September 7, 2021 Minutes
City of Walcott
September 7, 2021
The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Tuesday, the 7th 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 8th until the morning of October 11th, with the exception of during 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 9th 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.