City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

October 10, 2005

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, October 10, 2005 at City Hall.  Mayor David L. Furry called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Council persons present for roll call were Larry Beck, Martin Meyer, Pam Logue-Newcomb, Bryan Lovell and Chris Yancey.  Others present included Alan Zerbe, Jim Barber, Sherie Paup, Doug Cook, Dorothy Russell and Donna Kuehnle.

 

OPPORTUNITY for any citizen present to discuss items not on the agenda:  Donna Kuehnle and Dorothy Russell asked for the council’s annual support of the grant application to Trees Forever.  They indicated that this springs project will allow for residential plantings.  Marty motioned, and Larry Beck seconded to direct the clerk to prepare a letter of support for this years project.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Pam Logue-Newcomb motioned, Bryan Lovell seconded to approve the consent agenda including the agenda, minutes from 9/12/05, finance reports, and claims.  Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Meyer, Lovell and Logue-Newcomb and Yancey.  Motion carried.

 

The claims approved were as follows:

 

AMAZON.COM

193.66

STRACKBEINS, INC.

19.63

BARNES & NOBLE

176.42

CHRISTINE STONEKING

27.96

BRIDGE COMMUNITY BANK

95.00

DAVID LONDRIGAN

15.15

IA OFFICE SUPPLY

101.67

STRYKER SALES CORP

1825.00

IOWA REVIEW

24.00

ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION

183.44

MAILBOX

29.95

ALLIANCE MEDICAL

35.64

SILVER TREE COMPUTING

120.00

LYNCH FORD-MT. VERNON

74.15

US POSTMASTER

33.00

CARRIE ALBAUGH

65.88

WALMART

176.46

THOMAS ALBAUGH

844.32

ACCO, UNLIMITED CORP.

90.77

JAMES BARBER

1087.00

ADVANCED WATER TECH.

333.20

RITA BECKER

61.58

ALLIANT ENERGY

4538.08

LINDA COPPESS

1159.19

ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICE

137.91

STEVE DAY

257.05

BOUND TREE MEDICAL

33.88

KELLY EBY

327.80

CASEY'S GENERAL STORE

211.23

JUDY HARTMAN

450.31

CEDAR CO. SOLID WASTE

966.00

ALAN ZERBE

1023.70

CENTRAL TANK COATINGS

1000.00

BARRON MOTOR SUPPLY

158.82

L E DENDINGER

1258.00

CEDAR COUNTY ENGINEER

22488.00

E C I A

4148.77

CONSERVATIVE PUBLISHING

216.64

FARM PLAN

54.95

ED M. FELD EQUIP. CO.

907.00

FOREMOST FIRE PROMOTIONS

38.48

FIRE SERV TRAIN BUREAU

150.00

HACH COMPANY

56.20

HYGIENIC LABORATORY

30.00

IA EMS ASSOCIATION

25.00

NEW HORIZON FS INC.

923.33

IA ONE CALL

30.60

PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER INC

325.57

JOHNSON CO REFUSE INC

2091.50

SANDRY FIRE SUPPLY

61.00

IOWA WIRELESS

100.90

STEVEN RINEHART

50.00

KEYSTONE LAB, INC

349.00

DIANA RESEWEHR

50.00

LONNI KOCH

103.01

ANN & JESSIE CLARK

50.00

KOCH'S PAINT & LUMBER

171.19

DEAN KURTH, OWNER

356.20

MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.

337.46

ALLIANCE MEDICAL

12.35

MUNICIPAL PIPE TOOL CO

613.94

SHEPLEY PHARMACY

139.88

POSITIVE PROMOTIONS

119.30

JUDY HARTMAN

30.00

QUILL CORPORATION

417.19

AME SERVICES

224.00

 

 

Total Receipts for the month of September fund:

Agency-Water

100.00

Ambulance Trust

3055.50

General

9,661.78

Perpetual Care

225.00

Road Use Tax

8,809.07

Sewer Utility

6,292.65

Solid Waste

6,992.27

Special Revenue

5,053.17

Water Utility

8,820.15

Special Rev-Emp Benefit

1,179.13

 

 

Total disbursements for the month of September per fund:

Agency Water

50.00

Ambulance Trust

665.40

General

23,226.79

Road Use Tax

3,526.68

Sewer Utility

3,547.44

Solid Waste

5,247.19

Special Revenue-Opt Tax

5,053.17

Special Revenue Emp Benefit

2,425.78

Water Utility

3,794.43

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

 

ADMINISTRATION:  Coppess reported on the availability of cat traps by placing a $30 deposit on file with the Friends of the Animals, residents would be responsible for making the deposit and monitoring and returning the trap; ballot information has been verified for the city election; reminded council on the deadline to have the street signs installed and the need to send written certification to the IDOT by November 24; plans to attend East Central Iowa Clerks Association planning meeting on Oct. 14; information from Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division  indicating their plans to initiate electronic licensing for liquor licenses via the internet; contacted City Attorney regarding questions about creating a paid position for the ambulance coordinator; annexation of the 20 acres at the NE corner of 125th Street and X-40 has been recorded and is considered complete; 92 people participated in the Fall cleanup; and the rules have been posted at the cemetery.

 

Request to attend IMFOA Conference on 10/20 & 10/21 at a cost of $35 in Des Moines was approved with a motion by Marty Meyer, and second by Larry Beck.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Public Comment for Water Quality Standards Informational Meeting that was held on 9/23 at Kirkwood:  Coppess presented information that was received from the DNR and a prepared response indicating the city being against the proposed rule changes as they currently stand setting a standard that all creeks are fishable and swimmable.  Lovell motioned, Beck seconded, to have the clerk forward the response so that it may be included as part of the public comment for the public hearings that are being held through October 14.  Ayes all.   Motion carried.

