ASPHALT SYSTEMS INC

ST REP MNT

691.00

HYGIENIC LABORATORY

PMTS TO AG

15.00

IA HEALTH PHYSICIANS

SHOTS/TEST

114.00

IA ASSN MUN UTILITIES

FEES

414.34

IOWA WIRELESS

TELEPHONE

76.44

JOHNSON COUNTY AMBULANCE

MUTUAL AID

150.00

JOHNSON CO REFUSE INC

RECYCLING

2232.50

KEYSTONE LAB, INC

PMTS TO AG

234.70

KIRKWOOD COMM. COLLEGE

TRAIN/CONF

155.00

CONNIE KNUTSEN

TRAIN/CONF

40.00

DAN KOCH

MILEAGE

130.95

LISBON-MTVERNON AMB SERV

MUTUAL AID

75.00

MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.

TELEPHONE

283.71

MED LABS OF EASTERN IA

SHOTS/TEST

164.35

NAPA AUTO PARTS

VEH REPAIR

113.11

PAGE, WOLFBERG & WIRTH

TRAIN/CONF

249.00

IA HEALTH PHYSICIANS

SHOTS/TEST

318.00

ODD JOBS INC-JERRY DAKE

BURIALS

925.00

QUILL CORPORATION

OFFICE SUP

287.41

SINDT IMPLEMENT

VEH REPAIR

33.64

TAPCO

SIGNS/SNOW

3506.25

CONSERVATIVE PUBLISHING

PUBLICATIO

179.72

TRIPLE T ENTERPRISE, INC

OFFICE SUP

133.00

DOUG WOLF

TRAIN/CONF

100.00

AGVANTAGE FS INC.

VEH SUPPLY

2257.02

SHEPLEY SNYDER PHARMACY

MED SUPPLY

106.41

SINDT IMPLEMENT

VEH REPAIR

203.13

IWPCA

TRAIN/CONF

40.00

CEDAR COUNTY AUDITOR

ELECTIONS

1107.57

MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.

TELEPHONE

86.77

PEOPLE

SUBSCRIPTION

49.95

AMAZON.COM

LIB VIDEO

329.28

DEMCO

OFFICE SUPPLY

65.97

KOCH'S PAINT & LUMBER

BLDG MAINT

24.00

HEIMAN FIRE EQUIPMENT

CLOTH ALLOWANCE

328.90

IA EMS ASSOCIATION

TRAIN/CONF

100.00

 

Total Receipts and Disbursements for month of Feb by fund

 

Fund

Receipts

Disbursements

Ambulance Trust

10701.75

2732.75

Fire Trust

103.46

 

General

9391.47

25949.44

Road Use Tax

7648.72

8864.96

Lib Exp Trust

471.49

 

Perpetual Care

45.00

 

Sewer Utility

5769.42

4611.78

Solid Waste

7520.63

6458.06

Special Revenue LOST

5850.55

 

Employee Benefit

235.53

3730.92

Water Utility

7980.22

3629.39

Water Sinking Fund

2500.00

 

 

Total Receipts and Disbursements for month of March by fund

 

Fund

Receipts

Disbursements

Agency-Water

100.00

 

Ambulance Trust

8427.42

3850.96

Fire Trust

 

 

General

7632.55

34616.07

Perpetual

225.00

 

Road Use Tax

9994.42

12917.37

Sewer Utility

5068.20

5113.76

Solid Waste

7678.35

6748.31

Special Revenue LOST

5610.38

 

Employee Benefit

791.16

2583.27

Water Utility

5400.01

5412.43

Water Sinking Fund

2500.00

 

 

REPORTS:

 

Ambulance Report: Sherie Paup reported a total of 36 calls with 32 being medical, 4 traumas, 2 refusals; and included 2 mutual aids with A-4; 1 assist A-5, 1 with A-51, and 1 with Johnson County.  Sherie reported a mandatory training will be held and also displayed one of the new safety vests.

