The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, February 19, 2024, 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 and Lisa Rickertsen.

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

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. None.

Public Hearing. Mayor Kostichek opened the public hearing on the plans and specifications, form of contract, and cost estimate for the 2024 CIPP Sewer Main Lining Project. No written or oral 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 Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from February 5, 2024, January 2024 financial reports, and Resolution 2024-9, Adopting the Annual Supplement to the Code of Ordinances. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Bieri, Puck, and Knutsen. Motion carried. 

Resolution 2024-10, Approving Plans & Specifications and Form of Contract for the 2024 CIPP Sewer Main Lining Project. Bieri moved and Knutsen seconded to approve Resolution 2024-10, Approving Plans & Specifications and Form of Contract for the 2024 CIPP Sewer Main Lining Project. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Knutsen, Mengler, and Puck. Motion carried.

Grant Submissions for Tennis Court Rehabilitation and Pickleball Courts Project. Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve two grant submissions for the Tennis Court Rehabilitation and Pickleball Courts Project. Motion carried.

Lincoln/Durant Streets Flushing Manholes Replacement Project. Discussion was held on the project worksheet to replace two flushing manholes, which will allow them to be accessible for jetting, cleaning, lining or other maintenance activities. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the Lincoln/Durant Streets Flushing Manholes Replacement Project with the low bidder, Triple B Construction, for $18,755. Motion carried.  

Ordinance 545-24, Amending Chapter 74 Pertaining to Golf Carts. Ordinance 545-24 was introduced and discussed. Mengler moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the first reading of Ordinance 545-24, Amending Chapter 74 Pertaining to Golf Carts. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Knutsen, Bieri, and Puck. Motion carried. Application forms will no longer require all operators to be listed.

Policy & Administration Committee (Bieri and Puck) Recommendations.

• Sick Leave Policy Amendments. Bieri moved and Puck seconded to table the discussion of the sick leave policy until the March 18^th meeting. Motion carried. 
• Employee Wages for Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2024. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to direct the City Clerk to prepare a wage resolution as presented and discussed. Motion carried.

Mayor Report. Mayor Kostichek reported on a recent meeting he and Puck had with Davenport Community School Superintendent Schneckloth.

Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to adjourn at 6:27 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted. 

February 19, 2024 Signed Minutes & Claims

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, January 15, 2024, 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. Bieri moved and Koberg seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, Resolution 2024-4, Approving Applications for the City of Walcott Low-and-Moderate Income (LMI) Furnace Replacement Program, and Resolution 2024-5, Transfer of Funds. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Bieri, Puck, Koberg, and Knutsen Motion carried. 

Approval of January 2, 2024 Minutes. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the minutes from January 2, 2024. Motion carried with Knutsen abstaining due to absence from meeting.

Resolution 2024-6, Approving the Designation of State and Local Recovery Funds. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2024-6. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Bieri, Knutsen, and Koberg. Motion carried. Remaining funds will be used towards additional plant upgrades at the water and wastewater treatment plants, security cameras, and generator/electrical upgrades at the Police/Public Works Departments building.

Purchase of High Service Pump VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives) at Water Plant and Control Panel Upgrade VFD at Wastewater Plant. Puck moved and Koberg seconded to purchase 3 high service pump VFDs for the water plant and upgrade the control panel and two VFDs at the wastewater plant, at a total cost of $39,120 from Electric Pump. Motion carried.  

Ordinance 543-24, Amending the Official Zoning Map. Koberg moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the third reading of Ordinance 543-24. Roll call ayes: Koberg, Knutsen, Bieri, Mengler, and Puck. Motion carried. This is to rezone the property located at 303-305 E. Walcott Road from M-2, Moderate Industrial District, to C-2, Central Business District.

Ordinance 544-24, Amending Provisions Pertaining to All-Terrain Vehicles. Koberg moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the second reading of Ordinance 544-24. Roll call ayes: Koberg, Knutsen, Bieri, Mengler, and Puck. Motion carried. These changes better align with state code ATV regulations.

Public Works Department Report. Koberg and Mayor Kostichek thanked the department for a job well done during the recent snow storms.

City Clerk Report. Further budget discussion for fiscal year 2025 will be held during the February 5^th regular meeting.

Council Member Comments. Mengler thanked the Fire Department volunteers for their continued commitment to the community, especially during the weekend snow storm.    

Koberg moved and Bieri seconded to adjourn at 6:25 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted. 

January 15, 2024 Signed Minutes & Claims

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, 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: Harry Knutsen. Staff present: Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg.

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

Consent Agenda. Bieri moved and Koberg seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from December 18, 2023, Resolution 2024-1, Designating the North Scott Press as Official Newspaper, Resolution 2024-2, Authorizing Certain Payments Before a Council Meeting, and Resolution 2024-3, Establishing the Standard Mileage Rate Reimbursement. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Koberg, Mengler, and Puck. Motion carried. 

Review of Capital Improvement Projects. Discussionwas held on the potential capital improvement projects ranked by the Mayor and City Council. Stagg will obtain budget estimates for projects ranked for the next fiscal year.

Ordinance 543-24, Amending the Official Zoning Map. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the second reading of Ordinance 543-24. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Bieri, and Koberg. Motion carried. This is to rezone the property located at 303-305 E. Walcott Road from M-2, Moderate Industrial District, to C-2, Central Business District.

Ordinance 544-24, Amending Provisions Pertaining to All-Terrain Vehicles. Koberg moved and Bieri seconded to approve the second reading of Ordinance 544-24. Roll call ayes: Koberg, Bieri, Mengler, and Puck. Motion carried. These changes better align with state code regulations.

Public Works Department Report. Stagg reported on the insurance settlement from the damage to the Veterans Memorial in Welcome Park. The City has received payment from the insurance company, which was nearly $12,000, to replace the damaged items. Bieri questioned what the locate flags were for near W. Parkview Drive. Stagg responded that MidAmerican submitted a locate for a gas main installation in that area.

City Clerk Report. Rickertsen presented the survey results which were sent to agricultural property owners regarding potential future development. A lengthy discussion was held on the results, including potential residential development areas, future infrastructure needs, and funding. A budget workshop is tentatively planned for January 15^th.    

Mengler moved and Koberg seconded to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted. 

January 2, 2024 Signed Minutes & Claims