City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

August 10, 2010

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at City Hall.  Mayor Boyd A. Stine called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Council members present for roll call were Larry Beck, Gene Brown, Calvin Paup, Deanna Cook and Carla Barnhart. Others present included Jim Barber, Alan Zerbe, Connie Knutsen, Lonni Koch, Rob Davis, Ryan Roth, Steffani Poduska, and Dave Barnhart.

 

Receive visitors/public comment:  Rob Daebelliehn, Tipton, Honor Flight of Cedar County presented information on the efforts to raise funds to transport WWII Veterans to their Memorial and all major war memorials in Washington D.C.  Council directed that the information be distributed to residents via the cable channel and water bills in order to enable citizens to personally provide donations to this very worthy cause.

 

Dave Barnhart, AgVantage, provided information to the council on building improvements that FS is planning to make over the next 2 years and part of the development will be a need to have Elm Street extended to the railroad tracks. Looking for information on an estimate of the cost and who would pay for.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Calvin Paup inquired about the charges on the invoice from the City attorney.  Further discussion resulted in council agreeing that the Mayor and council are only to contact the attorney if agreed upon as a group, an individual is not to make that decision on their own.  Also, directed to have clerk write letter requesting clarification on any plea agreements made should include the fees being paid by the guilty party.  Calvin Paup then motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve all items under the consent agenda including the agenda, finance reports, claims, and minutes from 7/13/10. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Cook , Paup, and Barnhart. Nays: None. Motion carried.

 

The claims approved were as follows:

ABC FIRE PROTECTION INC

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$672.50

ACTUALLY CLEAN CARPETS

BLDG MAINT & REPAIR

$426.00

AGVANTAGE FS INC

VEHICLE OPERATIONS

$1,167.78

AIRGAS NORTH CENTRAL

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$104.68

ALL MED

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$143.13

ALLIANT ENERGY

ELECTRIC/GAS EXPENSE

$6,405.52

AMAZON.COM

LIBRARY MATERIALS

$302.69

AMENT, INC

ENGINEERING EXPENSE

$6,345.42

AREA AMBULANCE SERVICE

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$70.00

BOULTON, JOSETTE

DEPOSIT REFUND

$8.34

CASEYS GENERAL STORE

VEHICLE OPERATIONS

$491.70

CEDAR COUNTY AUDITOR

PAYMENTS TO OTHER AGENCIES

$7,202.50

CEDAR COUNTY SOLID WASTE

PAYMENTS TO OTHER AGENCIES

$936.00

CEDAR COUNTY TREASURER

TAX EXPENSE

$2,176.00

CEDAR RAPIDS PHOTO COPY INC

OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICE

$95.41

CITA

ASSOCIATION DUES

$25.00

CITY OF TIPTON AMBULANCE

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$150.00

DOUGLAS W SIMKIN LAW FIRM

LEGAL EXPENSE

$304.96

EAST CENTRAL LIBRARY SERVICES

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$14.00

ED M FELD EQUIP CO INC

ALLOWANCES - UNIFORMS

$15.00

EMERGENCY APPARATUS MAINTENANC

VEHICLE REPAIR

$1,439.66

FARM PLAN

MINOR EQUIPMENT

$126.75

FINNEGAN, MICHELE

BLDG MAINT & REPAIR

$370.26

GALLS

ALLOWANCES - UNIFORMS

$123.45

GAMEPRO

SUBSRCIPTIONS & EDUCA MATERIAL

$29.97

GREENVALLEY AG & TURF LLC

VEHICLE REPAIR

$128.21

HARTMAN, JUDY

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$101.15

IOWA INSURANCE DIVISION

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$60.00

IOWA LEAGUE OF CITIES

TRAINING

$175.00

IOWA NETWORK SERVICES

OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICE

$155.88

IOWA ONE CALL

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$24.30

IWIRELESS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

$145.30

JOHNSON COUNTY REFUSE INC

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$2,887.50

KARL CHEVROLET

VEHICLES

$25,048.50

KEYSTONE LABORATORIES, INC

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$289.20

KNUTSEN, CONNIE

OFFICE SUPPLIES

$153.90

KOCHS PAINT & LUMBER

BLDG MAINT & REPAIR

$2,189.49

KUNDE OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$16.49

MECHANICSVILLE TELEPHONE CO

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

$320.66

ODE DESIGN

LIBRARY MATERIALS

$38.00

QUILL

OFFICE SUPPLIES

$254.37

STATE LIBRARY OF IOWA

SUBSRCIPTIONS & EDUCA MATERIAL

$60.19

STATE OF IOWA

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$210.00

TIPTON CONSERVATIVE & ADVERTIS

PRINTING & PUBLISHING EXP

$678.75

WALMART

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$18.62

WALSHIRE, SHANNON

BLDG MAINT & REPAIR

$4.50

WELLMARK BC BS

GROUP INSURANCE

$4,099.77

WENDLING QUARRIES INC

STREET MAINT EXP

$67.89

PAYROLL

WAGES

14,179.38

 

