A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Walcott, Iowa was held on Thursday, January 22, 2015, with Mayor Pro Tem Jacob Puck calling the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. Other council members present were: Tim Koehler, Virgil Wayne Latimer, Lisa Mengler, and Jackie Puck. Absent: None. City employees present were: Jeff Blake, John Brockmann and Lisa Rickertsen. Mayor Kostichek arrived at 5:40 p.m.

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

FYE 2016 Budget. Discussion was held on the proposed budget including a review of the general fund, including general reserve funds, future capital projects and proprietary (water, sewer, and garbage) funds. Discussion was held on hiring a Grade 3 Wastewater Operator. The budget will be discussed again during the regular council meeting on February 2, 2015.

Koehler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to adjourn at 7:13 p.m. Ayes: All. Motion carried.

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 19th day of January, 2015, 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, Josh Geigle, Lisa Rickertsen, and Tom Schirman.

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

Consent Agenda. Koehler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from January 5, 2015, December 2014 financial reports, liquor license renewal for Gramma's Kitchen & The Checkered Flag, and Resolution 2015-5, Transfer of Funds. Roll call ayes: Koehler, Latimer, Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck. Motion carried.

Introduction of Audience. Bernard Brus, Gene Meyer, Brent Puck, Jason Holdorf, and Donna Housley.

Vision Committee Report. Committee member Brent Puck was present on behalf of the Vision Committee to discuss items from their January 14th meeting. Items discussed include the following: revamping the organization board by Casey's, forming a non-profit group, potential welcome sign sites, school liaison, and one member resignation. Council members had no objections to committee member Jason Holdorf being the new liaison between the Walcott School and City. Mengler thanked the committee members for their efforts.

Fire Department Report. The proposed department budget for FYE 2016 was reviewed and discussed. Chief Geigle presented a vehicle schedule and possible replacements within the next ten years. He also stated the new truck will be arriving on Wednesday, January 21st.

W. Bryant Street Project.
Resolution 2015-6, Approval of Change Order #5. Latimer moved and Mengler seconded to approve Resolution 2015-6. Roll call ayes: Latimer, Mengler, Koehler, Jacob Puck, and Jackie Puck. Motion carried. This change order totals $818.50 for curb cuts and painting handicap symbols. Mayor Kostichek reported on standing water/drainage concerns next to the new sidewalk on the corner of W. Bryant and Power Street. Brockmann was not aware of any problems but will look at the area.
Resolution 2015-7, Approving Early Release of Retainage. Jackie Puck moved and Latimer seconded to approve Resolution 2015-7. Roll call ayes: Jackie Puck, Latimer, Mengler, Koehler, and Jacob Puck. Motion carried. The project is substantially complete and remaining items are seeding and fertilizing, amounting to $6,600, which will be completed later this spring. The Resolution approves a payment to N.J. Miller, Inc. in the amount of $24,830.76, as recommended by the Project Engineer, and funds in the amount of $13,200 will be retained until the remaining project items are completed.
Engineering Fees for Early Release of Retainage. Brockmann stated he has questions regarding the invoice received and will talk to the project engineer. Following a brief discussion, Koehler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to table the issue until a response is received from the project engineer regarding the invoice and engineering contract. Motion carried.

Bryant Street, Powers Street, Rowe Lane, and Parker Street Sidewalk Improvements Project.
Resolution 2015-8. Accepting work Covering the Sidewalk Improvements Project. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2015-8. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, Koehler, and Latimer. Motion carried. The total cost of the sidewalk improvements project is $27,892.64, of which the sum of $13,946.32 shall be assessed against private property.
Resolution 2015-9, Adopting Final Assessment Schedule for Sidewalk Improvements Project. Koehler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2015-9. Roll call ayes: Koehler, Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, Latimer, and Mengler. Motion carried.

Boundary Survey for 101 S. Main Street. Koehler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the proposal from J & M Civil Design for the site survey, in the amount of $2,000, to determine accurate property boundaries at 101 S. Main Street. Motion carried

Police Department Report. Chief Blake presented a project worksheet to purchase four body cameras. He reported the department received a grant in the amount of $1,800 from the Iowa 80/CAT Scale Go Iowa Fund Grant Program for the cameras. Mengler moved and Latimer seconded to approve the purchase of four cameras, not to exceed $1,800. Motion carried. Chief Blake reported the remaining No Weapons" signs arrived. Attorney Schirman and Chief Blake will work on a policy for enforcement procedures.

