MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

JANUARY 23, 2006

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, January 23, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at the “future” Library building with Mayor Samuel Juhl presiding.  Council members present at roll call were:  Roger Fritz, Bob Hanson, John Lee, and Jeri Neely.  Absent was council member Duane Canny.  Also present were approximately 36 visitors and members of the community.

 

Motion by Lee, second by Fritz to approve the consent agenda containing the following items: agenda, minutes from the January 9, 2006, meeting as written, clerk’s reports, and claims as submitted.  All in favor.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

The Department Heads report were as follows: 

 

Streets - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick said he had nothing to report at this time.

 

Water/Wastewater - Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark said he had nothing to report at this time.

 

City Clerk- City Clerk Deneen Frost informed the council about an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) grant and asked if they would like to apply for two.  One for City Hall and one for the Library.  Consensus of the council was to go ahead with the grant application.  City Clerk Frost also reminded the council members of the RADC dinner on January 26^th and asked if she needed to RSVP for any of them. 

 

Council table discussion on the request by citizen to update Roland’s web page due to illness of the citizen.

 

Tammy Shadlow, President of NLAC, was present to ask the council to pass a motion of support stating that once the foundation has raised $400,000.00 the City will match ½ the cost up to $400,000.00.  There was a lot of discussion on this issue. 

 

Council member Neely stated she believes we need a new library, but isn’t sure it needs to be 7,000 square feet.  She has talked with citizens that say a new library is needed.  She would like to see it go to a Special election.  Tammy said she visited with council member Fritz last week about a Special election and she found out that only 43 people showed up to vote at the Primary election, 177 voted at the School election, and 249 voted at the General election.  All the council members agreed that if this went to a Special election there would be more of a turn out than at the other elections. 

 

Tammy also showed the council a petition of support that has approximately 170 signatures of citizens that are in favor of the new library and to fund one-half of the project cost up to $400,000.00. 

 

Council member Fritz said he has been doing some checking and $800,000.00 for a 7,000 square foot building is not far off.  He has a problem with the size.  He’s not opposed to a bigger library, he’s just not convinced that it needs to be 7,000 square feet.  He thinks it’s too big of a project for Roland, and thinks if it goes to a Special election it will fail. 

 

Council member Hanson asked if the $800,000.00 included the furnishings.  Tammy said it covered minimal furnishings.  They will continue to add furnishings as funds come in.  Council member Hanson also asked how the arrived at the $800,000.00.  Tammy said the Architect Kurt Mackey arrived at the number by using acquisition and demolition costs.  At this time, there are no plans drawn up, just a footprint.

 

Council member Canny provided Mayor Juhl with the following questions he had for the project:

                Does the City need to purchase the Boyd building before the project can start?  Yes

 

                Has the Boyd building been inspected for hazardous materials?  The Structural Engineer somewhat looked

at it when he was evaluating the Wright building.  There is a possibility with the age of the building, there

may be some asbestos.

 

How many construction estimates do you have?  None at this time.

 

Have the operating costs after the library is built been considered?  The City’s current contribution to the

library is approximately $45,000. 00.  With a larger building  the utilities will be higher.  At this time the

library is paying utilities and insurance on both buildings.

 

Will additional staff be needed?  The building will be designed so that no additional staffing will be needed.

 

If you don’t raise the $400,000.00, what is the monetary responsibility of the City?  The City isn’t on the hook for any funds until the Foundation raises the first $400,000.00.

 

                What is your “fall back” plan?  To keeping working until they raise the $400,000.00.

 

There were several comments from the citizens.  Linda Stole stated that Story City’s library is 8,000 square feet and they have no room for expansion.  With what Roland’s library has for a collection, the 7,000 square feet will leave no room expansion.  Beth said that Kim has an excellent Story Time program.  It brings children in from McCallsburg, Zearing, and Story City.  Rick DeWald stated that Roland beats the Story City Library on all statistics.

Paula Wakefield said that she has been visiting with people as they come in and get their hair cut.  The main comment she has been hearing is that if their taxes are going to go up, they’re not going to be inclined to donate.  Many of the ones she has talked to don’t think we need both the Wright building and the Boyd building.  Dena Johnson said that it will take most the square footage in the Wright building  just to  move what the current library has now and having it meet ADA standards.  They need Boyd’s building for the program room.  Rick DeWald asked the council to consider how the new library facility will effect the business on Main Street.  He stated the council gives abatements to new businesses coming into town and the community has little control over that.  Kent Arnold asked what was going to happen to the old library building.  He asked if it could used as the community building until funds were available to purchase and remodel the Boyd building.  There was also a comment of moving City Hall into the old library building.  There was discussion on how much the City paid for the pool improvements.  The City paid approximately $450,000.00 toward the project.  Judy Juhl asked if the $85,000.00 that the City paid for Wright’s building was included in the $400,000.00.  Tammy said “no”. 

 

Tammy asked if any of the new homes were coming off the tax abatement schedule.  Council member Fritz said “yes” , but it is being eaten up by the rollback.  He said that it will cost approximately $1000.00 to have a Special election.  We will need to give the County Auditor 32 days notice.  Britany Danielson, Library Foundation President, asked that the Foundation be given more than 32 days to get the information prepared.  Council member Fritz also explained that we cannot piggyback onto the Primary election in June, and there is a three week window on both sides of that date that are blacked out.  Council member Fritz said if they could get the cost down to approximately $200,000.00 - 225,000.00 he could live with that and would vote for it tonight.  Council member Hanson said he’d like to see this issue go to a Special election also.  Motion by Neely, second by Lee to put the $400,000.00 for the Library Project to a Special election.  AYE:  Hanson, Lee, Neely;  NAY:  Fritz.  He thinks the project needs to be toned back, but doesn’t want it to go to a vote.  Mayor Juhl declared the motion carried.

 

Discussion on the Boyd building was tabled.

 

Council heard budget requests from Department Heads.  The council will review the numbers and start trimming the budget at the next regular scheduled council meeting.

 

City Clerk Frost asked to switch internet access from dial up to DSL.  Motion by Lee, second by Hanson to honor the City Clerk’s request to change internet access to DSL with CCS.  All in favor.

 

There was no Council/Mayor comments at this time. 

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Hanson moved adjournment of the meeting at 9:03 p.m., second by Neely.  All in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, February 13, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.