The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 18^th day of April, 2022, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present: Everett Bieri, Harry Knutsen, Kirk Koberg, and Jacob Puck. Absent: Lisa Mengler. Staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg.

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

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. IMEG representatives, Jason Holdorf (City Engineer) and Walter DeDoncker, were in attendance.

Consent Agenda. Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from April 4, 2022, March 2022 financial reports, Tax Increment Financing rebate payments per agreements to Iowa 80 Truckstop, Inc. for main building expansion – ½ of 2^nd year rebate = $14,487.08 and Atlantic Bottling Company for distribution building, – ½ of 1^st year rebate = $43,748.82, and Resolution 2022-14 – Transfer of Funds. Roll call ayes: Puck, Knutsen, Koberg, and Bieri. Motion carried.

Walcott Day Committee Request. Koberg reported the theme for Walcott Day is Fields of Dreams and the Committee is requesting to plant two rows of field corn around a section of the outside fence at Victory Park. The Committee will be responsible for planting, watering, weeding, removal after Walcott Day, and re-seeding or re-sodding the area. Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the request, allowing two rows of field corn to be planted outside the fence at Victory Park, as presented, between the two light poles. Motion carried.

Summer Youth Program Transportation Costs. Discussion was held on the increased transportation costs for the summer youth program. If the number of participants exceeds 70, an additional fee of $4,500 will be charged to the City for a second bus. Following discussion, Puck moved and Koberg reluctantly seconded to limit the summer youth program participation to 70. Motion carried.

Resolution 2022-15, Designation of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). Rickertsen reported on the SLFRF received from the American Rescue Plan Act. Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to approve Resolution 2022-15. Roll call ayes: Puck, Knutsen, Koberg, and Bieri. Motion carried. This designates up to $138,860 of SLFRF to upgrade the technology equipment at the water and sewer treatment plants.

Legal Services for 2022 Urban Renewal Plan Amendment and General Obligation Project Financing Services. Rickertsen reported that these services are in connection with the E. Lincoln Street Improvements Project. Bieri moved and Puck seconded to approve the legal services, as presented, with Dorsey & Whitney, in the amount of $16,000. Motion carried.

Resolution 2022-16, Setting Public Hearing on the Urban Renewal Plan Amendment. Rickertsen reported an amendment to the urban renewal plan for the Consolidated Walcott Urban Renewal Area has been prepared to include the E. Lincoln Street Improvements Project. Bieri moved and Koberg seconded to approve Resolution 2022-16. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Knutsen, Koberg, and Puck. Motion carried. The public hearing will be held at Walcott City Hall on May 16^th at 6:00 p.m.

Resolution 2022-17, Awarding Contract for the E. Lincoln Street Improvements Project. Koberg moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2022-17, per the City Engineer’s recommendation. Roll call ayes: Koberg, Puck, Bieri, and Knutsen. Motion carried. The contract for the E. Lincoln Street Improvements Project is awarded to the low bidder, Needham Excavating, Inc., at $3,172,652.57.

Resolution 2022-18, Setting Public Hearing Date on Additional Action on Proposal to enter into General Obligation Loan Agreement and to Borrow Money thereunder. This is to borrow money, not to exceed $1,750,000, for paying costs related to the E. Lincoln Street Improvements Project. Bieri moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2022-18. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Puck, Knutsen, and Koberg. Motion carried. The public hearing will be held at Walcott City Hall on May 16^th at 6:00 p.m.  

City Engineer Report. Holdorf reported on the landscaping progress at Victory Park. He stated he spoke to the general contractor on the Downey Street Watermain project and they will be replacing the ADA ramp that they installed incorrectly and over-seed and fertilize the area.

Public Works Department Report. Stagg presented project worksheets for street maintenance and upgrading technology equipment at the water and sewer treatment plants. He also presented information on the residential sidewalk repair program and stated he is in the process of flushing hydrants.

