By Peggy Schlichter

Mr. Sherman was not present for the meeting.

This was a nice short meeting with minimal  discussion points.  All items were approved as listed.

The Hotel/Motel Tax Committee discussion was tabled until the next meeting.

The council donated $500. to the “Trees Please” Program.

The Utility Bill for the work done on the new city building was settled for the original estimate price of around $26 k.  The council approved the payment minus the tax that was on the bill.

The underground electrical work to the new waste water treatment plant will be done by the city utility for a cost of approximately $50k.  The estimate received from the construction contractor was $99 k.

Police – The effect date of Officer Baird’s “no notice” resignation was September 25th.  Sgt Larsen was called back off of leave to assist in coverage.

There have been a couple of applicants for the open police positions.  Only Martin Miller is being considered but no decision will be made until the background check comes back.  He was here previously and resigned on good terms.  He has now completed his police science degree.  If hired, he will still have to attend the police academy.

By Peggy Schlichter

The council logged another long meeting last night going past 10pm.  I had to leave a few minutes before 10 to keep a previous obligation to sit kids overnight so I did not hear the old/new business discussed.

Two topics lasted over an hour each.  One will be covered under a separate post that I probably will not get to til tomorrow evening.  The rest I will try to cover in this post.

North 2nd Street Storm Sewer Project – Drake Construction was awarded the storm sewer improvement project.  If you remember from previous posts this increases the size of the storm sewer line and outflow down 2nd Street to the other side of N. Harlan to alleviate the property flooding that occurs due to the undersized lines.

City Hall. Library, Police Building – This is one of the topics that ran long.  The payments and change orders 2 and 3 and furnishings were approved.  The payment for the electrical work was tabled based on the bill from the City Utilities being questioned for accuracy.  The bill stated 475 hours of labor to remove a pole and bury the primary.  Mr. Ashour is to get with the Utilities and get it figured out.

The major part of the discussion centered on change order #4  which was the estimate of $238 k for a one story addition of 800 sq. ft. to the new building.  Most of the discussion questioned the cost vs the benefit of the additional footage.  Based on the estimate the addition is substantially higher per sq. ft. than what is being paid for the rest of the building.  The council questioned why and was basically told by the city architect that is normal once construction starts and equipment/ personnel have to be brought back to do the additional work.  The remainder of the discussion centered on the amount of money in the contingency fund that this change would be paid from.  What other items still had to be paid from that fund and how much would be left.   Primarily that if they went forward with the addition it would use up almost all of the contingency fund.  The council agreed that it was more than they wanted to pay but decided that they would make a counter offer to the contractor.  The council then made and passed a motion to counter offer not to exceed $160 k for the 800 sq. ft.  addition with a “take it or leave it” clause.

Sewer Project – October 12th at the next regular council meeting was set for the public hearing on the SRF loan for the new waste water treatment facility.  The remainder of the discussion was about the cost estimate provided by the Utilities to run the necessary power to the new plant.  The first estimate was for $36k to run overhead lines and the second was for $50k to run the underground line.  Mr. Aldrich pointed out that the utility policy is for all new construction to have underground lines run.  The council asked if they had to use the city utility to run the lines and was informed that they did not.  With the council already leery about the utility bill for the electric for the new city building they decided to have Mr. Aldrich get a quote from the contractor to run the line to see if they had a better price.

Aquatic Center Project – The change order for the project was not passed.  The original contract was for a kiddy slide and the change order was for a family slide so parents could slide with their younger children.  Mr. Aldrich found out just before the meeting that the manufacturer of the slide has a height limit on the slide of 48 inches which would preclude adults using the slide.  Just having a wider slide that did not afford parents the ability to slide with the younger children was not enough to add $4o k to the project.

Midwest Partnership Annual Contribution – The council made and passed a motion to make the annual contribution.

City Code Amendments – The council made and passed seven amendments to the city code to bring them in line with Iowa Code.  No specifics were announced.  The effected codes were:  municipal infractions, parking violations, hazardous waste cleanup, public morals, abandoned vehicles, property disposal and off road vehicles.  Second and third readings were moved and passed and the changes are in effect.

Athletic Sports Complex Board -  Mr. Bump provided a draft 28E agreement to the council for review to reestablish the old support and improvement agreement between the school and the city for the maintenance of the sports complex.  He further informed them that the school was only interested in a short term agreement since they plan to have the necessary fields at the new high school in a couple of years.  The council is to review the draft and provide input to Mr. Bump.

Economic Development Grant for Dwyer Auto Body – The council passed the resolution.

______________________________________________________

The police discussion will be under a separate post.

By Peggy Schlichter

I think I will do things a little differently with this post.   As I cover the topics and if I have something I want to say about the subject I will make the comment at that time.  As always my comments are mine alone. Agree or disagree as you choose.

All mention of items approved by the council are unanimous unless specified different.  All members were present for the meeting.

Chamber of Commerce Downtown TIF Project – Everett Sheppard recommended for approval three business projects under the new program.  To qualify a business must submit a request through the Chamber of  Commerce and receive council approval before starting the project.  They must then make and pay for the improvements up to $25 k.  Once the project is complete they must submit the receipts to the city for reimbursement.  The three approved projects are Johnson Funeral, Dwyer Auto and Town and Country Insurance.  The council has set aside $50k in TIF a year for this project.

