City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

April 12, 2010

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 12, 2010 at the 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, Carla Barnhart, Gene Brown, Calvin Paup, and Deanna Cook.  Others present included Jim Barber, Alan Zerbe, Lavonne Christianson, Kerri Poduska, Lonni Koch, Rob Davis, Betty Ellerhoff, Malissa Woolley, Joe Goodlove, Ron Wingert, and Brett Wilde.

 

Receive visitors/public comment:  Rob Davis inquired about the status of the plan for sidewalk maintenance.  Betty Ellerhoff introduced herself and announced that she was running for County Supervisor.  Malissa Woolley introduced herself and announced candidacy for Cedar County Recorder.  Brett Wilde and Ron Wingert explained the reasoning for the request for the zoning amendment.  Joe Goodlove provided information about an upcoming Iowa Lincoln Highway Association Yard Sale that will be held August 5, 6 & 7.  Other states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, and New Jersey are also making plans to participate in the event.  He also announced that it has been designated a Heritage By-Way and signs will be installed in the future.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Larry Beck, motioned, Carla Barnhart seconded to approve all items under the consent agenda including the agenda, finance reports, claims, and minutes from 3/8/10. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Barnhart, Cook and Paup. Nays: None. Motion carried.

 

The claims approved were as follows:

 

STATE OF IOWA

SALES TAX PAYABLE

$1,006.00

ACS FIREHOUSE SOFTWARE

SUBSRCIPTIONS & EDUCA MATERIAL

$210.00

AGVANTAGE FS INC

VEHICLE OPERATIONS

$1,532.84

AIRGAS NORTH CENTRAL

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$64.59

ALL MED

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$232.80

ALLIANT ENERGY

ELECTRIC/GAS EXPENSE

$5,411.27

AMAZON.COM

LIBRARY MATERIALS

$819.87

ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICE

ALLOWANCES - UNIFORMS

$206.14

CASEYS GENERAL STORE

VEHICLE OPERATIONS

$87.15

CEDAR COUNTY RECORDER

COURT & RECORDING FEES

$29.00

CEDAR COUNTY SOLID WASTE

PAYMENTS TO OTHER AGENCIES

$1,056.00

DANS TIRES & MORE

VEHICLE REPAIR

$475.78

DEMCO

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$73.09

DOUGLAS W SIMKIN LAW FIRM

LEGAL EXPENSE

$1,095.00

EAST CENTRAL LIBRARY SERVICES

TRAINING

$14.00

EMERGENCY VEHICLE SALES

VEHICLE REPAIR

$59.33

ENTWISLE, ANGIE

JANITORIAL EXPENSE

$270.00

FOLLETT SOFTWARE CO

SUBSRCIPTIONS & EDUCA MATERIAL

$769.00

GRAINGER

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$134.85

GREENVALLEY AG & TURF LLC

VEHICLE REPAIR

$78.94

IOWA OFFICE SUPPLY

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$435.89

IWIRELESS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

$68.90

JOHNSON COUNTY REFUSE INC

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$2,887.50

KEYSTONE LABORATORIES, INC

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$354.90

KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

TRAINING

$135.00

KNUTSEN, GENE

MEETINGS & CONFERENCES

$434.04

LISBON-MT VERNON AMBULANCE

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$150.00

MECHANICSVILLE TELEPHONE CO

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

$868.95

MICROMARKETING

LIBRARY MATERIALS

$159.95

MID IOWA SOLID WASTE

OTHER CAPITAL EQUIP

$660.04

NAPA AUTO PARTS

VEHICLE REPAIR

$180.94

ODD JOBBER

OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICE

$800.00

ODD JOBS INC

OTHER PROF SERV EXP

$125.00

QUILL

OFFICE SUPPLIES

$224.91

SEEHUSEN INSURANCE AGENCY

INSURANCE EXPENSE

$29,028.00

SHEPLEY PHARMACY

OPERATING SUPPLIES

$13.32

TIME

SUBSRCIPTIONS & EDUCA MATERIAL

$29.95

TIPTON CONSERVATIVE & ADVERTIS

PRINTING & PUBLISHING EXP

$154.21

WALMART

MINOR EQUIPMENT

$53.90

WELLMARK BC BS

GROUP INSURANCE

$4,099.77

PAYROLL

WAGES

$11,445.43

 

