October 21, 2024 Minutes

twright@cityofwalcott.com October 21, 2024

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, October 21, 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. Knutsen moved and Mengler seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.  

Introduction of Audience/Public Comments. John Brockmann and Kristi Robinson. Brockmann stated he is improving his commercial property and questioned why the City doesn’t have programs to encourage commercial property owners to improve their property, such as a sidewalk program similar to the program available for residential properties in which the City pays for ½ of sidewalk repairs/installation of public sidewalks. The sidewalk program will be placed on the next agenda.

Public Hearing on Plans, Specifications, Form of Contract, and Estimate of Cost for the North Grove Street Water Main Replacement Project. Mayor Kostichek opened the public hearing. Questions arose on the project dates and tree removals. Robinson, engineer with Veenstra & Kimm, stated the project is scheduled to be completed by December 6, 2024 (with exception of the seeding). Stagg stated the adjacent property was notified of the two tree removals in the public right-of-way. No written comments were received. Mengler moved and Knutsen seconded to close the public hearing and resume the regular meeting. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from October 7, 2024, Resolution 2024-39 – Authorizing Transfer of Funds, Resolution 2024-40 – Establishing Hourly Wage and Vacation for the New Building Official/Zoning Administrator, and Resolution 2024-41 – Acknowledging New Investments. Roll call ayes: Puck, Bieri, Mengler, Knutsen, and Koberg. Motion carried.

North Grove Street Water Main Replacement Project.

  • Resolution 2024-42, Approving Plans, Specifications, Form of Contract, and Estimate of Cost for the North Grove Street Water Main Replacement Project. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2024-42. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Puck, Bieri, Knutsen, and Koberg. Motion carried.
  • Resolution 2024-43, Awarding Contract for the North Grove Street Water Main Replacement Project. Eight bids were received, with the project engineer recommending to award the contract to the low bidder, Eastern Iowa Excavating, in the amount of $151,634.05. Bierimoved and Mengler seconded to approve Resolution 2024-43. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Mengler, Puck, Koberg, and Knutsen. Motion carried.

Approval for Wulf Lift Station VFD (Variable Frequency Drives). Stagg reported on the purchase of a VFD for the lift station on Wulf Road from Electric Pump at a cost of $13,665. Koberg moved and Bieri seconded to approve the purchase of a VFD from Electric Pump. Motion carried. The purchase will be paid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund.

Approval of Engineering Services for Well Property Info/Plat. Mengler moved and Puck seconded to approve the surveying/engineering services from IMEG for the well property purchase at a fee of $6,500. Motion carried

Ordinance 552-24, Amending Provisions Pertaining to Pedestrians’ Right-of-Way. This Ordinance amends sections 60.02 and 65.07 pertaining to pedestrians in the right-of-way, to match recent changes to the Code of Iowa. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the third and final reading to adopt Ordinance 552-24. Roll call ayes: Puck, Bieri, Mengler, Koberg, and Knutsen. Motion carried.    

Ordinance 553-24, Amending Provisions Pertaining to Dog Licensing – Introduction and 1st Reading. Ordinance 553-24 was introduced. This Ordinance amends Chapter 56, Dog and Cat Licenses, by changing the license and registration requirements for dogs and cats. Bieri moved and Koberg seconded to approve the first reading to adopt Ordinance 553-24. Roll call ayes: Bieri, Koberg, Knutsen, Mengler, and Puck. Motion carried.

Disposal of 2017 Dodge Charger. Stagg reported the high bid on GovDeals for the 2017 Dodge Charger was $10,900. Koberg moved and Knutsen seconded to sell the 2017 Dodge Charger to the high bidder for $10,900. Motion carried.

City Clerk Report.

  • City Attorney Position. Rickertsen reported Attorney Schirman will not be able to fulfill the appointed term, which ends on 12/31/2025, but another attorney at Brooks Law Firm has shown interest in the appointment. Council directed staff to meet with the interested attorney.
  • Resolution 2024-44, Setting Date for Hearing on Water Service Line Assessment. This is to set a date for a public hearing on the proposed assessment of costs of an emergency nuisance abatement of a private water service line. Mengler moved and Knutsen seconded to approve Resolution 2024-44. Roll call ayes: Mengler, Knutsen, Koberg, Bieri, and Puck. Motion carried.

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

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