• Chip Seal Maintenance. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the chip seal maintenance on portions of E. Otis, E. James, and N. Downey Streets. Motion carried. The contractor is LL Pelling Co. and the maintenance amount is $22,608.
• Technology/Controls Upgrades at the Water & Sewer Treatment Plants. Koberg moved and Puck seconded to hire Automatic Systems to upgrade the hardware and software components of the facility controls at a cost not to exceed $138,860. Motion carried.
• 2022 Residential Sidewalk Repair Program. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the 2022 Residential Sidewalk Repair Program as presented. Motion carried.

Knutsen moved and Bieri seconded to adjourn at 6:46 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

April 18, 2022 Signed Minutes & Claims

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 4^th day of April, 2022, at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present: Everett Bieri, Harry Knutsen, Kirk Koberg, Lisa Mengler, and Jacob Puck. Staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg.

Approval of Agenda. Knutsen moved and Bieri seconded to approve the agenda with addition of Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. Motion carried.

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. Nick Needham expressed safety concerns, due to lack of visibility and large equipment, if Needham Excavating is required to install a sidewalk along their property on N. Henry Street. He reported the site plan approved last October for Central Petroleum (NW corner of Lincoln & Henry Streets) includes a sidewalk along N. Henry Street, stopping south of the creek and Needham Excavating’s property. Discussion ensued and Rickertsen stated the City Code requires the site plan be resubmitted for deviations to the approved site plan. Following further discussion, Needham (acting developer for Central Petroleum) stated they would re-submit the site plan.

Consent Agenda. Puck moved and Koberg seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from March 21, 2022, and renewal of Class C liquor license including outdoor and Sunday sales for the Lamp Liter, Inc. Motion carried.

Class B Beer Permit including Outdoor & Sunday Sales for Walcott Unified Fund at Victory Park. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the Class B beer permit for Walcott Unified Fund (W.U.F.) at Victory Park. Motion carried with Koberg abstaining due to conflict of interest since he is the President of W.U.F.

Class B Beer Permit including Outdoor & Sunday Sales for Walcott Unified Fund at Wescott Park. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the Class B beer permit for Walcott Unified Fund at Wescott Park. Motion carried with Koberg abstaining due to conflict of interest.

Resolution 2022-12, Setting Public Hearing on the Adoption of the Proposed Code of Ordinances of the City of Walcott, Iowa. Mengler moved and Koberg seconded to approve Resolution 2022-12. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Koberg, Knutsen, Bieri, and Puck. Motion carried. The public hearing will be on May 2^nd at 6:00 p.m.

Resolution 2022-13, Accepting Westbrook 7^th Addition Public Improvements. Koberg moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2022-13. Roll call ayes: Koberg, Puck, Bieri, Mengler, and Knutsen. Motion carried.

Sale of Equipment. Stagg presented the auction results for the sale of the following equipment: 1989 Ford 6610 Tractor, 1989 John Deere 430, 1990 JD 955, and 2008 JD X360. Koberg moved and Puck seconded to approve the sale of equipment as presented, for a total of $36,578. Motion carried.

Public Works Department Report.

• Equipment Disposal. Stagg presented photos of some old equipment and requested to dispose of them. Koberg moved and Knutsen seconded to dispose of the equipment as presented by Stagg. Motion carried.
• Purchase of Brush Grapple for Skid Steer. Stagg presented a project worksheet to purchase a brush grapple for the skid steer. Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the purchase of a brush grapple for $3,199 from BDS Equipment. Motion carried.

City Clerk Report. Rickertsen reported the Iowa DOT submitted information on an upcoming pavement marking project on I-80 within City limits.

Council Comments. Council members expressed concerns/disappointment with the recent contractor projects at Victory and Wescott Parks, especially with the sod and workmanship. Puck questioned if the Historical Society is still interested in the 1949 fire truck and reported on a complaint he received regarding the graveled portion of W. Memorial Road.

Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to adjourn at 6:46 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

April 4, 2022 Signed Minutes & Claims