December 17, 2018 Minutes

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 17th day of December, 2018, at Walcott City Hall.  Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Council members present were: John Brockmann, Tim Koehler, Lisa Mengler, Jacob Puck, and Larry Smith.  Absent:  None.  City staff present:  Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, Tom Schirman, and Paul Stagg.

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

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. No comments from audience members.

 Consent Agenda.  Rickertsen stated that the Resolution was to transfer $70,000 from the Road Use Tax Fund to the W. Otis Street Improvements Project FundPuck moved and Koehler seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from December 3, 2018, November 2018 financial reports, and Resolution 2018-44, Transfer of Funds.  Roll call ayes:  Puck, Koehler, Brockmann, Mengler, and Smith.  Motion carried.

Otis Street Improvements Project – Payment #5. Following recommendations from the City Engineer and Stagg, Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to approve payment #4 for the W. Otis Street Improvements Project to Cornerstone Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $70,592.98. Motion carried.

 Appointments by Mayor.  Two applications to the Park Board vacancy were received.  Mayor Kostichek made the following appointments:

  • Park Board. Appoint Lisa Hagen, who was in attendance, to the Park Board with a term ending 12/31/23.  Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to approve the Mayor’s appointment.  Puck abstained due to family relationship to an applicant. Motion carried.
  • Council Committees
    • Police & Animal Control – Brockmann & Koehler
    • Policy & Administration/City Hall – Koehler & Mengler
    • Streets, Solid Waste, & Parks – Puck & Smith
    • Fire & Civil Defense – Smith & Brockmann
    • Water & Sanitary Sewer Operations – Mengler & Puck
  • Mayor Pro Tem – Jacob Puck

Reappointments by Council.

Planning & Zoning Commission. Puck moved and Smith seconded to reappoint Chris Thompson to the Planning and Zoning Commission with a term ending 12/31/23. Motion carried.

Zoning Board of Adjustment.  Mengler moved and Koehler seconded to reappoint Everett Bieri to the Zoning Board of Adjustment with a term ending 12/31/23.  Motion carried

Police Department Report.  Chief Blake reported on a $900 grant the department received from the Iowa 80/CAT Scale Go Iowa Fund.  Upon approval from Attorney Schirman, Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2018-45, Adopting Policy for the Walcott Police Department Relating to the Enforcement of Immigration Laws.  Roll call ayes:  Mengler, Puck, Brockmann, Koehler, and Smith.  Motion carried.

City Clerk’s Report. Rickertsen reported on a letter from Mediacom regarding rate increases effective January 1, 2019.  Discussion was also held on clarifying the code regarding propane tanks.  Council consensus was to not allow propane tanks, when natural gas is available, except for temporary use and cooking purposes.  An ordinance amendment will be drafted for a future meeting.

Mayor’s Report.  Mayor Kostichek read a proclamation recognizing the 50th Anniversary of Municipal Home Rule in Iowa.

Puck moved and Koehler seconded to adjourn at 6:17 p.m. Motion carried.  All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

Signed Minutes & Claims

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December 3, 2018 Minutes

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 3rd day of December, 2018, at Walcott City Hall.  Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Council members present were: John Brockmann, Tim Koehler, Lisa Mengler, Jacob Puck, and Larry Smith.  Absent:  None.  City staff present:  Jeff Blake, Josh Geigle, Lisa Rickertsen, Tom Schirman, and Paul Stagg.

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

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. Joe Quick stated that the Walcott Day Committee would like to place Christmas lights on the poles on Memorial Road.  This topic will be placed on a future agenda after information regarding the number of poles and electrical costs are obtained.

Consent Agenda.  Puck moved and Koehler seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices and minutes from November 19, 2018.  Motion carried.

Otis Street Improvements Project – Payment #4. Following recommendations from the City Engineer and Stagg, Koehler moved and Puck seconded to approve payment #4 for the W. Otis Street Improvements Project to Cornerstone Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $174,273.93. Motion carried.

