March 15, 2021 Minutes
The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 15th day of March, 2021, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present: Everett Bieri, Lisa Mengler, Jacob Puck, and Larry Smith. Absent: None. City staff present: Scott Bengfort, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg. Due to COVID-19, this meeting was held electronically via conference call, permitted under the Iowa Code, Chapter 21.8, which allows an electronic meeting where individuals may participate remotely when an in-person meeting is impossible or impractical. Call-in information was provided to the public on the meeting agenda notice.
Approval of Agenda. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. No comments.
Public Hearings. Mayor Kostichek opened the public hearing on the budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (FYE 2022). Rickertsen stated the proposed budget includes a levy tax rate increase of $.04143, which will provide the same tax levy dollars as the current year. Rickertsen reported the valuations for computing taxes did decrease but overall the City’s property valuations increased. The decrease for computing taxes is due to a shift in commercial property valuations to pay the tax increment financing rebates for the next fiscal year. The budget includes a water rate increase to cover costs associated with the maintenance and future improvements to the water system and a garbage rate increase to cover the annual rate increase from the garbage contractor. No written or other comments were received. Smith moved and Puck seconded to close the public hearing and open the public hearing on rezoning a portion of property owned by Ossian, Inc, at 111 N. Blue Grass Road, from S-A, Suburban Agriculture, to M-1, Light Industrial. Motion carried. Rickertsen reported the Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing for the rezoning request on March 8th, and they recommended approving the rezoning. Mike Ossian was present and reported the rezoning will allow them to further develop their property. Mengler thanked Ossian for continuing to develop the property. No written or other comments were received. Puck moved and Mengler seconded to close the public hearing and resume the regular meeting. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda. Mengler moved and Smith seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from March 1, 2021, February 2021 financial reports, and set Spring Clean-Up Day for May 1, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Motion carried.
Resolution 2021-10, Approving the Adoption of the FYE 2022 Budget. Puck moved and Smith seconded to approve Resolution 2021-10 as proposed. Roll call ayes: Puck, Smith, Mengler, and Bieri. Motion carried. The levy tax rate for FYE 2022 is set at 10.12383.
Ordinance 517-21, Amending the Official Zoning Map. Mengler introduced and moved and Puck seconded to approve the first reading of Ordinance 517-21. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Bieri, and Smith. Motion carried. This rezones a portion of property owned by Ossian, Inc, at 111 N. Blue Grass Road, from S-A, Suburban Agriculture, to M-1, Light Industrial.
Review of Proposed Changes to Chapter 155, Above Ground Storage Tanks. Stagg reported that Bengfort researched and presented proposed changes to Chapter 155 that align more with the Code Iowa and fire codes. Smith moved and Bieri seconded to proceed with an ordinance change for Chapter 155, as proposed, for the next meeting. Motion carried.
Review/Deactivate Item 6 (use of fire meeting room) of the Public Health Disaster Emergency Policy. Rickertsen reported she received requests from local organizations to utilize the fire meeting room. She stated the Fire Chief had no issues with allowing them to utilize the room again. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to deactivate section 6 of the Public Health Disaster Emergency Policy. Motion carried.
Downey Street Water Main Improvements Project – Resolution 2021-11, Approving Contract & Bonds. Rickertsen reported the City Engineer has reviewed and approved the contract and required bonds for the Downey Street Water Main Improvements Project. Bieri moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2021-11. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Puck, Mengler, and Smith. Motion carried. The contract is with Hagerty Earthworks, LLC for $130,082.35. Stagg stated he would set up a pre-construction meeting with the contractor and residents along the project.
City Council Vacancy. Due to John Brockmann’s resignation from the City Council at the last meeting, Smith moved and Mengler seconded to fill the vacancy by appointment during the April 19, 2021, council meeting at 6:00 p.m. at Walcott City Hall. Motion carried. Appointment forms will be available at City Hall and from the City’s website.
Police Department Report. Rickertsen reported that Chief Blake received a quote for a trade-in value of $15,200 from Stew Hansen Dodge for the 2016 Dodge Ram. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to trade-in the truck with Stew Hansen Dodge when purchasing the new squad. Motion carried.
Public Works Department Report. Stagg stated the Public Works laborer job description needed updated and he presented revisions based on a template from Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2021-12, Approving Job Description for Public Works Laborer/Heavy Equipment Operator. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Bieri, and Smith. Motion carried.
City Clerk Report. Rickertsen reported on a preliminary estimate of approximately $226,000 that the City of Walcott could possibly receive as part of the American Rescue Plan, which could potentially be used for water and sewer upgrades. She also reported that the Easter Egg Hunt will be on March 28th at Water Tower Park.
Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to adjourn at 6:28 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.