Total Receipts and Disbursements for month of March by fund

Fund

Receipts

Disbursements

General

8,559.40

14,958.44

Road Use Tax

9,627.32

3,838.19

Employee Benefit

695.73

1,875.71

Local Option Sales Tax

4,708.52

 

TIF

280.90

 

Library Expendable Trust

8.50

 

Ambulance Trust

9,494.03

2,320.15

Gift Tree Fund

 

400.00

Fire Trust

.37

 

Capital Project

4,085.72

718.89

Water Deposits

100.00

 

Water Utility

8,028.09

1,934.52

Sewer Utility

5,194.21

4,016.86

Solid Waste

8,375.65

4,628.31

 

REPORTS:

Library Board:  Lavonne Christianson inquired on the status of the repair of the roof in the back storage room and an area above the door in the new part is showing rust and mildew stains.  A request was made to change that door into a window as part of the Kelly Eby Memorial area.  Zerbe indicated he now has the name and phone number of a person to contact about the roof.  Council indicated that the roof will be the first priority to get repaired.

 

Ambulance Report: Ambulance Coordinator Karrie Poduska reported 10 medical calls, 2 traumas, 2 refusals; 3 tier A-4; 1 for Clarence for a total of 18 calls. It was reported that the door opener was not working correctly on the West door and the center door has a tendency to keep running.  Council requested quotes be brought back for cost to replace up to 5 openers.

 

Fire Department Report:  Lonni Koch reported 16 calls for the Fire Department which included the ones from last month.  A request to purchase a pair of ranger boots for ~$125, FF1 ISTB testing for 2 firefighters at $50 each, new members Dan Baker and Chad Flory, and the Fireworks permit and insurance for the July 4th event were all approved with a motion by Calvin Paup and seconded by Gene Brown.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  The fireworks are being planned to be held at the old school location.

 

Police Report:  Police Chief Barber reported 3 accidents, 7 agency assists, 3 animal cases, 1 arrest, 1 assault, 1 burglary, 5 citizen assist, 4 criminal mischief, 1 harassment, 4-911 calls, 3 thefts, 5 traffic stops with 1 citation and 4 warnings, and 1 trespass. There were 15 warnings for code violations for illegal parking, curfew violation, illegal burning, and 1 citation for fail to stop at RR crossing.  Inquiry about the status of the proposed ag equipment route ordinance.   Information was given to the council regarding a hold being put on all abatements until the illegal tires stored on City Property at the corner of Monroe and Short Street are removed.

 

Public Works Report: Zerbe reported work being done to clean the streets, patching streets, mower maintenance, and purchasing a tarp for the dump trailer, the water has been turned back on at the park and the camper dump site on Walnut Street has been closed so that it can not be opened up.  Discussion on whether or not it would be relocated, not aware of any other towns that provide this service.

 

Administration Report:  Coppess reported filing the grant application with Build with Bags, another one with Casey’s General Store, and the scouts will be doing volunteer clean up work in the park on 2 days this week.  Calvin Paup motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve attending the Municipal Professionals Institute in July.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Old Business:

Other proposals on replacement of doors at Memorial Building:  Additional information was provided on the cost of the doors without any labor, materials, or painting in one proposal.  Another one recommended removing the glass and wood structures on the front entrance and replacing with aluminum and glass, however, the bid was not received.  Another contractor also looked at the job and recommended not changing out the rear doors, however, felt that an awning or something was needed above the doors to deflect the rain from coming in along the doors. If not done, the same issue will be back in a few years.  More research will be done.

