December 5, 2022 Minutes
City of Walcott
December 5, 2022
The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 5th day of December, 2022 at Walcott City Hall. Mayor John Kostichek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council members present: Everett Bieri, Kirk Koberg, Harry Knutsen, Lisa Mengler, and Jacob Puck. Staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, Paul Stagg, and Korry Kraft.
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, minutes from November 21, 2022, and Resolution 2022-47-Approving Application for Residential Tax Abatement within the 2017 Urban Revitalization Area. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Bieri, Puck, Knutsen, and Koberg. Motion carried.
Ordinance 531-22, Amending Provisions Pertaining to Stop Signs. This ordinance amends Chapter 65 of the Walcott City Code by adding eleven stop sign locations to the Code, where stop signs are already installed but not listed in the Code. Puck moved and Koberg seconded to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance 531-22. Roll call ayes: Puck, Koberg, Knutsen, Mengler, and Bieri. Motion carried.
Ordinance 532-22, Amending Provisions Pertaining to No Parking Zones. This ordinance amends Chapter 69 of the Walcott City Code by designating all sides of Sterling Drive as a no parking zone. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance 532-22. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Bieri, Puck, Koberg, and Knutsen. Motion carried.
Fire Department Report.
- Holiday Lights on Fire Department Building. Chief Korry Kraft requested permission to hang seasonal lights along the south and east sides of the Fire Department/City Hall building, from approximately December 1st until after January 1st. He stated the Walcott Volunteer Firefighters Association has purchased the lights for the building. Mengler moved and Bieri seconded to allow the Fire Department to hang the holiday lights annually and to install and remove them as requested, as weather permits. Motion carried.
- Fire Chief Appointment. The Fire Department held their annual officer elections and the members elected Korry Kraft as the Fire Chief. Puck moved and Mengler seconded to approve the appointment of Korry Kraft as the Fire Chief, term ending December 31, 2023. Motion carried.
Police Department Report. Resolution 2022-48, Authorizing Retirement of Police Service Dog “Titan” and Donation of Dog to Police Chief Jeff Blake. Koberg moved and Bieri seconded to approve Resolution 2022-48. Roll call ayes: Koberg, Bieri, Knutsen, Puck, and Mengler. Motion carried. Titan has been a member of the Walcott Police Department for nine years, under handler, Chief Blake. Blake agreed to become the owner of Titan and assumes full responsibility, including care and upkeep, and releases the City of Walcott of all liability.
Public Works Department Report. Stagg reported all of the dead or diseased trees on private property have been removed, except for one which has been substantially trimmed. He reported on the E. Lincoln Street Improvements project and questions arose on when the poured section would be open. Stagg reported he assumes it will not open until next spring. Koberg stated that the project has taken too long and they should work on getting that section open prior to spring. Discussion ensued on other concerns, including holiday decorations. Stagg will hire an electrician for non-working electrical outlets for the holiday decorations and he provided an application form to Koberg to place a request to Alliant Energy for attaching additional holiday lights to their light poles. This application will be placed on a subsequent council agenda for the required City approval prior to submittal to Alliant Energy.
City Clerk’s Report. Rickertsen reported the City was awarded a grant from Scott County Regional Authority for $8,789 toward the Ten Spin playground equipment at Water Tower Park.
Mayor’s Report. Mayor Kostichek thanked the volunteers that helped install the lights at Welcome Park and all who attended the lighting ceremony at the park on November 27th.
Council Member Comments. Mengler thanked Chief Blake for taking care of Titan during his service to the City and for agreeing to continue to provide care. Puck provided an update on a recent meeting he and Mayor Kostichek had with Davenport Community School Superintendent Schneckloth and Board President Gosa.
Mengler moved and Koberg seconded to adjourn at 6:30 p.m. Motion carried. All votes on motions were unanimous, unless noted.