Resolution 2018-42, Providing for a Notice of Hearing on Proposed plans, Specifications, Form of Contract, and Estimate of Cost for the 2019 Water Main Improvements Project (E. James, N. Downey, and N. Grove Streets).  Brockmann questioned why a 4” water main was being replaced and not a 1” main. Stagg stated that the section of 4″ main to be replaced is on a street that is otherwise all 6″ main, causing a bottleneck in the water distribution system and it has been a problem area that has had multiple main breaks in recent years and . The 1” main (on N. Downey Street from James to Otis Streets) has not caused any problems at this time.  Mengler moved and Smith seconded to approve Resolution 2018-42.  Roll call ayes:  Mengler, Smith, Koehler, and Puck.  Nays: Brockmann.  Motion carried. The public hearing will be held on January 7th and the bid letting date will be January 29th.  

Resolution 2018-43, Providing for a Notice of Hearing on Proposed plans, Specifications, Form of Contract, and Estimate of Cost for the 2019 Sanitary Sewer Repairs/Improvements Project (W. Bryant Street and Rowe Lane).  Smith moved and Koehler seconded to approve Resolution 2018-43.  Roll call ayes:  Smith, Koehler, Mengler, Puck, and Brockmann.  Motion carried.  The public hearing will be held on January 7th and the bid letting date will be January 29th.  

Fire Department Report. 

  • Appointment of Fire Chief. Geigle stated the Fire Department held officer elections for 2019 and the members re-elected him as Chief.  Puck moved and Koehler seconded to approve the appointment of Josh Geigle as Fire Chief, term ending 12/31/2019.  Motion carried.
  • Fire Boots. Chief Geigle presented a project worksheet to purchase 10 pairs of leather boots.  He stated that part of the purchase will be funded with a grant from Iowa 80/Cat Scales and the remaining will be paid from the Fire Donation Fund.  Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the purchase of 10 pairs of boots from Sandry Fire Supply at a cost of $3,750.00 plus freight.  Motion carried.
  • Thermal Imager Cameras. Chief Geigle presented a project worksheet to purchase two thermal imager cameras.  These cameras can be used at structural firefighting scenes and searching for people.  Geigle stated that part of the purchase would be funded with Billie Warnecke memorials and the remaining will be paid from the Fire Donation Fund.  Koehler moved and Puck seconded to approve the purchase of two thermal imager cameras from Alex Air Apparatus at a cost of $5,880 plus freight.  Motion carried.          

Public Works Department Report.  Stagg reported on the following:

  • The street, parking areas, and driveways are completed on the W. Otis Street Project. The sidewalks and seeding will be done next spring as weather permits.
  • Walcott is one of ten cities in Iowa selected to participate in the 2019 Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning Program. The Community Visioning Program provides small Iowa communities with the planning and design resources for transportation enhancements.
  • The recent snow storm with wet and heavy snow and the strong winds that caused blowing and drifting. Smith and Brockmann both complained about the lack of snow removal and/or maintenance of the gravel portion of Memorial Road, from Main Street to the west City limits.  A lengthy discussion ensued.  Stagg stated that he is open to council suggestions on prioritizing city streets for plowing and that he has also spoken with Scott County regarding the maintenance and plowing of the gravel road.
  • During further investigation regarding recent water pressure fluctuations, mostly on the south side of the city, two water main valves were found to be closed. Stagg stated the valves have been closed since sometime prior to his employment and he is confident that after opening the valves the issue has been resolved, but he will continue to inspect other valves.
  • A notice was sent to the owner at 344 E. Flagg Street in regards to the temporary storage container. Owner, Randy Prine, was present and requested an extension until January 1, 2019, to move the container.  Council consensus was to allow the extension as requested.

City Clerk’s Report. Rickertsen reported the FYE 2018 annual examination report has been received from the State of Iowa Auditors Office and that there were no discrepancies reported.

Council Member Comments.  Mengler stated she felt the recent snow removal went well.  Puck thanked Stagg for the work on the recent snow removal and stated he felt that Walcott roads were in better shape than other roads he had driven on.  Brockmann questioned why they were hauling snow with the Ford 550 instead of a dump truck.  Stagg responded that it is a lot more mobile and can access the haul site better than a dump truck due to the wet ground.

Puck moved and Mengler seconded to adjourn at 6:45 p.m. Motion carried.  All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

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