MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

FEBRUARY 26, 2007

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, February 26, 2007, at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall with Mayor Samuel Juhl presiding.  Council members present at roll call were Duane Canny, Roger Fritz, and Bob Hanson.  Absent were council members John Lee and Jeri Neely.  Also present were 8 visitors and members of the community.

 

It was motioned by Hanson, seconded by Canny to approve the consent agenda containing the following items:  agenda, minutes from the February 12, 2007, meeting as written, clerk/treasurer reports, claims as submitted, set public hearing date for the 2007/2008 Budget for Monday, March 12, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall and approved the Class “C” Beer and Sunday Sales for Anderson’s Meat and Grocery.  All were in favor.

 

There was public input at this time from Sgt. Don Ellis.  He updated the council on personnel changes at the Sheriff’s Office.  He stated that the weather is keeping them busy.  They have identified three individuals as suspects in the Legion robberies.  They are currently executing search warrants and going over evidence and hope to make an arrest soon.  They are still investigating the incidents at Innovative Lighting.  He had one resident that lives in an apartment on Main Street call stating that she is having problems getting the landlord to plow the area where she parks and she wanted to know where to park so she doesn’t get a ticket or towed.

 

There was also public input from Ed Cannon.  He thanked the City guys for the good job they did with the snow removal and for the hasty work on his frozen water line.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick had nothing to report at this time.  Council member Fritz asked if he has found anyone for snow removal.  Harold stated “no”, but he has talked with Bob Jacobson to do the sidewalk at the park with his skid loader as he comes into town.  There was discussion on the brush pile.  Harold stated he hasn’t been down there yet.  He’s been moving the piles of snow to make room if we get more snow later this week.  Council member Canny stated they did a good job with the snow removal on Saturday and Sunday.  Ed Cannon stated that the streets in Roland are great compared to the streets in Ames.

 

Water/Wastewater Department – Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark had nothing to report at this time.

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost reported that she has talked with the same resident that Sgt. Ellis has talked with and told her she could park behind City Hall until the landlord plowed out her parking area.  Deneen also reported that she has had a couple of complaints on the snow ordinance tickets that were written.

 

Ed Cannon again expressed his gratitude to the City guys for the good work they do.  He was present to discuss the additional water that he used to keep his water line from freezing up again.  He told the council that this happened about 20 years ago and should have been fixed then, but it wasn’t.  Water/Wastewater Superintendent Uitermark suggested that he leave the water running until the City can replace the line later this spring.  He would like to not have to pay for all the extra water that was used to keep the line from freezing up again.  He went through his water bill stubs for the previous year and it looks like they used between 400 and 500 cubic feet of water per month.  Ed was asked if he is still running the water.  He stated “no”.  He won’t run the water again until the temperature gets back down to the single digits.  Harold and Dean were asked if they knew how deep the frost was.  Neither of them knew at the time.  Council member Canny asked if the neighbor’s water line was still frozen.  Dean stated he wasn’t for sure.  He hasn’t heard back from him.  City Clerk Frost reported that Ed used 1000 cubic feet of water for the month.  The difference would be $26.33 if the council waived the water usage over 400 cubic feet.  It was motioned by Hanson, seconded by Canny to credit $26.33 towards their March water bill.  All were in favor.

 

Fire Chief Tom Larson reported that the Heart of Iowa Coop has approached the Fire Department about burning down the “Johnson Elevator”.  The time is not definite, but they’d like to do it sometime in May.  Tom presented the council members with an overview of things to consider.  Things to consider consist of:  Street Closings – how long and how many; Water Usage – gallons needed, other water sources, cost for water; Weather Conditions – wind direction and wind speed; Notification – residents and business owners; Liability – 1 million dollar policy to be provided by Heart of Iowa Coop; Water Transportation – number of tankers needed and other agency participation.  Tom asked the council what their thoughts were.  Council member Canny asked how long the streets would be closed and how many would need to be closed.  Tom said at this time that hasn’t been determined.  Council member Canny stated it would be OK with him and he wants to be invited.  Council member Hanson agreed.  Council member Fritz asked if there was going to be any expense to the City.  Tom stated that it would be considered a training exercise and they would receive their training pay of $10.00 each.  Tom also mentioned that Nevada is looking at $40,000 to $60,000 to tear down their Fire Station.  He also stated that the Coop has indicated that they will make a donation of cash or safety equipment.

 

Street Superintendent Hovick stated that he has been involved with at least three elevator burns and they have all gone exceptionally well.  It works best if you can get the other towns to participate.

