City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

December 11, 2006

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, December 11, 2006 at City Hall.  Mayor David L. Furry called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.  Council members present for roll call were Larry Beck, Jeff Christianson, Thomas Hall arrived at 5:15 p.m., Karrie Johnson and Pam Logue-Newcomb.  Others present included Jim Barber, Alan Zerbe, Nate Baker, Dan Kurth, Sherie Paup, Steve Lacina, Carla Barnhart, David Wenndt, Chad Kreel, Tammy Bunge.

 

OPPORTUNITY for any citizen present to discuss items not on the agenda:  None.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Larry Beck motioned, Karrie Johnson seconded to approve the consent agenda including the agenda, minutes from 11/13/06, finance reports, and claims. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Christianson, Logue-Newcomb, and Johnson.  Nays: None. Absent:  Hall. Motion carried.

The claims approved were as follows:

 

IA LEAGUE OF CITIES

CONFERENCE

30.00

BALLIU CONSTRUCTION

HOUSING REHAB

31,777.00

GORDON MCDOWELL

HOUSING REHAB

850.00

INSTACODE

OFFICE SUPPLY

84.95

IA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

FEE

15.00

WELLMARK

HEALTH INSURANCE

2,376.10

PAYROLL

WAGES

5,363.44

US POSTAL SERVICE

POSTAGE

158.40

BRIDGE COMMUNITY BANK

PETTY CASH

100.00

AMAZON.COM

LIBRARY VIDEOS

376.79

BARNES & NOBLE

LIBRARY BOOKS

14.36

KELLER'S HOME FURNISHING

LIB BLDG MNT

6,236.00

WALMART

TEEN READ PROGRAM

19.95

JIM/JACQUY NEHRING

MAC SUPPLY

11.37

TRISHA PARIZEK

WATER REFUND

50.00

AIRGAS, INC.

MED SUPPLY

55.56

ALLIANCE MEDICAL

MED SUPPLY

106.60

ALLIANT ENERGY

UTILITIES

6,492.76

ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICE

CLOTHING ALLOWS

107.44

CARGILL

ICE/SNOW

790.52

CASEY'S GENERAL STORE

VEHICLE SUPPLY

96.00

CEDAR COUNTY AUDITOR

TRANSFER

149.58

CEDAR CO. SOLID WASTE

FEES LANDFILL

997.50

E C I A

CONTRACT WORK

1,733.22

GRAINGER

EQUIPMENT

428.91

HEATRONICS INFRA-RED INC

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT

112.17

IA EMS ASSOCIATION

DUES

25.00

ED M. FELD EQUIP. CO.

MINOR EQUIPMENT

265.88

IOWA WIRELESS

TELEPHONE

107.67

JOHNSON CO REFUSE INC

RECYCLING

2,091.50

KEYSTONE LAB, INC

TEST FEES

313.00

CITY OF STANWOOD

TRAINING

5.00

KIRKWOOD COMM. COLLEGE

TRAINING

60.00

LISBON-MTVERNON AMB SERV

MUTUAL AID

75.00

CONNIE KNUTSEN

OFFICE SUPPLY

123.88

LUKE OBERBRECKLING CONST

HOUSING REHAB

11,422.00

LUKE OBERBRECKLING CONST

STREET REPAIR

13,501.00

MATT PARROTT & SONS CO.

OFFICE SUPPLY

201.50

MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.

TELEPHONE

497.40

MUNICIPAL PIPE TOOL CO

MINOR EQUIPMENT

264.50

NAPA AUTO PARTS

VEHICLE REPAIR

127.99

NEW HORIZON FS INC.

