September 5, 2023 Minutes
City of Walcott
September 5, 2023
The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, 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, and Jacob Puck. Absent: Lisa Mengler. Staff present: Jeff Blake, Lisa Rickertsen, and Paul Stagg.
Approval of Agenda. Knutsen moved and Koberg seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda. Puck moved and Bieri seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from August 21, 2023, and Resolution 2023-36, Approving the Annual Street Finance Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2023. Roll call ayes: Puck, Bieri, Knutsen, and Koberg. Motion carried.
Heritage Trail Extension.
- Creation of Recreational Trail Advisory Committee. City policy states that temporary citizen advisory committees may be created, and appointed (with council approval), by the Mayor for a particular purpose. Mayor Kostichek is creating this temporary committee to research options and pursue funding opportunities for the extension of the Heritage Trail. The Committee shall investigate and develop plans for this extension and present their findings and recommendations to the City Council for their consideration.
- Committee Member Appointments. Rickertsen reported that two residents, Kari Arivett and Brett Mengler, submitted their name for appointment and seven other names were submitted from the Hearts and Hands Foundation chairperson. Two of those individuals, Brenda Thrapp and Chad Burt, were members of the original recreational trail committee and they are volunteering to be involved with the new committee. The other five interested individuals are: Mike Avise, Austin Burt, Reed Hagen, Tracy Hewlett, and Bobby Jo Mosier. Following discussion, Mayor Kostichek appointed and Koberg moved and Puck seconded to approve the appointment of the following individuals to the Recreational Trail Advisory Committee: Kari Arivett, Mike Avise, Austin Burt, Reed Hagen, Tracy Hewlett, Brett Mengler, and Bobby Jo Mosier and Chad Burt and Brenda Thrapp as advisory members. Motion carried.
Mayor Kostichek expressed thanks and appreciation to those that volunteered to be on the committee.
Visit Quad Cities Annual Contribution Request. The annual contribution request was received from Visit Quad Cities. This contribution goes towards tourism and promoting of Walcott. Koberg moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the contribution to Visit Quad Cities, in the amount of $1,000. Motion carried.
Walcott Historical Society Annual Contribution Request. Discussion was held on the contribution request from the Walcott Historical Society. This contribution it to assist in preservation of the City’s history. Puck moved and Knutsen seconded to approve the contribution to Walcott Historical Society, in the amount of $2,500. Motion carried.
Resolution 2023-37, Establishing Policy and Procedures for the City of Walcott Low-and-Moderate Income (LMI) Furnace Replacement Program. Rickertsen reported the City has utilized tax increment financing to support residential development and as required under the Iowa Code a percentage of the incremental revenues generated by the residential development project (assisted living facility) was required to be set-aside and used to assist LMI families that reside within city limits. Discussion was held on the specific use of the set-aside funds ($44,942.84), proposed policy, and forms. Knutsen moved and Puck seconded to approve Resolution 2023-37, Establishing Policy and Procedures for the City of Walcott LMI Furnace Replacement Program. Roll call ayes: Knutsen, Puck, Bieri, and Koberg. Motion carried. The program is for direct assistance for furnace replacement for eligible LMI single-family owner-occupied units. Program documents will be posted on the City’s website and interested residents should contact City Hall for more information.
Public Works Department Report.
- Sale of 2023 Ford F250 truck bed. Stagg reported the high bid on GovDeals for the 2023 Ford F250 truck bed is $775. Koberg moved and Puck seconded to sell the 2023 Ford F250 truck bed to the high bidder for $775. Motion carried.
Stagg provided updates on the W. Otis Street project and stated that Ossian, Inc. is having water and sewer extended to their property.
City Clerk’s Report. Rickertsen stated that the mobile flu vaccine clinic will be September 14th from 3 – 7 p.m. at the Prairie View Park parking lot.
- City Website Redesign and Development. Rickertsen presented quotes to modernize and update the City’s website design/theme. Puck moved and Koberg seconded to approve the quote ($4,500) from Victory Enterprises for the City Website redesign and development. Motion carried.
- New City Logo/Branding. Rickertsen stated Victory Enterprises questioned if the City wanted to update the City logo. The City’s slogan, “Hearts and Hands Working Together” and the logo have been the same for at least twenty years. Following discussion, Koberg moved and Puck seconded to approve having Victory Enterprise propose a new city logo design at a cost of $750. Motion carried.
Koberg moved and Bieri seconded to adjourn at 6:45 p.m.