March 1, 2021 Minutes
The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 1st day of March, 2021, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present: Everett Bieri, John Brockmann, Lisa Mengler, Jacob Puck, and Larry Smith. City staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg. Due to COVID-19, this meeting was held electronically via conference call, permitted under the Iowa Code, Chapter 21.8, which allows an electronic meeting where individuals may participate remotely when an in-person meeting is impossible or impractical. Call-in information was provided to the public on the meeting agenda notice.
Approval of Agenda. Smith moved and Puck seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. No comments.
Consent Agenda. Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from February 15, 2021, and the annual insurance renewal with Arp Insurance/EMC Insurance. Motion carried.
Walcott Day Committee – Approval of Food Trucks. Mengler reported that the Walcott Day Committee is exploring food serving options due to COVID concerns at Walcott Day this summer. One of the options is to have food trucks on the street and/or at the park during Walcott Day this year and she inquired if the Council would allow it. Following discussion, Puck moved and Smith seconded to allow the Walcott Day Committee to have food trucks on the street and/or at the park during Walcott Day this year. Motion carried.
Downey Street Water Main Improvements Project. Rickertsen reported there were eight bids received for the N. Downey Street Water Main Improvements Project and the City Engineer recommends the City accept the low bid from Hagerty Earthworks, LLC.
- Resolution 2021-9, Awarding Contract for the Downey Street Water Main Improvements Project. Smith moved and Bieri seconded to approve Resolution 2021-9. Roll call ayes: Smith, Bieri, Puck, Mengler, and Brockmann. Motion carried. The contract is awarded to Hagerty Earthworks, LLC, Muscatine, Iowa, for $130,082.35.
- IMEG Engineering Services. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the engineering proposal services with IMEG for $11,200. Motion carried. This is for the construction staking and administration services, and additional design of sanitary sewer for the Downey Street Water Main Improvements Project.
Police Department Report. Chief Blake presented his report including a project worksheet to replace the Dodge Ram squad. Blake stated he intends to apply for a grant this spring for the purchase; however, the squad needs to be ordered now and will not be ready or paid for until July. Blake will contact the dealer and inquire on trading in the current squad. Smith moved and Puck seconded to approve the request from Blake to order a Dodge Ram squad from Stew Hansen Dodge as presented. Motion carried. The cost presented is $32,477 from Stew Hansen Dodge.
Hearts and Hands Foundation. Austin Burt presented an update on the Wescott Park project, including project costs and donations from volunteer organizations and donated services from Tim Hamann/County Line Excavating and Needham Excavating. He also reviewed the next steps to finish the project, which include grading, seeding, and park signage. He stated their goal is to have the park improvements completed by April 30th. Rickertsen inquired if teams would be able to utilize the diamond for practices after April 1st. They will work to have them ready for practice but it will depend on the weather. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding installing the planned city sidewalk on the east side of the park now (along Parker Street), instead of early fall, so the area will not need to be seeded twice. Discussion was held on the request to install a walkway from the SE corner of the park to the bleacher pad. The sidewalk plans and specifications, which were prepared last year, do not include the walkway so it needs to be verified if the proposed walkway will be able to meet ADA requirements. Following further discussion, council consensus was to have Stagg check the grade and have the engineer see if it’s feasible to add a walkway from the SE corner of the park to the bleacher pad and obtain bids for the sidewalk along Parker Street.
Public Works Department Report. Stagg reported on a new business opening this month, S&V Fence, located south of the Dollar General along Main Street. He inquired if Council would entertain a change to the City Code section regarding above ground gas tanks, no greater than 1,000 gallons, to be more consistent with State and NFPA Codes. Stagg stated the City’s current chapter on above ground storage tanks is more restrictive than the other codes. Council consensus was to have staff research and present proposed code changes at a future meeting. Stagg provided an update on the park repairs/improvements at Victory Park.
City Clerk Report. Rickertsen presented her report including the proposed budget for FYE 2022.
Council Member Comments. Brockmann stated he is resigning from the City Council at the end of his presentation tonight. He commented on several items including the following: his justification for vehicle and equipment purchases during his tenure that were mentioned at the last meeting; his past utilization of part-time help versus current use of a landscape contractor; his concerns regarding flaws with the culvert installed on Memorial Road and the city parking lot and W. Otis Street improvement projects; concerns with the fire department roof and single quote; and questioned why the crosswalk painting was not completed last year. Stagg responded to some of the project concerns and in regards to the crosswalk painting he noted there was a reduction in staff hours last spring due to the pandemic. It was mentioned that the fire department roof cost is for budgeting purposes and bids would be requested if the project proceeds. Brockmann again stated he is resigning from the City Council and left immediately at 7:21 p.m.
Bieri moved and Smith seconded to adjourn at 7:21 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.