MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

FEBRUARY 27, 2006

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, February 27, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall with Mayor Samuel Juhl presiding.  Council members present at roll call were:  Duane Canny, Roger Fritz, John Lee.  Absent were council members Bob Hanson and Jeri Neely.  Also present were 9 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 February 13, 2006, meeting as written, clerk’s reports, claims as submitted, and set the public hearing date for the FY 2006/2007 budget for Monday, March 13, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at the Roland City Hall.  All in favor.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

The Department Heads report were as follows: 

 

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

 

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

 

City Clerk- City Clerk Deneen Frost updated the council on the installation of the cable modem and the possibility that the computers at City Hall may need to be updated.

 

Motion by Fritz, second by Lee to authorize Mayor Juhl and City Clerk Frost to sign the 28E Agreement for law enforcement with the Story City Sheriff’s Office.  All in favor.

 

There was discussion on the snow removal ordinance.  Allan Ludwikowski stated that he has lived here for 18 years and has never received a snow ordinance ticket.  He was ticketed at 5:15 a.m. and his street wasn’t plowed until around 11:00 a.m..  When he went to bed that evening, the forecast was for a trace of snow.  He would like to see the ordinance changed to include a reasonable time, like 6:30 a.m. – 7:00 a.m., for the residents to have their vehicles moved off the streets.  He’d also like to see some sort of notice that the ordinance is in effect, by putting it on the radio, TV, or by placing a sign on Main Street.

 

Council member Fritz explained the reason for the ordinance is to have the streets cleared of vehicles before the workers start plowing the streets, so they don’t have to go back down them two or three times.  He has also been checking into what other towns do.  Some of the ordinances he found were alternate street parking, and no parking on the street during the months of October to April.

 

Dan & Cindy Johnson were present to discuss the snow removal ordinance.  Between him, his wife and the three children they have five vehicles.  Since he is a Firefighter and an EMT for the City, he can’t have his driveway blocked with vehicles.  He would also like to see the City amend the ordinance to include a certain time to have the vehicles moved off the streets, and to have the City use some sort of notification that the ordinance is in effect.  He feels this issue could have been handled differently.

 

Council member Canny said he agrees that if the City knows in advance the ordinance is going to go into effect, that some sort of notice should be posted, or placed on the TV or radio.  He has also visited with Harold and Dean about keeping track of the habitual violators.  He would like to see everyone get a warning the first time, a ticket the second time, and the third time the vehicle would be towed.

 

City Clerk Frost said that council member Hanson was in earlier today and his suggestion for the amendment would be to add a time frame of 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. to have the vehicles moved off the streets.

 

There was also discussion on what the normal snow route is for plowing snow and posting signs for snow routes.  A Steering Committee, consisting of mayor Juhl, council members Lee and Canny, residents Dan & Cindy Johnson and Allan Ludwikowski, and city employees Harold Hovick and Dean Uitermark, was set up to go over the ideas that were presented and make a recommendation back to the council.  The committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the Roland City Hall, on Tuesday, March 7, 2006.

 

There was discussion on a municipal infraction located at 718 E. Maple Street.  The resident has the shell of a jeep vehicle in the back yard.  The hood is also blown off the vehicle.  Motion by Fritz, second by Canny directing City Clerk Frost to call the resident and ask if he will take care of the infraction.  If the residents does not respond to the phone call, a letter shall be sent detailing the violation.  All in favor.

 

There was a short discussion on downtown and city improvement ideas.  Council members Canny, Fritz, Lee, and mayor Juhl provided their improvement ideas.  Due to the fact the full council wasn’t present, discussion was tabled until the next council meeting.  City Clerk Frost will include the ideas presented tonight by the Mayor and Council tonight with those received from council members Hanson, and Neely.

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  Mayor Juhl thanked those council member who attended the IS100 class at the Fire Station last Saturday for taking the time to do so.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Fritz moved adjournment of the meeting at 7:58 p.m., second by Canny.  All in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, March 13, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.