 

SRTS Preliminary draft of design plans:  Council received information from Ament Inc. along with the property owners on the route on Saturday, April 10.  A slide presentation was given by Ament Inc showing the design obstacles and opportunities along the route.  The area along the field to the north had three design options available which included:  1) Curb & gutter, grassy area, sidewalk, ditch and then field; 2) Curb and gutter, storm sewer, grassy area, sidewalk, no ditch, and field; or 3) No curb and gutter, no storm sewer,  the current ditch and shoulder stay as they are, with the sidewalk having a curve in it to run where the existing fence is now and then having an S-curve in it to come around the bins, with this option requiring a 14-15 foot ROW acquisition.  Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown seconded to approve design option #3 as it is expected to be the lowest cost, with anticipation of making more funds available to address some of the other issues with retaining walls, tree removal, driveway slopes, and relocating of a fire hydrant.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

New Business:

 

Request for amendment to zoning ordinance:  A request was submitted by Ron Wingert to rezone property where the existing sale barn is from M-2 to R-2.  His intent is to sell the property to Brett Wilde who would like to convert the sale barn to a residential unit and garage for his semi.  Carla Barnhart motioned, Larry Beck seconded to send to the planning and zoning commission for review and a recommendation.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Liquor license renewal:  Carla Barnhart motioned, Gene Brown seconded to approve the liquor license renewal for Friends DBA Doug Out.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Resolution providing for reduction of interest rate for $595,000 Water Revenue Bond. Series 2000:  Gene Brown introduced resolution 2010-4 and moved that said resolution be adopted; seconded by Larry Beck and after due consideration thereof by the council, the Mayor put the question on the motion and, the roll being called, the following named council members voted:  Ayes: 

Gene Brown, Larry Beck, Calvin Paup, Carla Barnhart, and Deanna Cook .  Nays: None. Whereupon, the Mayor declared Resolution 2010-4 duly adopted reducing the interest rate on the Water Revenue Bond series 2000 to 3% effective June 1, 2010.

 

Resolution 2010-5 setting the wage for the Assistant Librarian:  Calvin Paup motioned, Deanna Cook seconded to adopt resolution 2010-5 establishing the wages for Shannon Walshire to be $10.85 and then increasing to $11.85 upon completing 60 day probation period. Upon roll call council members voted:  Ayes: 

Gene Brown, Larry Beck, Calvin Paup, Carla Barnhart, and Deanna Cook .  Nays: None. Whereupon, the Mayor declared Resolution 2010-5 duly adopted

 

Resolution 2010-6 authorizing the Mayor to sign the agreement number 08-SRTS-016 with the IDOT:  Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown seconded to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement with the Iowa Department or Transportation for the purpose of financing the transportation improvement projects in Iowa with Federal Funds. Upon roll call council members voted:  Ayes:  Gene Brown, Larry Beck, Calvin Paup, Carla Barnhart, and Deanna Cook .  Nays: None. Whereupon, the Mayor declared Resolution 2010-6 duly adopted

 

Proposal LL Pelling Street Repairs: Carla Barnhart motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve the $11,878 proposal from LL Pelling for seal costing and repairing Oak Street, John Street, 1st Street area, approach to Oak Street, and approach to No Name Street.  Ayes all. Motion carried.  Further research will be done on the Cemetery Road.

 

Publication for bids for Park pavilion roof and lift station shingling projects; Dust Control on First Street and 125th Street; and sale of city items such as trimmer, brush mower, Christmas Tree decorations, swing set frame and other miscellaneous items.  Calvin Paup motioned, Larry Beck seconded to publish required notices for the bids and the sale of the items.  The sale of items is scheduled for May 1 at the city shed with sealed bids to be opened at 11:45 am.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Animals at Large complaints: Complaints received at city hall need to be put in writing in order for the police officer to approach the individual making the violation. If another complaint is received after police has spoken to them, a ticket is issued and will require both parties to appear in court. This procedure is for violations occurring on private property between two residents.  The resident can also approach their neighbor and explain their position.

 

Committee Reports:  None

 Correspondence: Keep American Beautiful

Mayor’s Comments: None.

 

Set next regular meeting date: 5/10/10

 

ADJOURN:  There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Gene Brown motioned, Carla Barnhart seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                   ___________________________

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

City Clerk/Finance Officer