The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 20^th day of September, 2021, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present: Everett Bieri, Kirk Koberg, Lisa Mengler, and Jacob Puck. Absent:  Larry Smith. City staff present: Jeff Blake, Paul Stagg, and Jackie Huston.

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

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. Harry Knutsen, Keri Kraft, and Rhonda Brockmann.

Consent Agenda. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from September 7, 2021, and August 2021 Financial Reports.  Motion carried.

Block Party Street Closure.  Rhonda Brockmann explained her request to close N. Henry Street from James Street to Meadow Lane on October 2^nd from 4 – 7 p.m.  The intention is to have a block party with the neighborhood residents.  Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the closure of N. Henry Street from James Street to Meadow Lane from 4-7 p.m.  Motion carried.

Trick-or-Treating.  Keri Kraft, representing the Walcott Women of Today, explained their plans for a Halloween Parade on October 31^st starting at 4 p.m. and going from Victory Park to the Walcott Legion.  They suggested Trick-or-Treating follow the parade from 5-7 p.m.  Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to set Trick-or-Treating for October 31^st from 5-7 p.m., following the parade.  Motion carried.

Appointment to the Planning & Zoning Commission.  Mengler moved and Puck seconded to appoint Heidi Wulf to the P&Z Commission for a term ending 12/31/22.  Motion carried.

Handicapped Parking Sign on E. James Street.  Calvary United Methodist Church is requesting that this sign, erected around 1970, be removed, since they now provide several handicapped parking spots in the east parking lot which is adjacent to the handicapped entrance.  Bieri moved and Koberg seconded to remove the Disabilities Parking Sign in the 100 block of E. James Street.  Motion carried.

Memorial Road dust control. Mayor Kostichek stated that he and Puck had received complaints about the amount of dust coming from the graveled portion of W. Memorial Road. Following discussion, Koberg moved and Puck seconded to apply dust control on W. Memorial Road at the cost of approximately $2,000.  Motion carried.

Visit Quad Cities Annual Contribution.  Koberg moved and Bieri seconded to contribute $1,000 to Visit Quad Cities.  Motion carried.

IMEG Engineering Proposal.  Stagg presented a proposal to engineer ADA approved ramps for the four intersections on E. James Street.  Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to have IMEG engineer the ramps at a cost of $7,800.  Motion carried.

Ordinance 521-21, Amending Chapter 65, pertaining to Four-Way Stop Intersections. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to waive the second reading of Ordinance 521-21, establishing a 4-way stop at the intersection of Main and James Streets. Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.  Koberg moved and Mengler seconded to approve the 3^rd and final reading of Ordinance 521-21 establishing a 4-way stop at the intersection of Main and James Streets.   Motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.

City Code review, chapter 161, Storm Water Detention Facilities.  Huston explained the proposed changes by the City Engineer to this chapter.  Koberg questioned the design process for storm water detention areas and expressed his concerns about the detention basin south of the Coke Distribution facility.

Public Works Department Report.  Stagg presented a project worksheet for street repairs to the intersection of Sterling Drive and Iowa 80 Road (deteriorated concrete) and E. James Street (concrete damaged by a vehicle fire).  Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the street repairs by Hoekstra Masonry for a total of $13,100.  Motion carried.

Stagg also reported on the following:

• A water main break by the school that will require concrete replacement. Stagg thanked Needham Excavating for their prompt response in repairing the break.
• The Victory Park concrete project should start by October 4^th.
• The City Engineer did not find the cause of the problems with W. Otis Street and will continue to determine the appropriate repairs.
• He discussed how time consuming and difficult it is to keep Sterling Drive clear during snowfall. The IDOT pays farmers to leave 16 rows of corn adjacent to some roads to keep the snow from accumulating.  Stagg is suggesting that we offer an agreement to the farmer with a cornfield north of Sterling Drive to leave some corn standing during the winter, which will help with snow removal.  Cost would be $2 per bushel or approximately $3,200.  Council consensus was to have Stagg bring an agreement to the next meeting for approval.
• S&V Fence replaced the guardrails over the Parker Street culvert with fencing and Stagg is planning on reinstalling the sidewalk sections over the Lincoln Street culvert.