 

Fire Department Report:  Rhett Taylor reported a total of 4 calls with 1 being to investigate a carbon monoxide detector, a grass fire, a semi in ditch, and a mutual aid to Clarence for a hog building fire.  He reported training was for CPR recertification, the Geo-Comm project being worked on through the county EMA/911 should be up and running by May 14th, and the new truck is expected to arrive in June.

 

A motion was made by Larry Beck, second by Carla Barnhart authorizing the Mayor to sign the fireworks permit and the $745 for the cost of the special insurance.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

A proposal to implement a billing procedure for fire calls was submitted to the council for review of which the council would like to have input from the township trustees and the city attorney.  An inquiry about flushing hydrants, transferring unspent budget funds, and fire department expenditures were discussed.  He also proposed the next safety meeting to be May 8 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Police Report:  Police Chief Jim Barber reported 8 agency assists;3 animal cases; 1 arrest; 1 burglary; 30 citizen assist, 3 harassment; 8-911, 1 theft; 5 traffic stops and 1 citation; 4 warnings, 2 abatements filed; 12 warnings for illegal parking, abandoned vehicle, illegal burning; 6 citations issued for illegal parking, harassment, and no drivers license.

 

Public Works Report: Zerbe reported still working on clean up of ice storm damage; filling potholes, maintenance on trucks, getting mowers ready to go, the one had an oil leak that needed to be repaired; yard waste collection on Saturday was very busy, the heavy rains are causing the flows to be high at the lagoon; suspect sump pumps hooked into sewer lines; requested that a reminder be put on water bills. 

 

A request to attend the Region 6 training on May 14 at a cost of $40 plus mileage and vacation days May 1, 2, 28, 29, and 30 were approved with a motion by Jeff Christianson and seconded by Carla Barnhart.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Administration Report:  Coppess reported the Abstract of Votes from the April 1 special election to be Bryan Lovell 109; Doyle Pickering 38; and Lorraine Polhamus 13 with Bryan Lovell being duly elected for the office of Mechanicsville Council for the remaining 2 years.

 

A request to attend the EMS billing conference on 5/7/08 in Bettendorf $100 and vacation days of April 24 & 25; May 19-23 were approved with a motion by Bryan Lovell and second by Larry Beck.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

It was also reported that the township contracts were recorded and filed with the Secretary of State; Valerie Lindquist, Red Cross, did a walk through of the memorial building for Red Cross; the Scouts will be volunteering to clean up the park on April 23 and 26.

 

Old Business:

Discussion and possible action on:

Ordinance 219 rezoning Holland’s Addition Pioneer Outlot 6 to R-2:  Upon reading the proposed ordinance a second time Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown  seconded to approve the second reading.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

A motion was made by Larry Beck, seconded by Gene Brown to waive the third reading of the ordinance.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

A motion to adopt the ordinance was made by Larry Beck and seconded by Gene Brown.  Roll Call:  Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Christianson, Barnhart and Lovell.  Nays: None.  Ordinance adopted.

 

2008 Council Goals:  Items identified in the discussion included continue supporting progress with school, sidewalk to school, do something with 125th street; resolve tennis court and park equipment issues; continue to update vehicles; and other street improvements; develop plan to be able to save some each year for replacement vehicles.

 

Review Policy Statement 96-2:  Mayor reported that the attorney looked at and indicated that policies are over ruled by ordinances and ordinances are over ruled by Iowa Law, specifically item 5 within the policy is addressed in the Code of Ordinances and the Code of Iowa.

 

New Business:

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON:

Liquor license Friends & Co dba Doug Out:  Bryan Lovell motioned; Carla Barnhart seconded to approve the liquor license.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Resolution 2008- 10 to renew the Cedar County Solid Waste Commission 28E agreement:  Motioned by Larry Beck, seconded by Jeff Christianson, to adopt the resolution to renew the Solid waste agreement. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Christianson, Barnhart and Lovell.  Nays: None.  Resolution adopted.

