{"id":3205,"date":"2017-03-06T16:57:44","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T16:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cityofwalcott.com\/?p=3205"},"modified":"2023-10-19T12:32:47","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T17:32:47","slug":"march-6-2017-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cityofwalcott.com\/march-6-2017-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"March 6, 2017 Minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

The semi-monthly meeting of the City Council of Walcott, Iowa, was held on Monday, the 6th<\/sup> day of March, 2017, at Walcott City Hall.\u00a0 Mayor Pro Tem Jacob Puck called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. \u00a0Other council members present were: Tim Koehler, Virgil Wayne Latimer, Lisa Mengler, and Jackie Puck. Absent:\u00a0 Mayor John Kostichek.\u00a0 City employees present:\u00a0 Scott Bengfort, Jeff Blake, Josh Geigle, Lisa Rickertsen, Tom Schirman, and Paul Stagg.<\/p>\n

Approval of Agenda<\/strong>. Jackie Puck moved and Latimer seconded to approve the agenda.\u00a0 Motion carried.<\/p>\n

Public Comments.\u00a0 <\/strong>John Brockmann questioned the employee grievance procedures.\u00a0 Rickertsen stated it is in the employee personnel policy, which employees have a copy of.<\/p>\n

Public Hearing on FYE 2018 Budget.\u00a0 <\/strong>The public hearing was opened on the FYE 2018 Budget.\u00a0 Rickertsen stated the tax levy will decrease to $10.08258 per $1,000 taxable valuation on regular property.\u00a0 She stated the budget includes the proposed splash pad project and rate increases to cover costs associated with the operation maintenance and improvements, including regulatory requirements, to the water and sewer systems.\u00a0 No written or other oral comments were received. \u00a0Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to close the public hearing and resume the regular meeting.\u00a0 Motion carried.<\/p>\n

Consent Agenda<\/strong>.\u00a0 Mengler moved and Latimer seconded to approve the consent agenda including the invoices, minutes from February 20, 2017, and the February 2017 financial reports.\u00a0 Motion carried.<\/p>\n

Resolution 2017-14, Approving the Adoption of the Budget for FYE 2018.<\/strong>\u00a0 Koehler moved and Mengler seconded to approve Resolution 2017-14.\u00a0 Roll call ayes:\u00a0 Koehler, Mengler, Jackie Puck, Latimer, and Jacob Puck.\u00a0 Motion carried.<\/p>\n

Karolyn Williams \u2013 211 N. Parker Street.\u00a0 <\/strong>Bengfort reported on the landscaping that is located in the city right-of-way (ROW), adjacent to the curb in front of her house, which acts as a public sidewalk and was installed without a permit and does not meet city sidewalk standards.\u00a0 His proposal was to have Williams remove the stone and gravel in the first 6\u2019 from the curb in the ROW but allow her to leave the concrete retaining wall for now, with the understanding if the City (or other utilities) need to work in the ROW area the retaining wall and may need to be removed.\u00a0 Bengfort suggested the portion of the private walkway (that runs from the house to the curb) that lies in the ROW must be poured concrete, as per City Code.\u00a0 Williams stated she would remove the small wall on the south end from the curb to the retaining wall, and said she would remove the stone but would like to leave the mulch and rock areas (between the curb and retaining wall) and would like to place flower pots in the area and\/or annuals, therefore not appearing, or to be utilized, as a sidewalk.\u00a0 Following further discussion with the property owner, Mengler moved and Koehler seconded to allow 45 days for the owner to remove the stone and edging located in city ROW, install concrete walkway from property line to curb (with a permit), allow the owner to plant flowers and soft landscaping in the ROW, and to allow the retaining wall to remain where placed with the understanding that if any city work is ever done in the ROW and the retaining wall is damaged, the City is not responsible for its repair. \u00a0Motion carried.<\/p>\n

Hearts & Hands Foundation \u2013 Austin Burt.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Austin Burt provided an update on the entrance and community sign project timelines.\u00a0 He also questioned budget protocol for additional funding and Rickertsen responded that funding requests should be submitted to the City prior to January 15th<\/sup> each year.<\/p>\n

Ordinance 490-17, Amending Chapter 99 Regarding Sewer Rates.<\/strong>\u00a0 Mengler moved and Jackie Puck seconded to approve the 2nd<\/sup> reading of Ordinance 490-17.\u00a0 Roll call ayes:\u00a0 Mengler, Jackie Puck, Koehler, Latimer, and Jacob Puck.\u00a0 Motion carried.\u00a0 This is the 2nd<\/sup> of three readings of the ordinance.\u00a0 This ordinance increases the sewer base rate from $3.00 to $9.00\/month and the usage rate by $.15 (3%) from $5.65 to $5.80 per 1,000 gallons of water used.<\/p>\n

Ordinance 491-17, Amending Chapter 92 Regarding Water Rates.\u00a0 <\/strong>Latimer moved and Koehler seconded to approve the 2nd<\/sup> reading of Ordinance 491-17. Roll call ayes:\u00a0 Latimer, Koehler, Mengler, Jackie Puck, and Jacob Puck.\u00a0 Motion carried.\u00a0 This ordinance increases the water usage rate by $.14 (3%), from $4.75 to $4.88 per 1,000 gallons of water used.<\/p>\n

Fire Department Report<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 Chief Geigle reported on the request to purchase new EMS suction units for the two rescue vehicles.\u00a0 Mengler moved and Latimer seconded to approve the purchase of the new EMS suction units from Emergency Medical Products at a cost of $1,958.50.\u00a0 Motion carried.\u00a0 Chief Geigle stated the new fire truck should be here in mid-April and questioned if he could place an advertisement for bid for the 1993 mini-pumper.\u00a0 Council had no objections to advertise for sealed bids.\u00a0 Geigle also questioned the use of the city-owned house adjacent to the fire station for training purposes.\u00a0 This will be placed on the next agenda.<\/p>\n

Public Works Department Report<\/strong>.<\/p>\n