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Work logs were submitted and reported that 1 of the new basketball posts and backboards have been installed.  They will be putting the fence up for the leaves to be put in..

 

POLICE REPORT:  Police Chief Jim Barber presented the council with his summary of activity (9/12/05-10/09/05) which included 15 agency assists, 1 alarm; 3 animal cases; 1 arrest with warrant, 1 assist motorist; 1 assaults, 16 citizen assists; 1 fire dept assist; 4 – 911, 2 thefts, 1 traffic stops with 1 warning; 6 warnings for code violations including 2 animal at large, 1 curfew violation; 1 disorderly, 1 fail to abate; and 1 open container alcohol. 

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: Doug Cook, Asst. Fire Chief, reported 8 calls for the month and requested to purchase 2 sets of turnout gear @ $907 each.  Request was approved with a motion by Lovell, second by Beck.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

AMBULANCE REPORT: Sherie Paup reported that the ambulance had 7 medical calls and 2 traumas for a total of 9 calls for the month and reported that they have ordered and received the Stair Chair from Stryker, and had A-3 in for some minor repair work at Lynch Ford due to a broken wire.

 

Request to purchase 4 pair responder pants (Scott, Deb, Marilyn, Kari) at $88 each was approved with a motion from Meyer, seconded by Lovell.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Request for Lonni & Connie to attend IEMSA Conference on November 10 – 12 at $85/night for 2 rooms for 3 nights ($510 motel), plus mileage and parking was approved with a motion by Logue-Newcomb, and second by Meyer.  Ayes all.   Motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS-Discussion and possible action on:

Sidewalks--Type of communication to send to property owners:  Motion by Meyer, second by Beck to send an informational letter to all property owners requesting them to inspect their own sidewalk using the guideline sheet and make plans for repairing or replacing next spring and summer in order to bring the rest of the town in compliance with code.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

New Business

Discussion and possible action on:

 

Review of bids received for the Memorial Building improvements including the power washing and painting of the white portion of the building & caulking the windows and a separate bid for wrapping metal around the boards near the roof.  The painting bid was awarded to Odd Jobber for $3500 and the other work was awarded to Bryan’s Home Improvement for $622.97 with a motion by Beck and a second by Lovell to accept and award the projects.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Resolution establishing ballot language for 1/17/06 countywide special election for a local option sales & services tax:  Motioned by Meyer, seconded by Yancey to approve resolution 2005-18 requesting that the ballot language read “Revenue from the sales and service tax are to be allocated in the City of Mechanicsville as follows:   100% for any lawful purpose of the City including but not limited to parks and recreation, community building improvements, and other capital improvements.”  Roll call vote:  Ayes:  Beck, Logue, Yancey, Meyer, Lovell.  Nays:  None.  Resolution adopted.

 

Request to amend zoning ordinance from A-1 to R-2:  Council reviewed the request submitted by Bob Steen on behalf of the Mechanicsville Economic Development Co. requesting that the newly annexed property be zoned R-2 for the purpose of providing space for a new elementary school for the school district.  The reason for the R-2 request is that it would also accommodate a day care facility under the current guidelines.  Although there are no immediate plans for such a facility on that site, it is their hope that the community will undertake such a project in the reasonable near term.  Having completed the necessary paper work for the zoning change, Meyer motioned, Logue-Newcomb seconded to forward on to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a recommendation and public hearing on November 14.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Request to reserve space for and allow 2 semi trucks to temporarily park in the parking spaces within 100 feet of the Memorial building on November 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Motioned by Marty, second by Chris to allow the semis to park as needed in order to accommodate the tool trade show.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Proposal for emptying and cleaning tank from EMS Inc:  Council review the proposal, however, delayed making a decision on it until they received information back from another company on removing the contents of the tank.

 

Appointment of Jonathan Logue to fill vacancy on the P&Z Commission:  Bryan motioned, Larry seconded to approve the appointment.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Review of Ordinance for 15 minute parking in front of city hall:  After some discussion a motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Logue-Newcomb, to direct clerk to prepare the ordinance so that it may be changed to be restricted for Official City Parking after 4:00 p.m. weekdays.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

New name for Sesquicentennial Committee:  Beck reported that the Sesquicentennial Committee would like to continue doing special events for the city through out the year and therefore would like to change their name to MAC which stands for Mechanicsville Action Committee.  Meyer motioned, Yancey seconded, to endorse the name change and to help to promote family activities within the community. Ayes all.   Motion carried.

 

Correspondence: From ECICOG Region 10 SAFETEA-LU Funding Application Forms, Municipal Streets Seminar November 10, US Highway 30 Coalition Meeting Nov. 4 and IDOT Federal Grade Crossing Safety Improvement Funds.

 

Committee Reports: The Safety Committee met on September 21 at 7:00 p.m. and reviewed the proposal from the ambulance in more detail.  The committee reported that if the position is approved by the council, it will need to be posted, applications taken, and interviews completed.  It was also determined that the position being described is an employee position not a contract position.  The determination of it being part time or full time is based on the definition set out in the Mechanicsville Employee Handbook so that all employees are treated equally.  It was also noted that the Mechanicsville code of ordinances states that the ambulance service shall be made up of a group of volunteers who are qualified and have met the minimum education and training requirements.  Additional work will need to be done with preparing a detailed job description and modifications to the code of ordinances before  any further action can be taken with the position.

 

Set next meeting date:  11/14/05

 

MAYORS COMMENTS:  Appreciates everyone’s hard work and invited everyone to attend the MAC meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at City Hall.

ADJOURN:  There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Meyer motioned, Lovell seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 p.m.  Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                     _______________________________

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

City Clerk/Finance Officer