 

Council member Canny asked how many gallons of water the tower holds and how many days will it supply the needs of Roland.  Water/Wastewater Superintendent Uitermark stated it holds about 275,000 gallons and should last two and a half days.  Tom stated that they could use the rural water hook up or pull from the quarry, with permission. Street Superintendent Harold stated that they could pump the water from the creek.  Council member Canny asked how long it takes to fill the tower.  Water/Wastewater Superintendent Uitermark stated that it automatically fills after it drops about a foot, but when they initially filled the tower in 1995 it took about three days.

 

Council member Fritz stated it was OK with him, but he’d like to have Dean and Harold sign off on it before it happens.  Council member Hanson stated he would like to see something in writing from the Coop stating they will reimburse the City for the water usage.  Council member Canny stated it was OK with him.

 

It was motioned by Canny, seconded by Hanson to authorized Mayor Juhl to sign the 28E Agreement with the Story County Sheriff’s for law enforcement.  All were in favor.

 

It was motioned by Fritz, seconded by Hanson to appoint council member Canny as the Roland Area Development Corp (RADC) Ex-officio representative for the council.  All were in favor.

 

Council/Mayor consisted of the following:  Council member Canny thanked Dean, Harold and Nathan for the great job they did on the snow removal.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Fritz moved adjournment of the meeting at 7:34 p.m., seconded by Hanson.  All were in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, March 12, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

 

 

FEBRUARY CLAIMS

 

 

GENERAL FUND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Dept.

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $       626.20

Electronic Engineering

pager repair

 $         37.50

 

Total Fire Dept.

 $       663.70

 

 

 

Roland Response Team

 

 

Aramark

coat

 $         69.99

Electronic Engineering

pager repair

 $         38.50

Mary Greeley Medical Center

wages 10/15/06-01/20/07

 $    1,307.05

Snow Creek Apparel

embroidery-(16) coats

 $       112.00

 

Total Roland Response Team

 $    1,527.54

 

 

 

Street Lights

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $    1,627.59

 

Total Street Lights

 $    1,627.59

 

 

 

Contributions

 

 

Heartland Senior Services

2006/07 allocation

 $       300.00

 

Total Contributions

 $       300.00

 

 

 

Library

 

 

EFTPS

fed/ss/med

 $       618.30

Treasurer, State of Iowa

state w/h

 $         76.00

Iowa Public Employee Retire Sys

IPERS

 $       294.98

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $       683.91

Platinum Plus

prog-off supplies/mag renewals/dvd's/postage

 $       284.44

Wal-Mart

prog-off supplies/cd's/dvd's

 $       409.67

City Employees

wages

 $    1,276.46

 

Total Library

 $    3,643.76

 

 

 

Museum

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $         15.76

 

Total Museum

 $         15.76

 

 

 

Park

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $         53.05

Greenethumb Lawn Care

weed control at parks

 $       500.00

 

Total Park

 $       553.05

 

 

 

Cemetery

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $         22.57

 

Total Cemetery

 $         22.57

 

 

 

Swimming Pool

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $         13.26

Iowa Dept of Public Health

pool registration

 $         35.00

 

Total Swimming Pool

 $         48.26

 

 

 

Policy & Administration

 

 

EFTPS

fed/ss/med

 $       867.51

Treasurer, State of Iowa

state w/h

 $       122.00

Iowa Public Employee Retire Sys

IPERS

 $       295.27

Platinum Plus

1099's/postage

 $         70.48

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

March 2007 premium

 $       560.06

City Employees

wages

 $    1,141.16

 

Total Policy & Admin.

 $    3,056.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL GENERAL

 $  11,458.71

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROAD USE

 

 

EFTPS

fed/ss/med

 $       512.32

Treasurer, State of Iowa

state w/h

 $         98.00

Iowa Public Employee Retire Sys

IPERS

 $       259.76

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $       271.20

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

March 2007 premium

 $       560.06

City Employees

wages

 $    1,089.54

 

TOTAL ROAD USE

 $    2,790.88

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

 

 

Iowa Dept of Econ Dev

Field Foods EDSA payment

 $    3,750.00

 

TOTAL ECON DEV

 $    3,750.00

 

 

 

METER DEPOSIT

 

 

Mennen, Jeffrey

meter deposit refund

 $       100.00

Patten, Jeanne

meter deposit refund

 $       100.00

Thoreson, Ross

meter deposit refund

 $       100.00

 

TOTAL METER DEPOSIT

 $       300.00

 

 

 

WATER

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $    1,480.20

Hach

testing supplies

 $         34.60

Platinum Plus

lodging-Ed Cannon

 $         68.69

TNT Welding

thaw water pipe-Ed Cannon's

 $       270.00