The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 17^th day of October, 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, Lisa Mengler, and Jacob Puck. Absent: Kirk Koberg. Staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg.

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

Public Comments. None.  

Consent Agenda. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices and September 2022 financial reports. Motion carried.

Approval of Minutes from October 3, 2022. Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the minutes from October 3, 2022. Motion carried.

Iowa 80 Ninth Addition.

• Resolution 2022-38 – Approval of Final Plat for Iowa 80 Ninth Addition – Certificate of Acceptance by the City of Walcott. Rickertsen reported the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the final plat and the additional information as requested by the Commission has been received. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve Resolution 2022-38. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Bieri, Puck, and Knutsen. Motion carried.
• Resolution 2022-39 – Approval of Site Plan for a Warehouse for Sterling Partners I, LLC. Rickertsen reported the Site Plan was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission provided that both sides of Sterling Drive become a “No Parking” zone from Plainview Road to 100’ past the east driveway of the warehouse. Stagg requested the City Council make Sterling Drive no parking on the entire street, due to the width of the street and the City Code already states no semi parking on city streets. Chief Blake agreed with Stagg to not allow parking on any part of Sterling Drive. Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve Resolution 2022-39 and direct staff to prepare an ordinance for no parking on Sterling Drive. Roll call ayes: Puck, Mengler, Bieri, and Knutsen. Motion carried.

Ryan Stacy – Tree Abatement Notice. Ryan Stacy requested to be placed on the agenda to discuss the abatement notice to remove a dead, diseased, or damaged tree from his property at 227 N. Century Street. Stacy was not present, but council consensus was that the nuisance exists and it is to be abated according to the notice. 

Park Board Recommendations. Rickertsen reported the Park Board recommends accepting the following donations:

• Gary Meincke Memorial Table Donations for Wescott Park. Lynnette and Cora Tarchinski were present in regards to the Gary Meincke memorial donations. Memorial funds were donated to the City in memory of Gary Meincke and the family would like these funds, along with additional funds they will donate, for the purchase of two drink rails, to be located on the last two 8’ sections of fence along the 3^rd base line, and one square picnic table. Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the purchase of two drink rails and one square picnic table for Wescott Park, as presented, with the donated funds. Motion carried. Mengler thanked Tarchinski and her family for the memorial donations for Wescott Park.
• Walcott Lions Club Bench Donations for Water Tower Park. Rickertsen stated the Walcott Lions are requesting to place two 8’ memorial composite benches at Water Tower Park. One bench is in memory of Leon Downing and the other for Butch Arp. Mengler moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the donation of two benches from the Walcott Lions Club to be placed at Water Tower Park. Motion carried.

Policy & Administration Committee Recommendations. Bieri reported on the changes the Policy & Administration Committee, Bieri and Mengler, recommend for the personnel policy handbook. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2022-40, Approving Amendments to the Personnel Policy Handbook. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Knutsen, and Bieri. Motion carried.

Review of Stop Signs. Stagg reported on inconsistencies with stop and yield signs, which are either not installed per City Code or signs installed that are not listed in the City Code. Following discussion, Mengler moved and Knutsen seconded to have an ordinance prepared to list the eleven stop sign locations, which are already installed, to the City Code, and install two stop signs and replace a yield sign with a stop sign per the City Code. Motion carried.

Police Department Report. Blake reported on a request to use golf carts on a portion of the recreational trail, crossing the bridge from the mobile home park and traveling to Bridge Lane. He stated two residents at the mobile home park own golf carts and there is currently no legal way for them to get into the rest of the community with a golf cart. Concerns from Council Members and the City Attorney were: regarding mixing golf carts with pedestrian traffic, increased liability for the City, and abuse of the rules. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to deny the request to allow golf cart use on the recreational trail. Motion carried.

Public Works Department Report. Stagg presented the City Engineer’s study on possible routes to extend sanitary sewer and water to six potential future development areas. All six areas can be served without installing lift stations. Stagg also provided updates on the E. Lincoln Street project and reported the park restrooms and concession stands have been winterized and are closed for the season.

City Clerk’s Report. Rickertsen reported the State Auditor’s Office released the annual examination for fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and that no exceptions were noted, which indicates a clean financial exam. Mengler thanked Rickertsen for a job well done.

Knutsen moved and Mengler seconded to adjourn at 6:28 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

October 17, 2022 Signed Minutes & Claims

Walcott Chamber Newsletter October 2022

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 3^rd day of October, 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, Lisa Mengler, and Jacob Puck. Absent: Kirk Koberg. Staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg. Chief Korry Kraft was present for the Fire Department Report and City Engineer, Jason Holdorf, arrived for the City Engineer report.