 

Total Receipts and Disbursements for month of July by fund

Fund

Receipts

Disbursements

General

14,180.66

30,612.58

Road Use Tax

12,728.34

7,478.51

Employee Benefit

248.70

2,981.20

Local Option Sales Tax

5,972.25

 

TIF

60.11

 

Library Expendable Trust

 

 

Ambulance Trust

8,244.52

6,567.93

Fire Trust

.37

 

Gift Tree Trust

 

 

Gift

 

 

Capital Project

5,780.29

1,580.90

Perpetual Care

200.00

 

Water Deposits

58.34

 

Water Utility

7,928.23

5,562.25

Sewer Utility

5,434.49

5,309.33

Solid Waste

8,339.83

7,778.49

 

 

REPORTS:

Administration Report:  Coppess reported that Ray Lane, District Forrester with the IDNR will be starting to do the tree inventory on Wednesday and part of that process will also identify high risk trees.  Ament Inc. provided an update on the ROW acquisitions that are needed for the SRTS sidewalk project.  The annual Outstanding Obligation Report was filed, the Annual Finance report was published, and permission requested to attend the IAMU workshop in Ankeny on September 9.  Larry Beck motioned and Dee Cook seconded to approve.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Public Works Report: Zerbe reported the DNR inspected the waste water system and they will write up for weeds that have not been removed, the wet well being dirty and some small trees need to be removed (sprayed); the Consumer Confidence Report was published; attended class 2 days last week for CEU’s for waste water; and is working on identifying someone to remove the bumps in Madison Street by Casey’s.  The outside of the towers are scheduled to be cleaned this week.  A request to install a valve on the water tower for cleaning for a cost of about $1000 was approved with a motion by Larry Beck, and second by Gene Brown.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Police Report:  Police Chief Barber reported 1 agency assist, 6 animal cases, 1 building check found unsecured; 15 citizens assist, 2-911 calls, 1 theft; 6 traffic stops with 6 warnings.  One abatement filed, 4 warnings for code violations for illegal parking and animals at large, 3 citations issued for disorderly conduct, and animals at large.

 

Fire Department Report:  Lonni Koch reported 2 calls for the Fire Department which included a MVA rollover on the 8th and storm watch on the 9th.  Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown seconded to approve Rhett Taylor, Dan Baker, Doug Wolf and Ron Baker attending CITA Fire school at a cost not to exceed $280.  Ayes all.  Motion carried. 

 

Information was also provided to the council regarding the fire departments plans to set off 4 firework shells on Thursday, August 12 at 8:30 p.m. at the Lagoon to test for visibility to determine if that may be a potentially new site for next year.

 

 

Ambulance Report: Connie Knutsen reported 11 medical calls, 1 trauma, 4 tier A-4; 1 tier with A-6; 4 refusals, and 2 canceled enroute for a total of 23 calls. 

 

Calvin Paup motioned and Dee Cook seconded to approve Steffani Poduska and Ryan Roth as new members to the Ambulance.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

A request for Matt Moravek, Steffani Poduska, and Ryan Roth to take the EMT training class at a cost of $1200 each was approved with a motion by Calvin Paup, and seconded by Larry Beck.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  Classes start Wednesday with a total of 9 students with 6 from Mechanicsville.

 

Old Business:

Resolution 2010-11 setting salaries for 2010-2011 budget year (revised per actions taken following adoption last month)  As a result of the discussion and motions that were made during the discussion of hiring support staff for the ambulance and the determination of a possible conflict of interest between the pay for Doug Cook and council member Cook, the revised resolution changed the pay for Knutsen to be stated at $10.34 per hour and not to exceed an average of 29 hours and deleted the paid positions for Ambulance training and Second CQI officer.  Resolution 2010-11 was approved with a motion by Carla Barnhart and seconded by Gene Brown.  Roll Call vote:  Ayes:  Gene Brown, Larry Beck, Carla Barnhart, and Calvin Paup.  Nays:  None.  Abstain:  Dee Cook due to conflict of interest.  Resolution adopted.

 

Animal Control Ordinance Modification: Ordinance 237 was introduced and added the definition of Dangerous animals to the current ordinance and the addition of the word dangerous was added to Chapter 55.09 and the exceptions were identified in 55.19 to read as follows: 

 

“Dangerous Animal” means (a) any animal which is not naturally tame or gentle, and which is of a wild nature of dissipation, and which is capable of killing, inflicting serious injury upon, or causing disease among, human beings or domestic animals and having known tendencies as a species to do so; (b) any animals declared to be dangerous by the Board of Health or the City Council or its designee; (c) the following animals which shall be deemed to be dangerous animals per se:

 

A.        Wolves and coyotes.

B.        Badgers, wolverines, weasels, mink, and other mustelids (except ferrets)

C.        Bears

D.        All apes (including chimpanzees), baboons, and macaques.

F.         Monkeys, except the squirrel monkey.

G.        Elephants

H.        Wild Boar

I.          Black widow spiders and scorpions

J.         Snakes which are naturally venomous or poisonous or constrictors.

K.        All cats, except domestic cats (Carnivore of the family Felidae including but not limited to lions, cougars, tigers, jaguars, leopards, lynx, bobcats, etc.)

