The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 16^th day of January, 2023 at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present: Everett Bieri, Lisa Mengler, Harry Knutsen, and Jacob Puck. Absent: Kirk Koberg. Staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg.

Approval of Agenda. Rickertsen requested item seven, City Hall restroom and hallway upgrades, be removed from the agenda due to obtaining additional information. Knutsen moved and Bieri seconded to approve the agenda with deletion of item seven. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, Class C liquor license renewal for Gramma’s Kitchen and The Checkered Flag Bar & Grill, December 2022 financial reports, and minutes from January 3, 2023 and January 12, 2023. Motion carried.

Sterling Partners I LLC – TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Program Application for New Warehouse. Dave Meier was present and requested a TIF rebate for the new warehouse they are building this year. He stated they will be using 100,000 sq ft and 151,000 sq ft will be available for lease. They expect the warehouse to be completed by year end. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the application for the TIF program for a four-year term with the following percentages: 40, 30, 20, and 10. Motion carried. Rickertsen stated the company will be responsible for reimbursing the City for legal fees in connection with the preparation of a development agreement for the TIF rebate.

Durant Ambulance Support. Bieri moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the budgeted contribution of $1,000 to Durant Ambulance. Motion carried.

Resolution 2023-4, Approving Purchase Offer with Marvin & Loretta Siebke Revocable Trust. Rickertsen reported on the purchase offer details. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2023-4. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Bieri, and Knutsen. Motion carried.

Resolution 2023-5, Acknowledging a New Investment. Rickertsen reported on a CD purchased at CBI Bank and Trust. Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to approve Resolution 2023-5. Roll call ayes: Puck, Knutsen, Bieri, and Mengler. Motion carried.

Public Works Department Report. Stagg presented his report which included a proposal from the Building Official to change the single-family rental housing regulations. The proposal is to exclude single family houses occupied by children or parents of the owner from the rental housing program. Council consensus was to proceed with the change as discussed.

• Purchase of Overhead Doors on Storage Building. Stagg presented a project worksheet to replace four overhead doors on the storage building. Following discussion, Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the purchase of four overhead doors, including labor installation costs, from Raynor Door at a cost of $17,917. Motion carried.

City Clerk’s Report. Set Budget Max Levy Hearing Date. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to set the FYE 2024 budget max levy public hearing date for February 6, 2023, at City Hall at 6:00 p.m.

Motion carried. Discussion was held on the maximum levy amount and rate for the public notice.

Mayor’s Report. Mayor Kostichek reported on a recent meeting at the Davenport Community School regarding their legislative priorities.

Bieri moved and Mengler seconded to adjourn at 6:35 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

January 16, 2023 Signed minutes & claims

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Tuesday, the 3^rd day of January, 2023 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, Harry Knutsen, and Jacob Puck.  Staff present: Lisa Rickertsen and Paul Stagg.

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

Consent Agenda. Rickertsen reported on the resolutions listed in the consent agenda. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, Resolution 2023-1, Designating the North Scott Press as Official Newspaper, Resolution 2023-2, Authorizing Certain Payments Before a Council Meeting, and Resolution 2023-3, Establishing the Standard Mileage Rate Reimbursement. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Bieri, Puck, Koberg, and Knutsen. Motion carried.

Minutes from December 19, 2022.  Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the minutes from December 19, 2022. Motion carried with Mengler abstaining due to absence from meeting.

Fire Department Report. Replace Unit #6- 1997 EMS Truck. Walcott Fire Department members, Chief Korry Kraft, Joe Hahn, and Ben McKibbin, were present to request approval to purchase a new truck from Ward Apparatus at a cost of $604,583. McKibbin reported they sent the request for bids to six companies but Ward Apparatus was the only one that submitted a bid. Letters were received from three other companies, one stated they were unable to submit a bid due to the market volatility and timelines requested and the other two were not able to submit a bid based on the truck specifications. Mengler expressed concerns on the cost, lack of bids, and her responsibility to the taxpayers when spending city funds. Mayor Kostichek questioned if anything could be removed from the truck and the members responded the truck is already “bare bones” and they will transfer the current equipment to the new truck. He also questioned the size of the truck and Hahn stated it will be built to fit into the current building. Koberg expressed several concerns, including the cost, number of bids, and funding. Discussion was held on the current funds available, potential grant requests, and timelines. After a lengthy discussion, Knutsen moved and Koberg seconded to approve the purchase of a truck from Ward Apparatus at the cost of $604,583 to replace Unit #6, with the Fire Department submitting a grant request this spring. Motion carried. Hahn stated Ward Apparatus will pay for travel expenses for three inspections during the chassis and box construction, one to Michigan and two to New York, at no cost to the City.

Public Works Department.

• Replace Air Compressor at Water Plant. Stagg presented a project worksheet to replace the air compressor at the water plant. He stated he only obtained one quote because it’s the same brand as the three air compressors at the sewer plant and A-L-L Equipment services the air compressors. Koberg moved and Puck seconded to approve the purchase of an air compressor as presented (from A-L-L Equipment at a cost of $7,840.24). Motion carried.
• Replace 2009 GMC 2500 with 2023 Ford 2500. Stagg presented a project worksheet to replace the 2009 GMC 2500 with a 2023 Ford 2500 from Stivers Ford through the state bid contract. Stagg stated the truck does not include a utility box, but he intends to purchase one. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to replace the 2009 GMC 2500 with the purchase of a 2023 Ford 2500 at a cost of $43,095 from Stivers Ford, which is the state bid. Motion carried.

City Clerk’s Report. A budget meeting was scheduled for January 12^th at 5:00 p.m.  

Sterling Partners I LLC – TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Program Application for New Warehouse. No representative from Sterling Partners I LLC was present. Rickertsen will contact the City’s TIF attorney regarding concerns if the TIF application request meets the urban renewal plan requirements. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to table until the next regular meeting. Motion carried.

Council Member Comments. Puck questioned the deteriorated condition of the rental property accessory building (garage) along Main Street. Discussion ensued regarding rental property and dangerous building regulations. Koberg’s comments included his frustration with the narrow width of E. Lincoln Street by the school. Stagg stated it was not designed for parking on both sides in that area.

Knutsen moved and Koberg seconded to adjourn at 7:38 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.

January 3, 2023 Signed Minutes & Claims