Mayor’s Report.  The Mayor expressed his thanks to the Park Board for painting the Wescott Park concession stand.

Council Member Comments.  Bieri asked about the Recreational Trail bridge plank installation and Stagg reported that they should be installed within a month.  Bieri also asked about the replacement of the damaged windmill and Stagg replied that he had been looking for a heavier model.

Koberg moved and Mengler seconded to adjourn at 6:43 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

September 20, 2021 Signed Minutes & Claims

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Tuesday, the 7^th day of September, 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. Council member Kirk Koberg arrived at 6:05 p.m. City staff present: Jeff Blake and Lisa Rickertsen.

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

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. Elaine Arp expressed her thanks and appreciation to the City and staff for the rain barrel at Welcome Park so she could water the flowers at the Veteran’s memorial garden.

Consent Agenda. Smith moved and Mengler seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from August 16, 2021, Resolution 2021-36 Annual Street Finance Report for FYE 2021, and Resolution 2021-37 Annual Urban Renewal Report for FYE 2021. Roll call ayes: Smith, Mengler, Bieri, and Puck. Motion carried.

Council member Koberg arrived.

Galaxy Meter Receiver/Collector. Rickertsen reported the collector on the water tower will no longer be able to collect meter readings by the end of this year so a new collector is required to continue receiving water meter readings. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to purchase a Galaxy Gateway Receiver for $6,500 from Metering and Technology Solutions. Motion carried. Rickertsen reported on the new meter reading software conversion and the ability for customers to sign up online or through an app to view their water usage. Information on how to sign up will be in the next newsletter.      

Fall Clean-Up Day. Discussion was held on scheduling dumpsters for a clean-up day this fall, coinciding with the fall garage sale date, and locating the dumpsters at the compost area on W. Cedar Lane Drive. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve setting the Fall Clean-Up Day on October 9, 2021, from 2:00 – 5:-00 p.m., with the dumpsters to be located at the compost area. Motion carried. The compost area will be closed from Friday, October 8^th until the morning of October 11^th, with the exception of during 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9^th to allow residents to drop off eligible items in the dumpsters or compost area materials.

Walcott Historical Society Contribution. Koberg moved and Smith seconded to contribute $2,500 to the Walcott Historical Society, as budgeted. Motion carried.

Planning & Zoning Commission Vacancy. Rickertsen reported no one has expressed interest in filling the vacancy on the Planning & Zoning Commission. A vacancy occurred due to a member relocating for work. Interested residents should contact City Hall for additional information.

Ordinance 521-21, Amending Chapter 65 Pertaining to Four-Way Stop Intersections. Ordinance 521-21 was introduced and Smith moved and Mengler seconded to approve the first reading. Roll call ayes: Smith, Mengler, Bieri, Puck, and Koberg. Motion carried. This ordinance will make the intersection at Main & James Street a permanent four-way stop.

Police Department Report. Chief Blake reported the new squad will take approximately one more month before it is ready.

City Clerk Report. Rickertsen questioned contacting the TIF attorney to proceed with amending the Urban Renewal Plan to add the Lincoln Street Improvements Project to it. Council consensus was to move forward with amending the Plan.

Council Member Comments. Council reviewed the written Public Works Department updates provided by Stagg. Discussion was held on naming Wescott Park ball field after Larry Koberg. This will be placed on a future agenda in early 2022 for formal action. Discussion was held on setting an annual date to remove the hanging flower baskets. Consensus was to remove them on the first day of fall or sooner. Mengler requested status updates on the W. Otis Street project concerns, recreational trail bridge planks, guard rails on N. Parker Street, and barricaded sidewalk on E. Lincoln Street. Bieri stated organizations that have signs that were at Wescott Park and want them back up should drop them off. Smith expressed concerns about potential street deterioration due to heavy truck traffic detouring on James Street instead of Memorial Road. Chief Blake will talk to the County about changing and adding some project/detour signs.

Koberg moved and Puck seconded to adjourn at 6:47 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

September 7, 2021 Signed Minutes & Claims

SEPTEMBER 2021 CHAMBER NEWSLETTER