Public Work's Report. Brockmann presented three bids for a new pick-up truck. Koehler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the purchase of a 2015 Ford F150 from Ron Alpen Ford for $25,064. Motion carried. Brockmann stated he will also have the bed liner sprayed which will be an additional cost. Brockmann reported on the water line breaks inside the city-owned building at 1113 N. Main Street. He stated he felt the heating failure in the building was due to dead batteries in the thermostat. Brockmann also reported on blockage with sewer lines at the end of W. Lincoln Street and stated a tree causing the problem will be removed. Brockmann presented proposals for engineering services for conceptual plans for a new splash pad park area and improvements along W. Otis Street. Proposals ranged from $12,900 to $62,955. Latimer moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the Park Board's recommendation on hiring J & M Civil Design in the amount of $12,900. Motion carried.

City Clerk's Report. Rickertsen presented the Building Department's report and stated 191 permits were issued in 2014.

Mayor's Report. Mayor Kostichek read a letter from Dr. Bartelt Brouer, Mayor of Sister City, Bredenbek, Germany. Several mugs, from their 750 year celebration, were sent from Bredenbek.

Questions/Concerns. Questions arose on the car wash on Main Street. It is temporarily closed and the property is for sale. Mengler reported she spoke with the Walcott Day Committee regarding the holiday lights and reported they are always looking for more volunteers and would accept donations towards the lights. She stated they are looking at purchasing new lights and also garland and wreaths for the new decorative poles to be located on N. Main Street.

Jackie Puck moved and Koehler seconded to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

JANUARY 2015 NEWSLETTER

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 5th day of January, 2015, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present were: Virgil Wayne Latimer, Tim Koehler, Lisa Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck. Absent: none. City employees present: Jeff Blake, Josh Geigle, Jackie Huston, and John Brockmann.

Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the agenda with the deletion of "Purchase of Vehicle" under the Public Works report. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Koehler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, Resolution 2015-1 Authorizing Certain Payments Before a Council Meeting, Resolution 2015-2 Designation of Official Newspaper, Resolution 2015-3 Designation of Financial Institutions as Depositories, and Resolution 2015-4 Establishing the Standard Mileage Rate Reimbursement. Motion carried with unanimous roll call vote.

Introduction of Audience. None

Minutes from 12/15/14. Jacob Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the minutes from 12/15/14. Motion carried with Koehler abstaining due to absence.

EMC Insurance Recommendation. Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the recommendation from EMC Insurance regarding requirements for installation of equipment on water towers. Motion carried.

Donation to Durant Ambulance. Jackie Puck moved and Koehler seconded to approve the annual donation to Durant Ambulance for $1,000. Motion carried.

Rezoning for 101 S. Main Street. Huston informed the Council that this city-owned property would need to be rezoned if a municipal building is to be constructed on it. She recommended rezoning to C-2, which would be appropriate zoning for the building and be contiguous to property on the north side of Lincoln that is zoned C-2. Koehler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to start the rezoning process from M-1 to C-2. Motion carried.

Fire Department Report. Fire Chief, Josh Geigle, reviewed the Project Worksheet that had been submitted to the Council for a new computer and software. The lowest of three bids was from Dell for $1,488 and the Chief recommended that bid. Latimer moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the bid from Dell. Motion carried.

Police Department Report. Chief Blake reported that he had declared a snow emergency that required vehicles to be parked on alternating sides of the streets from 6 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The Police Department will be contacting vehicle owners to move illegally parked vehicles. He also stated that the proposal to purchase body cameras will be ready for the next agenda.

Public Works' Report. Brockmann had nothing to report.

City Clerk's Report. Dates and times for budget meetings were chosen: January 22nd and February 5th, both at 5:30 p.m.

Mayor's Report. Mayor Kostichek read and discussed a letter from a citizen regarding the condition of the boulevard in front of the church. Following discussion, it was determined that nothing can be done at this time, however seeding would follow in the spring.

Questions/Concerns. Koehler questioned the following items:
If the "No Weapons" signs had been received : Chief Blake stated they had not.
A Walcott sign being placed at the north end of Main Street with discussion.
Status of mobile home that was supposedly exceeding the ordinance regarding number of dogs allowed : Chief Blake stated that the owner claims only three dogs are left.
Christmas lights that have bulbs burned out. He wondered if the city should assist in maintenance. Mengler stated that Walcott Day purchases and maintains the lights and she would discuss this with the committee.

Jacob Puck moved and Jackie Puck seconded to adjourn at 6:27 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.