VEHICLE SUPPLY

1,043.34

PIONEER MOBILE HOME COUR

WATER REFUND

28.90

PUBLIC SAFETY MARKETING

CLOTHING ALLOW

535.00

QUILL CORPORATION

OFFICE SUPPLY

65.54

SEEHUSEN INS. AGENCY,INC

INSURANCE

480.00

SLEEP INN & SUITES

HOUSING REHAB

549.52

CONSERVATIVE PUBLISHING

PUBLICATION

194.47

UNITED LABORATORIES

SEWER OP SUPPLY

1,580.49

WALMART

SUPPLIES

379.97

WENDLING QUARRIES INC

ICE/SNOW

209.04

I I W ENGINEERS

ENGINEER FEE

1,316.00

LINDA COPPESS

MILEAGE

96.00

ODD JOBS INC-JERRY DAKE

BURIALS

475.00

BRIDGE COMMUNITY BANK

PAYROLL TAXES

3,706.40

I P E R S

IPERS

1,621.97

PAYROLL

WAGES

12,895.03

MENARDS

BLDG MAINTENANCE

682.56

 

 

Total Receipts for the month of November by fund:

Agency-Water

99.99

Ambulance Trust

5347.37

Fire Trust

184.16

General

24519.64

Library Trust

17.13

Perpetual Care

90.00

Road Use Tax

6876.25

Sewer Utility

5843.03

Solid Waste

8027.03

Special Revenue

4,926.24

Employee Benefit

3,497.27

Water

8004.11

 

Total disbursements for the month of November per fund:

Ambulance Trust

5,248.66

General

87,827.40

Road Use Tax

3,122.63

Sewer Utility

3,627.12

Solid Waste

5,554.00

Special Revenue Emp Benefit

1,188.05

Water Utility

2,386.71

Water Sinking Fund

5,153.80

 

 

GUESTS:  Chad Kreel, Love Is A Hug Update:  Chad updated the council on the preschool boards plan to continue towards a new facility.  They have been working with Mark Schneider, ECIA; Roger Stoakes, USDA and Mary Jo Hainstock, North Cedar School.  The next step is a community income survey of which the city is required to administer in order to determine eligibility for CDBG grant funds.  Chad asked for suggestions from the council on how to best get 80% or better response from the community.  He indicated that a task force would need to be formed.  Larry Beck motioned, Pam Logue-Newcomb seconded to direct Coppess to contact ECIA in order to move ahead with the income survey and obtain additional information as needed in order to move ahead with this project.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Steve Lacina, Cedar County Economic Development Annual update:  Steve updated the city council on the past years activities and indicated that CCEDCO is having great prospect opportunities.  Having prospects visit the county indicates that we are making “the cut” in many businesses’ considerations and that our marketing programs are working.   He supported his statement with examples of companies that have visited and the status of several others that are here and working on expansion.

 

Due to the change in the meeting time, Jeff Kaufman’s visit will be rescheduled.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

 

 

ADMINISTRATION:  Coppess reported that the project for insulating the buildings was rescheduled to December 12, the library carpeting and painting projects were completed, as well as Oberbreckling communicated to her that he completed the curb and gutter repairs and the housing grant sidewalk installations, he would like to meet with the streets committee to  discuss the water drainage issues at the alley and north Cherry Street, his plans are to complete the work at the city shed in the Spring as well as the alley sidewalk replacements.  She also reported having a conference call with the Bond Attorney and ECIA last week and obtained information for utilizing Tax Increment Financing to pay for the water and sewer extensions to the school.

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Zerbe submitted work logs and council directed that they begin to work on removing the trees from the ditch across from the cemetery.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT:  Chief Baker reported 5 calls with 2 being car accidents; a false alarm field fire; a smoke alarm false alarm; and a mutual aid field fire.

 

AMBULANCE REPORT:  Coordinator Paup reported a total of 22 calls with 13 being medical, 8 traumas, and 1 refusal.

 

POLICE REPORT:  Police Chief Jim Barber presented the council with his summary of activity (11/13/06-12/10/06) which included 1 accident, 9 agency assists; 5 arrests; 1 assault, 11 citizen’s assist;2 criminal mischief; 1 domestic assault, 1 fire department assist; 7-911, 1 traffic stop with 2 citations. 7 warning’s for city code violations (illegal parking, alcohol by minor juvenile; abandoned vehicle, disorderly house) and 15 citations for illegal parking, fail to abate nuisance; driving while barred; improper registration, disorderly conduct, public intoxication; possession marijuana, criminal mischief; expired tags, and no car insurance.