 

Request to purchase and replace park equipment:  Susan Scott addressed the council on behalf of the MAC Committee requesting approval to purchase a toddler play structure at a cost of $2200 and 3 toddler seats at a cost of $58 each.  The proposal included a request to have the wooden play structure on the south side of the park removed as it is deteriorating and dangerous for splinters.  It was also requested that the city replace the belt swings out of the park budget.  A motion was made by Jeff Christianson to approve the purchase of the structure and 3 bucket seats with MAC funds; authorize the removal of the deteriorated wooden structure by city staff; and to purchase the replacement belt swings at $19 ea. for Cruse Park as well as the number of swings needed at Pleasant Hill Park.  The motion was seconded by Bryan Lovell.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Iowa League of Cities Small City Workshop June 10 $20 each to be held in Mechanicsville.  Council was directed to let Coppess know if they were planning to attend.

 

Memorial Building maintenance items:  Council discussed getting estimates for flooring in the post office entry way; replacing the entrance doors to the post office and the Memorial Building; installing a safety light above the east doors and the electrical issues within the building.  Clerk was authorized to request cost estimates for possible generator.

 

Resolution 2008-11 to transfer funds from General Fund to Fire Trust and from Special Revenue to Fire Trust:  Motion was made by Christianson, seconded by Lovell to approve the resolution to transfer $10,000 in addition to the additional funding received from the township trustees for the purpose of purchasing a fire truck in the amount of $12,835 for a total of $22,835 from the General Fund and $40,000 from the Local Option Sales Tax Special Revenue Fund to the Fire Trust Fund.  Roll Call:  Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Christianson, Barnhart and Lovell.  Nays: None.  Resolution adopted.

 

Resolution 2008-12 setting salary’s for 2008-2009:  Council established 2.4% as the cost of living increase and resulted in approving a 45 cent raise for full time employees and a 30 cent raise for part time employees.  Fire Chief and Ambulance Coordinator remained at $1200/ year and the Ambulance training officer increased from $110 to $120 and the Ambulance 2nd CQI officer from $150 to $200 per year.  Resolution was approved with a motion by Larry Beck, seconded by Jeff Christianson. Roll Call:  Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Christianson, Barnhart and Lovell.  Nays: None.  Resolution adopted

 

Update on replacement of Garbage Truck:  Gene Brown reported going to Farminington, MN to see a demonstration on a garbage truck with Tom Albaugh and the Clarence Public Works personnel.  Choices have been narrowed to two, although costs and details of trade in have not been worked out.  Also there are no details for the proposed 28E sharing agreement; such as, the licensing, insurance, usage or how the costs should be split on maintenance.

 

RAGBRAI update:  Coppess reported that she and Alice Hansen attended the Pass-Through town workshop in Ames on Saturday.  Council reviewed a sample ordinance provided in the handbook to the pass-through towns for regulating vendors, solicitors, and peddlers during the RAGBRAI event.  Motion was made by Bryan Lovell seconded by Jeff Christianson to approve the first reading of the ordinance after making the change to allow local commercial booths at no charge and to insert the words Mechanicsville and Cedar County into the appropriate places.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

The clerk was also directed to reserve 6-10 port a pots for the July 25 event.  A water source at one of the hydrants near a storm sewer on the route will also be identified and set up.  The route was established as being X-40 to East First Street; through “downtown”; South on Madison Street; and across Highway 30.  This route is subject to change upon the inspection of the route by the Iowa State Patrol and the RAGBRAI sponsors.  It was also noted that all activities must be shut down by 4:30 p.m. on Friday in order for riders to be assured a safe arrival in Tipton.

 

Committee Reports: None.

Correspondence:  Information from EMC Insurance Company-Safety Committee Information and USDA Rural Development on multi-family housing apartment complexes was reviewed.

 

Mayor’s Comments: Mayor Furry extended an invitation to attend the Lions Club meeting on April 21 to anyone interested in hearing the State Auditor speak regarding the condition of the finances for the State of Iowa.  He also reported that the clerk and he attended a program at the Cedar County extension office on March 24 in regards to a web site that Iowa State University has set up and it shows demographics and many resources for training and program building.

 

Set next regular meeting date:  5-12-08 at 7:00 p.m.

 

ADJOURN:  There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Larry Beck motioned, Jeff Christianson seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:40 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                     _______________________________

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

City Clerk/Finance Officer