January 4, 2016 Minutes

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 4th day of January, 2016, 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, Steve Bowman, Lisa Rickertsen, and Tom Schirman.

Approval of Agenda. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Koehler moved and Latimer seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from December 21, 2015, Resolution 2016-1, Designating the North Scott Press as Official Newspaper, Resolution 2016-2 Authorizing Certain Payments Before a Council Meeting, Resolution 2016-3 Designation of Financial Institutions as Depositories, and Resolution 2016-4 Establishing the Standard Mileage Rate Reimbursement. Roll call carried: Koehler, Latimer, Jacob Puck, Mengler, and Jackie Puck. Motion carried.

Dave Meier – Iowa 80 Truckstop. Meier reported on the status of their north driveway widening project, as approved by council at the previous meeting. He also reported on his discussion with Attorney Schirman regarding straightening the N. Plainview Road right-of-way (ROW). Schirman will research to see if the property in question is city-owned ROW or an easement.

Appointments by Mayor. Mayor Kostichek made the following appointments:
• Park Board. Reappoint Brian Mengler to Park Board with a term ending 12/31/20. Jacob Puck moved and Koehler seconded to approve the Mayor’s appointment. Motion carried.
• Council Committees:
 Police, Fire, Street Lights, Animal Control, Civil Defense, and Zoning Board of Adjustment – Latimer & Jackie Puck
 Sanitary Sewer and Solid Waste – Jackie Puck and Jacob Puck
 Streets, Parks, Equipment Operations – Koehler and Latimer
 Policy & Administration, Mayor, Council, Clerk, Treasurer, P&Z, Elections, City Hall & Building – Koehler and Mengler
 Water Plant Operations, Distribution & Maintenance – Jacob Puck and Mengler
• Mayor Pro Tem – Jacob Puck

Appointments by Council.
• Planning & Zoning –Latimer moved and Mengler seconded to reappoint Trish Moses and Bernard Brus to the Planning & Zoning Commission, terms ending 12/31/20. Motion carried.
• Zoning Board of Adjustment. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to reappoint Brent Arp to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, term ending 12/31/20. Motion carried.
• City Attorney. Jacob Puck moved and Mengler seconded to reappoint Tom Schirman as the City Attorney, term ending 12/31/2017. Motion carried.
• City Clerk. Mengler moved and Koehler seconded to reappoint Lisa Rickertsen as the City Clerk, term ending 12/31/2017.

Donation to Durant Ambulance. Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the annual donation to Durant Ambulance, in the amount of $1,000. Motion carried.

Ordinance 481-16, Amending Chapter 65 Amending Certain Provisions Pertaining to Stop Intersections. Ordinance 481-16 was introduced and Jackie Puck moved and Koehler seconded to approve the first reading of Ordinance 481-16. Roll call ayes: Jackie Puck, Koehler, Mengler, Jacob Puck, and Latimer. This is the first of three readings to approve adding six stop signs to the following four intersections:
1. W. Durant Street at S. Parker Street – 2 stop signs on S. Parker Street
2. W. Durant Street at S. Rowe Street – 2 stop signs on S. Rowe Street
3. W. Bryant Street at S. Parker Street – 1 stop sign on S. Parker Street
4. W. Bryant Street at S. Rowe Street – 1 stop sign on S. Rowe Street

Police Report.
• Approval of Training – Fire/Arson Investigator School. Discussion was held on the value and potential liability risk. Currently, an investigator from the County or State is utilized, at no cost, if needed. Following discussion, Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to not approve the training. Motion carried.

Public Works Department Report.
• E. Durant Street Tree Removal. Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to approve the low bid in the amount of $1,050, from Turkle Tree Service to remove the tree in the city ROW, in front of 324 E. Durant Street. Motion carried
• S. Downey Street Reconstruction Project Update. Bowman reported he received preliminary plans for the project and is reviewing them. Comments were made regarding installing sidewalks and storm sewer connections.
Bowman also reported he received the survey plat from Rita Stender regarding her request that the City deed her 40 feet, half of the Rowe Street ROW, adjacent to her property. He reported possible utility conflicts and stated he will investigate it further. Attorney Schirman suggested the Council may want the City Engineer to verify the utility locations within the Rowe Street ROW. Following further discussion, Koehler requested an estimate from the City Engineer to review the plat. Mengler stated she had an inquiry from her neighbor regarding having tiling work done and directing it to the storm sewer on Memorial Road. The water currently drains there and Bowman had no issues with it.

City Attorney Report. Attorney Schirman reported on his earlier conversation with Dave Meier. Resident Joe Hahn was present and expressed concerns about allowing parking areas closer to the road, which could create visibility issues. Jackie Puck questioned the status of an ordinance change prohibiting parking on grassy ROW’s. Schirman stated he would have a draft for the next regular meeting.

Mayor’s Report. Mayor Kostichek reported he heard comments from citizens about the excellent job done on the streets following the last snowfall. He also stated he wants to see the Main Street Streetscape Enhancement, James Street Watermain, and S. Downey Street Reconstruction projects get completed this year.

Council Member Comments. Koehler questioned the status of the IDNR permit regarding the walkway addition to the Main Street bridge. Rickertsen will inquire with the project engineers. He also inquired about updates of eliminating sources of infiltration and inflow. Bowman stated they have been making progress. Mengler questioned the status on the splash pad project. Mayor Kostichek will contact the committee chairperson.

Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to adjourn at 6:49 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

January 4, 2016 Signed Minutes & Claims