 

Old Business:

Discussion and possible action on:

Additional information requested for replacing the windows in the Memorial Building, Post Office, and medical center:  The council compared the two samples and styles of windows as well as the two proposals for filling in the space between the lowered ceiling and the top of the window frame.  After adequate discussion the motion was made by Tom Hall, seconded by Karrie Johnson to accept the bid from MGN Exteriors at $24,432.  The bid from Connerly Construction at $19,750 only covered the space with colored glass rather than filling it in and insulating as specified. Ayes:  Beck, Hall, Johnson, and Christianson.  Nays: None.  Abstained:  Logue-Newcomb due to conflict of interest.  Motion carried.  Construction is anticipated to start in February.

 

Modification for placement of sidewalks for housing rehab projects:  It was noted that the sidewalk along Reeder Street had to be placed at a line approx. 2 feet from the back of the curb due to the poles and other items being in the right of way.

 

New Business:

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON:

Water and Sewer to new school:  Mayor Furry updated the council on the committee meetings that took place with the School and John Sandberg and a second meeting with Sandberg and his Engineer, Hart Frederick, as well as the reps from the city council.  The portion of the project that will concern getting water and sewer to the school is estimated to cost about $40,000 of which the city is planning to pay for by the utilization of Tax Increment Financing, thus pulling in revenue from the school, the county and area college to help with the costs.  A motion was made by Karrie, seconded by Pam to request the bond attorney to amend our Urban Renewal Plan and to do away with the expiration date.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  The council will discuss at a future date the preferred length of the repayment and whether they will utilize an internal loan for the financing of the project.

  

Radio Read Meter Proposal:  Another proposal for converting the city’s water meters over to radio read was reviewed and compared to the one received last month.  The second proposal would cost $13,000 more over all and still require personnel to walk the entire town in order to obtain the readings.  The motion was made by Beck, seconded by Christianson to accept the proposal from Utility Equipment for purchasing the starter kit for $4500 and includes 16 meters in addition to ordering replacement meters in increments of 100 at $152.16 per meter and to continue ordering meters until the project is complete.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Open bid for renting farm ground:  One bid was received from David Wenndt indicating that he would pay $95 per acre for the farm ground near the lagoon.  Pam made a motion, Karrie seconded to accept the bid and to do a 1 year lease.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Proposal from LL Pelling- no action.

 

Approve Casey’s Liquor license:  Pam motioned, Jeff seconded to approve the liquor license for Casey’s General Stores.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Approve lease with Iowa Health Clinic:  Larry motioned, Pam seconded to approve the lease for the Iowa Health Clinic.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Resolution establishing Ambulance billing rates effective July 1, 2007:  Pam motioned, Larry seconded to adopt resolution 2006-19 changing the ambulance billing rates to $350 for the base rate plus $8.15 per loaded mile.  Roll call vote:  Ayes:  Beck, Logue-Newcomb; Hall and Christianson.  Nays none.  Absent:  Johnson left the meeting at 6:30 p.m.  Resolution adopted.

 

Review Township Contracts:  The council reviewed drafts of the contracts with the townships for fire and ambulance coverage and directed the clerk to prepare the contracts omitting the tax levy for the ambulance services and increasing the levy for the fire services.

 

Financing options for new fire truck:  Christianson presented a draft letter for soliciting donations toward a new fire truck as well as opened a discussion on identifying sources of funds to help pay for a new truck.  It was noted that the letter will hopefully raise public awareness and interest in the project.  A motion was made by Pam, seconded by Larry, that the concept of the letter drive for a portion of the financing should be continued.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Correspondence:  The council reviewed the copy of the letter that was addressed to Hugh LaMont.  ECIA provided a summary of the research that they had completed as a response to the request for possible alternatives for the old school.

 

Committee Reports: No additional reports.

 

Mayors Comments: Thanked everyone for the work they have done.  He reported that the MAC committee raised $800 to go towards the purchase of a stair chair to access the lower level of the Memorial Building and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

Set next regular meeting date:  1/08/07

 

ADJOURN:  There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Beck motioned, Christianson seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                     _______________________________

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

City Clerk/Finance Officer