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

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. No comments.

Consent Agenda. Knutsen moved and Mengler seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from September 19, 2022, and Tax Increment Financing Rebate Payments Per Agreements – Iowa 80 Truckstop, Inc. – Main Building Expansion, ½ of 3^rd year rebate = $12,829.16 & Atlantic Bottling Company –Distribution Building, ½ of 2^nd year rebate = $38,547.38. Motion carried.

Trick-or-Treating. Rickertsen reported the Walcott Women representative at the last council meeting requested the incorrect time for Trick-or-Treating. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to accept the revised time of 5 – 7 p.m. for Trick-or-Treating on October 30, 2022, with the parade starting at 4:15 p.m. (line up at 4:00 p.m.). Motion carried.

Request to Sell Food at City Park on October 8, 2022. Tim Klindt requested permission to sell food (egg rolls) at a City park on October 8^th during the city-wide garage sales. His wife runs a business, Humble, out of their home in Blue Grass, which is licensed by the Scott County Health Department. Klindt stated they are trying to promote their business in Walcott. Rickertsen reported the City Attorney questioned if this would set a precedent and how would it affect other local businesses. Following discussion, Council suggested Klindt contact local business owners that may allow a food truck on their private property and thanked him for attending.

Fire Department Report –New Rescue Truck Plans & Specifications. Chief Korry Kraft presented specifications for a new rescue truck, which would replace the 1997 rescue truck. He requested permission to send the truck specifications to bidders. Mayor Kostichek questioned the need for a Spartan custom chassis, instead of a standard chassis. Kraft stated the Spartan custom chassis is comparable in price to a Freightliner chassis, but the Spartan sits over the engine which allows for a larger cab. Kraft was asked to obtain a quote on another chassis (Freightliner) for review at the next council meeting. Mayor Kosticheck questioned applying for grants and Kraft stated they just missed a grant cycle but agreed they may be able to apply in the spring for the truck box.

Walcott Historical Society. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the contribution request of $2,500 to the Walcott Historical Society as budgeted. Motion carried.

Lincoln Street Improvements Project. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve payment #4 to Needham Excavating, in the amount of $170,414.11, as recommended by the project engineer. Motion carried. Mengler questioned the status of the Main and Lincoln Street intersection. Stagg responded it should be paved before winter.

Police Department Report. Chief Blake presented his report including a project worksheet to purchase a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 and reported on the status of repairs to the Dodge Durango squad, which is still out of service. Chief Blake stated the vehicle would not be delivered until after July 1^st and he could write a grant in the spring. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the purchase as presented for a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 from Stew Hansen Dodge, at a cost of $41,084, with an older squad to be traded in at a later date. Motion carried.

City Engineer Report. Jason Holdorf reported on the status of correction for the the W. Otis Street deficiencies. He contacted other contractors and is pursuing sidewalk repairs. Holdorf stated it is IMEG’s intention to replace a few street panels, as well as the two sidewalk sections this fall and revisit it next year. Mayor Kostichek questioned the timeline on paving E. Lincoln Street, particularly at the east end of the project. Holdorf stated he hopes the paving will start in mid-late October. Mengler questioned the status of the future development utility plan study. Holdorf responded he would forward it to Stagg prior to the next meeting.

Public Works Department Report. Stagg provided additional updates on the E. Lincoln Street project.

• Dead and Diseased Trees. Stagg reorganized the list as requested. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to direct Stagg to proceed with letters to the ten property owners as listed. Motion carried.
• Valve Exerciser. Stagg presented a project worksheet to purchase a valve exerciser to use on hydrants and water main valves. Following discussion, Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the purchase of a valve exerciser at a cost of $4,950. Motion carried.  

Stagg also reported on the mowing of the recreational trail and an open position in the Public Works Department. Mengler questioned the status of the concrete bids for the James & Century Streets intersection ADA improvements. Stagg responded since it’s late in the construction season, they will obtain bids again next spring.

Possible Closed Session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(J). Bieri moved and Puck seconded to go into a closed session at 6:47 p.m. under Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(1)(j) to discuss purchase of particular real estate. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Puck, Mengler, and Knutsen. Motion carried. Rickertsen and Stagg were allowed to stay at the meeting and all others were asked to leave the council chamber.

Mengler moved and Puck seconded to close the closed session and resume the regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Bieri, and Knutsen. Motion carried.

Possible Action per Closed Session. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to instruct staff to communicate with property owner as discussed during the closed session. Motion carried.

Bieri moved and Knutsen seconded to adjourn at 7:01 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

October 3, 2022 Signed Minutes & Claims