The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 15th day of December, 2014, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present were: Virgil Wayne Latimer, Lisa Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck. Absent: Tim Koehler. City employees present: Jeff Blake, Josh Geigle, Lisa Rickertsen, and Tom Schirman.

Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Latimer moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from December 1, 2014, and the November 2014 financial reports. Motion carried.

Introduction of Audience. Karla Burt, William Belz, Joe Hahn, and Donna Housley.

Vision Committee. Karla Burt was present on behalf of the Vision Committee to discuss approaching the Walcott School about having a liaison and exploring development of a group to provide assistance, when practical to the school. The school is important to the community and Mayor Kostichek stated he is proud of our local school and supports good communications. Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to have a Vision Committee representative, Karla Burt, be a liaison between the Walcott School and City. Motion carried.

Police Department Report. Chief Blake reported the department will be receiving grant funds to purchase body cameras. He will prepare a project worksheet for a future meeting, following an official grant announcement. Burt stated she appreciated the service from the Police Department during a recent business break-in at her property. Housley questioned the procedure when observing a suspected pit bull. Chief Blake stated residents should call the Police Department when the dog is out so he can see it. Residents may also contact the Scott County non-emergency number, 388-3904, and they can dispatch a Walcott Officer if one is on duty.

Property at 1113 N. Main Street. Rickertsen stated the Realtor called and questioned if the City would be interested in leasing the city-owned building at 1113 N. Main Street for one year. Discussion was held that the objective is to sell the building. Mengler moved and Latimer seconded to not lease the building. Motion carried.

W. Bryant Street Project : Request for Early Release of Retainage. City Engineer, Jon White, sent a letter regarding the request from the W. Bryant Street Project contractor, NJ Miller, Inc., to have a portion of the currently retained funds released. The project is substantially complete and the remaining project items, which include top soiling, seeding, and mulching, will be completed in the spring. Attorney Schirman discussed the steps as outlined in the Iowa Code for such requests. Council had no objections to the request and directed Rickertsen to notify the City Engineer to proceed with the request process.

Appointments by Mayor. Mayor Kostichek reappointed Danielle Blake to the Park Board for a five year term ending 12/31/19. Jacob Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the Mayor's appointment. Motion carried.

Appointments by Council. Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to reappoint Lon Warnecke to the Planning & Zoning Commission, term ending 12/31/19. Motion carried. Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to reappoint Kristal Koberg-Schaefer to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, term ending 12/31/19. Motion carried.

Fire Department Report. Chief Geigle reported only one bid was received for the 1987 Ford Pumper Truck. Chief Geigle opened the bid during the meeting and stated it was from JDN Investments Inc. in the amount of $5,000. He reported he had not received further communication from the Midwest Center for Public Safety Training (MCPST), who earlier inquired about the City donating the truck in return for free training at the center for the Fire Department. Geigle and Hahn both stated it could take years to use up free training, if that option was even still available. Following further discussion, Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to proceed with selling the 1987 Ford Pumper Truck to JDN Investments for $5,000. Motion carried. The transfer of ownership will take place after the new truck has been delivered and is in service. Geigle stated the new truck should be delivered in January.

Attorney's Report. Schirman reported on the email received from a resident regarding Resolution 2014-36 that was approved by City Council on November 3rd. Discussion ensued and the City deems that the policy is permitted within the Iowa Code to limit dangerous weapons on city owned property.

Mayor's Report. Mayor Kostichek thanked the City Council, departments, committees, and public for working together throughout the year to improve the image of the community.

Questions/Concerns. William Belz presented a petition, with forty signatures, to un-ban pitbull type dogs.

Jackie Puck moved and Latimer seconded to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

Walcott Chamber December 2014 Newsletter

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 1st day of December, 2014, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present were: Tim Koehler, Virgil Wayne Latimer, Lisa Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck. Absent: None. City employees present: Jeff Blake, John Brockmann, Lisa Rickertsen, and Tom Schirman.

Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Jackie Puck moved and Koehler seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from November 17, 2014, Resolution 2014-40, Transfer of Funds, and the 2014-2015 Winter Maintenance Proposal with Scott County. Roll call ayes: Jackie Puck, Koehler, Latimer, Mengler, and Jacob Puck. Motion carried.

Introduction of Audience. Larry Koberg and David Nichols.

Vision Committee. Larry Koberg reported the Vision Committee discussed exploring a "Friends of the School" group to provide assistance as needed. Karla Burt will be at the December 15th meeting to discuss the idea further with the City Council.

Proposed Municipal Building : Architect Contract. Attorney Schirman had concerns with a few items in the proposed contract. Architect David Nichols responded in the event the City elects not to proceed with a phase of the project, the billing would be consistent with the amount of work done to that point. He also stated if the project did not move forward and the City later wanted drawings, they would release them following a request in writing from the City. Latimer moved and Mengler seconded to approve the architect contract with Downing Architects. Motion carried.

Resolution 2014-41, Accepting Improvements & Authorizing Final Payment for S. Downey Street Watermain Project. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2014-41. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, Koehler, and Latimer. Motion carried. The project total is $65,442.61 and the final payment to Ellsworth Excavating is $3,272.13.

Resolution 2014-42, Approving an Amendment to the Personnel Policy Handbook. Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to approve Resolution 2014-42. Roll call ayes: Koehler, Mengler, Latimer, and Jacob Puck. Nays: Jackie Puck. Motion carried. This change discontinues the reimbursement of employee prescriptions.

Public Works Department Report. The vacation policy and the importance of cross-training personnel were discussed. Brockmann stated he is cross-trained to perform the basic functions at the wastewater treatment plant and he is still considering options regarding a Grade 3 operator position.

City Clerk's Department Report. Since the City Council had no changes or concerns with the new city website, it will be launched later this week.

Questions/Concerns. Koehler questioned the health insurance renewal process. Rickertsen stated the renewal rates are usually received in late October but quotes will be obtained from other companies earlier next fall for the 2016 renewal. He also had questions on the lighted utility pole decorations.

Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to adjourn at 6:47 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.