March 19, 2015 Minutes

A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Walcott, Iowa was held on Thursday, March 19, 2015, with Mayor John Kostichek calling the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Council members present were: Tim Koehler, Virgil Wayne Latimer, Lisa Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck. Absent: None. City employees present: John Brockmann, Lisa Rickertsen, and Tom Schirman.

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

Audience: Jill Hernandez and Lon Warnecke.

Municipal Building Project. Brockmann stated the site next to the current City Hall was the past Municipal Building Committee's first choice and there is plenty of room to expand. He feels the Committee's second choice, 101 S. Main Street, is the worst location as it is next to the railroad tracks and the location at 1113 N. Main Street is nice but is located next to anhydrous tanks. Neighbor, Jill Hernandez, stated she is now interested in selling her property adjacent to City Hall. Attorney Schirman reported on the options for the City including negotiating a sale or transfer of property. Koehler stated the only reason for the meeting is because of the recent concerns expressed by Cen-Pe-Co.

Mengler moved and Koehler seconded to go into a closed session under Iowa Code Chapter 21.5 (1) (J) to discuss the sale of particular real estate at 5:54 p.m. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Koehler, Jackie Puck, Jacob Puck, and Latimer. Motion carried. J. Brockmann and audience left the council chambers and the following employees were authorized to remain: L. Rickertsen and T. Schirman. Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to close the closed session and resume the special meeting at 6:06 p.m. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jackie Puck, Jacob Puck, Latimer, and Koehler. Motion carried.

Jill Hernandez returned to the meeting. It was stated a letter needs be sent to Cen-Pe-Co, responding to their written communication regarding building a City Hall at 101 S. Main Street. The following concerns were discussed if City Hall would expand at the current location instead of building at 101 S. Main Street: acquisition costs of adjoining properties, demolition costs, salt shed demolition/relocation, and architect fees expended. These concerns were not previously pursued since the first step to build at the Committee's first choice was to acquire adjoining property and the City couldn't get past that step due to the owner's refusal to sell. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to proceed with having Attorney Schirman contact Cen-Pe-Co regarding adjoining property acquisitions, demolition costs, value of property, and architectural fees expended to date. Motion carried.

Koehler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to adjourn at 6:35 p.m. Motion carried.

All motions were unanimous unless noted.