October 19, 2015
City of Walcott
October 19, 2015
The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 19th day of October, 2015, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present were: Tim Koehler, Lisa Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck. Absent: Virgil Wayne Latimer. City employees present: Steve Bowman, Josh Geigle, Lisa Rickertsen, and Tom Schirman.
Approval of Agenda. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda. Rickertsen stated the Resolution listed in the October 5, 2015 minutes should be listed as Resolution 2015-34, not 2015-33, and the squad car to be disposed is a 2008 Ford Expedition, not a 2009. Koehler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the consent agenda including the minutes from October 5, 2015, with corrections as stated, invoices, September 2015 financial reports, Resolution 2015-35 Transfer of Funds, and the following TIF rebate payments, totaling $21,596.79 :
• JDW Holdings – Midfield Pattern Project $3,147.54
• Iowa 80 Truckstop – Morton Building Project $858.57
• Iowa 80 Truckstop – 60×240 Building Project $1,558.18
• Ossian, Inc. – Salt Processing/Storage Project $5,152.00
• Sterling Partners – Multi-Use Building Project $10,655.74
• T&C Storage – Building Storage #2 Project $224.76
Roll call ayes: Koehler, Jackie Puck, Jacob Puck, and Mengler. Motion carried.
Fire Department Report. Chief Geigle presented a project worksheet to purchase a Lifepack 1000 defibrillator from Physio-Control at a cost of $2,446.11. Geigle stated a grant has been received in the amount of $1,760 towards the purchase and the remaining amount will be paid from the Fire Department Donation Fund. Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the purchase of a Lifepack from Physio-Control at a cost of $2,446.11. Motion carried. Geigle also reported on the maintenance issues for Unit #2, 1993 mini-pumper, and discussed future replacement options for the vehicle.
Kent Arp & Gene Meyer – Request for Meadow Lane Snow Removal in Dietz 6th Addition. Kent Arp asked if the City could perform snow removal on the drive within the Dietz 6th Addition PUD (Planned Unit Development). Attorney Schirman responded that the area is a PUD, the drive to the condos is a private drive, and the City can’t provide that service on private property.
Main Street Streetscape Enhancement Project.
• Engineering & Surveying Fees. Rickertsen reported on the engineering costs ($6,950) incurred for the permit from the IDNR for the bridge walkway portion of the project and their estimate of $8,850, to survey the properties that may be affected by backwater flooding. The surveying would give the City and IDNR accurate information for determining the extent of affected properties for the permit. Koehler questioned additional costs following the survey. Those costs cannot be determined until after the survey is completed and the IDNR determines the next action required. Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the additional engineering fees and survey. Motion carried.
• Resolution 2015-36, Authorizing Internal Advances of Funds for Main Street Enhancement Project. Rickertsen reported on the need for short-term internal borrowing for the project. She stated the entire amount will be paid back to the appropriate funds by June 1, 2017. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2015-36. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Jacob Puck, Jackie Puck, and Koehler. Motion carried. This Resolution authorizes the transfer of $180,000 from the General Fund, $215,000 from the Local Option Sales Tax Fund, and $160,000 from the Water Tower Reserve Fund, which will be repaid out of incremental property tax revenues received with respect to the Urban Renewal Area.
South Downey Street Reconstruction Project. Proposals were received from two firms for the engineering services for the South Downey Street Reconstruction Project. Koehler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to accept the low proposal, in the amount of $25,385, from MSA Professional Services. Motion carried.
Farm Lease Approval. Schirman reported on the farm lease between the City and Rodney Dietz. Koehler questioned if provisions needed to be included regarding liability insurance. Mengler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to approve the lease, subject to stipulation of proof of insurance if required. Motion carried.
Vision Committee Report. Mayor’s Beautification Award Recommendations. Josie Dietz reported the Vision Committee has selected four commercial/industrial properties to be recognized with a Beautification Award for the renovation, restoration, or landscaping work that has been done at their properties in the past several years. The properties are as follows: FirstCo d/b/a G&R Integration at 455 S. Blue Grass Road, Needham Excavation/K&K Repair d/b/a JDN Investments Inc. at 137 N. Main Street, Budelier Apartments at 134 N. Main Street, and Luke Wegener Apartments at 203 E. Bryant Street. Koehler moved and Jacob Puck seconded to proceed with the awards to the four candidates as presented, not to exceed $50 per plaque. Motion carried.
1113 N. Main Street Building. The contract with the Mel Foster realtor, Nick Bert, who was not present, will expire in early November. Koehler suggested contacting Jeff Heuer of NAI Ruhl Commercial regarding his potential interest in listing the property, after the current contract expires. Following further discussion, Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to contact Jeff Heuer, come to an agreement on his fees, and revisit the selling price of the building. Motion carried.
Police Department Report. Sergeant Hill reported on the Kelly Blue Book value of the 2008 Ford Expedition and stated they will not be able to transfer all the electronics from the vehicle until mid-November.
Public Works Department Report. Bowman reported on his estimated minimum amounts for each vehicle and equipment listed to be disposed of. The notice will be published in the October 21st issue of the North Scott Press and will be posted at City Hall and on the city website. Sealed bids for each item are due by 2:00 p.m. on November 2, 2015. Bowman reported on the brush pile at the compost facility. Council consensus was to take care of the pile in the most cost effective, legal, and safe manner for the community.
City Clerk Report. Rickertsen reported a local vendor inquired about utilizing the City’s name on their advertising. Council consensus was to not allow City endorsements in advertising.
Vision Committee – Library Report. Karla Burt joined the meeting and gave an update on the status of the possibility of moving the library to the vacant building at 101 E. Durant Street. Fundraising by the Hearts and Hand Foundation will be done to assist in the purchase and renovation of the building. Mayor Kostichek thanked Burt for her work on the project.
Mayor’s Report. Mayor Kostichek read the Project Blue Light Proclamation. He proclaimed Project Blue Light from November 22nd – November 30th. He encourages citizens to participate with Project Blue Light in hopes that others will remember the sacrifices our police officers and fire department volunteers make each day. Elaine Arp stated Lambda Phi Sorority has blue light bulbs available for residents wanting to participate. The Sorority is asking for donations for the bulbs and proceeds will be given to the Walcott Police & Fire Departments. Mayor Kostichek reported on the package of tulip bulbs he received from a RAGBRAI rider from Pella, Iowa. The rider included a note thanking Walcott for their outstanding efforts of recycling (during the RAGBRAI event) as she felt it was the most thorough community this year. RAGBRAI Committee members, Joe and Kelly Quick, were present and stated they will talk to Dan Mays about ideas on where to plant them, possibly at Prairie View Park.
Council Member Comments. Jackie Puck requested parking on the grass in City right-of-ways be listed on the next meeting agenda.
Audience Comments. Joe Quick presented a final update on the RAGBRAI event and thanked the City and community members for their involvement.
Jackie Puck moved and Mengler seconded to adjourn at 7:22 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.