L.         Raccoons, opossums, and skunks

M.        Alligators and crocodiles

N.        Buffalo.

 

55.09   VICIOUS or DANGEROUS ANIMAL.  No person shall

1.      Own or possess a vicious or dangerous animal within the City.

2.      Cause or allow a dangerous animal owned by a person or in the person’s possession to breed.

3.      Transport a dangerous wild animal into this city.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 717F.3)

 

55.19   Vicious Animal Exceptions.  The prohibition contained in Section 55.09 of this Code shall not apply to the keeping of vicious animals in the following circumstances.

 

A.        Animals under the control of a law enforcement or military agency.

 

The first reading of the ordinance was approved with a motion by Larry Beck and seconded by Deanna Cook.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Larry Beck motioned, Calvin Paup seconded to waive the second and third readings of the ordinance.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Larry Beck motioned, Dee Cook seconded to adopt ordinance 237.  Roll call vote:  Ayes:  Beck, Paup, Barnhart, Cook, and Brown.  Ordinance adopted.

 

 

New Business:

Resolution 2010-12 to adopt the annual City Street Financial Report for 2010 was made with a motion by Calvin Paup, second by Carla Barnhart.  Roll Call Vote:  Ayes:  Beck, Paup, Barnhart, Cook, and Brown.  Resolution adopted.

 

Call for Cities to Participate in Planning Grant Proposal:  The city received correspondence back from IDED indicating that they received a tremendous amount of very competitive responses from more than 40 cities across Iowa.  IDED can only include a limited number of communities in the application to HUD and unfortunately, Mechanicsville was not selected to participate in the Community Challenge Planning Grant.

 

2010 Legislative Summary and changes affecting city code;  Motion was made by Calvin Paup, seconded by Larry Beck to request Iowa Codification to prepare the ordinances for each amendment pertaining to Municipal Infractions, providing false identification information, persons with disabilities, all terrain vehicles and traffic regulations.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Possibly enclosing Skate Park ramp to quiet noise/other rules:  Calvin Paup motioned, Gene Brown seconded to have public works department add treated plywood to the outside of the ramp.  This will also keep the trash from being accumulated under the ramp.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Request for Elm Street to be developed south of Cedar Street:  Council reviewed proposed plans from AgVantage and the request to develop Elm Street to the railroad tracks.  Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown seconded to refer the request to the planning and zoning commission.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Iowa Byways Signage Project authorization to sign agreement 2010-13:  Larry Beck motioned, Dee Cook seconded to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement which states that signs, posts, and hardware for marking the route for the byway shall be paid for and furnished to the city by the IDOT for the life of the designated byway.  Beyond the initial installation the city will be responsible for installing and maintaining the signage.  The city will apprehend and prosecute offenders who damage or remove signage from its installed location.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Emerald Ash Borer-The Beetle is Coming, now what do we do?  Council was provided information about the Emerald Ash Borer.

 

The discussion only items council volunteered to work on items between now and the next meeting as follows:  Carla Barnhart and Dee Cook will work on reviewing the sidewalks along the SRTS route; Gene Brown will explore baseball field possibilities; changes to help snow removal such as alternate side of street parking Larry Beck and Calvin Paup; and Carla Barnhart and Calvin Paup will explore plans to check into employee insurance prior to renewal date.

 

Acceptance of offer from Sr. Citizens to replace carpet on stage in Memorial Building:  Larry Beck motion, Gene Brown seconded to accept the donation from the Senior Citizens to replace the carpet.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  Further discussion about the Memorial Building included following up with the contractor who is replacing the doors; the hand railing damaged in the vehicle accident is expected to be replaced in the next week or two; and discussion about the cleaning of the building. Clerk was directed to contact cleaning personnel to inquire if they would reconsider their decision to quit and continue doing the job as listed in the duties.  The Mayor stated he would extend an apology for the statements he made.  Minutes and proposed agreements from 1992 were also reviewed to determine the original expectations of the Senior Citizens group and when they were permitted and not permitted to be in the building.  Barnhart and Cook will research further.

 

Committee Reports:  Council was updated on information received from Northern Wind and Howard R. Green and the idea of installing wind turbines to generate electricity for the lagoon and well.

 

Correspondence:  FEMA initiated flood mapping project, Iowa Department of Public Health Fit for Life initiative, Wesley Fox Roofing and insulation and the Tipton FFA “Rake-N-Run November 13.  Larry Beck motioned Gene Brown seconded to approve the event for the FFA.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Set next regular meeting date: Monday, September 13, 2010

 

Mayor Comments: None.

 

ADJOURN:  There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:58 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                   ___________________________

Linda K. Coppess, CMC                                    Boyd A. Stine, Mayor

City Clerk/Finance Officer