October 17, 2022 Minutes
The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 17th 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 3rd 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.