Comment – While I understand the Chamber and Council intentions to have a spiffier downtown area I think that they are short changing the other businesses who fall out side of the designated project area.  To the east the project area ends at the water tower.  The eastern part of Front Street businesses are not eligible for the program.  Front Street is the main thoroughfare east and west.  With all the work being done to promote White Pole Road and tourism one would think that those businesses should have been included.  Additionally I think that no business should be eligible if the existing facade does not already conform to City Code.  I understand spiffing up but why should another business have to wait for funds when they played by the rules while another is rewarded for not playing by them.  Fair is fair.

Street Dance – Nate Westre requested and received council approval for a street dance for August 29th.  Dance hours are 8pm to 12 pm.   The council also approved the additional police hours for coverage.

Resolutions :

Amendment of Current Budget – With no comments at the public hearing the current budget amendment was approved.

Purchase of New Fire Truck – The resolution to approve the loan for $33.5k to purchase a new fire truck was approved.

Sewer Project – The new waste water treatment project moved forward with the approval to let bids and setting of the public hearing date for August 17th.  Bids are to be received on August 13th.  The council agreed to move the next regular meeting to the August 17th to avoid another special meeting.

Code of Ordinances Public Hearing Set – August 17th.

Aquatic Center – The first payment was approved.

Community Cultural Center – Tabled.

WCV Traffic Request – WCV requested the city install a flashing school zone light at the site of the new high school.  After a short discussion on the light, speed limit and the requirement for a traffic study the council decided to take no action until the school provides the traffic study.  The city is responsible for the north side of the road and Adair County is responsible for the south side of the road.  Adair County will take no action until the traffic study is complete.  Mr. Ashour is to inform the school of the requirement.

Guthrie County EMA Annual Contribution – Approved.

Drainage Issue 907 N. Main Street – Mick Askren requested reimbursement for the removal of some trees in the easement, installing a drainage tube and dirt work.  The council discussed the issue and decided that no reimbursement should be made.  The trees were not dead or dying and they did not think that the drainage tube was necessary because it could be graded to accomplish the same result.  The city is responsible for drainage tubes at intersections and homeowners are responsible for driveway and ditch/curbside drainage.  The council did not see where there was enough of a improvement to warrant reimbursement.

Park Improvements – Neal Crawford presented the council with a list of park improvements.  A new swing set for the park by McDonalds,  a play set at the athletic field near the soccer fields, new toilets at the athletic field, improvements to the shelter house at the athletic complex and new different play-sets for the city park.  There was some discussion of what size and types were needed.  Additionally they discussed reviving the 28E agreement with the school for the maintenance and upkeep of the athletic complex.  The mayor is to review the agreement and talk with the school.  The money for this project is what was not used for the pool this year.  The council approved park improvements not to exceed $40k.

Rescue Director Wage Increase -  Based on the Rescue Board recommendation the council approved a 4% pay raise for the Rescue Director.  The council also discussed the residency requirement for the this position.  The time frame to establish residency under the employment contract expires July 15th.  Mr. Ashour is to inform the Rescue Board that they must recommend Jeff Howard’s request for an extension from the council if they wish to extend one.

Street Department, New Mower – Bob Airhart presented two bids to the council and Mr. Ashour presented a third bid from a Dean Williams.  The council approved the mower purchase from Mr. Williams who beat the other bids by $1,100 for a comparable mower.

Street Superintendent Closed Session – As the result of the closed session the council made and passed a motion to deny Mr. Airhart a pay raise this year.  Mr. Sherman voted no.

Comment – At no time in the past has the city required performance reviews as a prerequisite for awarding pay raises.  Pay raises for all of the other city employees were loosely based as Cost of Living increases as recommended by the city administrator.  By all rights now that the city has set this precedent all of the other city employees pay raises need to be preceded by performance reviews or Mr. Airhart needs to be treated in the same manner as the other city employees.

Police Department – Robert informed the council that a gentleman from Menlo has a skateboard ramp that he is willing to donate to the city and another individual in town has a two level rail for skateboards to donate.  The skateboard ramp needs a new surface that can be replaced with a sheet of truck bed liner.  There is no added insurance cost to the city by adding the ramp.  Mr. Crawford raised the issue of whether or not it was commercial grade.  He then wanted to have it inspected.  The council agreed to get the ramp and have it here for the insurance inspector to look at it before installing.  The council then discussed placement of the ramp.  It was decided that it would go somewhere on the north side of the city park where there was easy visibility for the police on patrol.

New Business – Mr. Ashour informed the council that someone wanted to buy the old furnace from the old library for $5.  The council then started discussing all the things the city would need to auction off when they move.  Jeff Sherman then brought up that the contractor was hired to remove the old furnace and install a new one in the town hall.  There was no stipulation in the contract that the city wanted to retain the old furnace.  The contractor can do anything he wants with the old furnace.  The council agreed.

Old Business – Mr. Ashour brought up to the council that he received a concern that the city needs to do a better job in the future of hiring appropriate professionals for projects and not leaving individual city offices without the requisite knowledge trying to perform those duties.  The council agreed and Mr. Ashour stated that he would work on it in the future.