MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

APRIL 10, 2006

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 10, 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, Bob Hanson, John Lee, and Jeri Neely.  Also present were approximately 6 visitors and members of the community.

 

Motion by Lee, second by Canny to approve the consent agenda containing the following items:  agenda, minutes from the March 27, 2006,, meeting as written, treasurer’s report, clerk’s reports, and claims as submitted.  All in favor.

 

There was public input at this time from Sgt. Jeff Dodds.  He reported the speed trailer has been removed from storage and will be distributed throughout the county again.  He also reported that the Sheriff’s Office will be doing some special alcohol, drug, speed and seat belts projects throughout the spring and summer months.  He told the council about a new e-mail scam where the operator asked the person to verify personal information.  Informed the council that this is National Telecommunicator’s Week.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick reported that he was approached by Innovative Lighting about putting up “No Parking” signs on the south side of the road across from their driveway.  He said that Innovative Lighting would be willing to paint the curb, but the City would still need to install signage and pass an ordinance designated the area as “No Parking”.  Consensus of the council was to have Innovative Lighting talk with their employees and tell them not to park there.  He has also visited with a company that installs guard rail.  They have looked at the bridge and to add 371/2’ of railing to each side of the existing rail will cost approximately $4015.00.  City Engineer Eldon Rossow told him that the DOT has approved a metal handrail fence as another option.  The cost of this, for the 371/2’ on each side would be approximately $7800.00.  Consensus of the council was to install the guard rail at an approximately cost of $4015.00.  He has talked to Blaine at Alliant Energy about the light poles.  Blaine still hasn’t found out who owns which poles, but he is still looking into it.  Harold is still waiting for an estimate from Mike Lewis for painting the poles, if in fact they belong to the City.  The banners are in.  One is on display at city hall.  He has looked at other banners and they look like they are installed about 10’ off the ground.  He will put up a couple and if everyone thinks they look ok at that height he’ll get the rest put up.  He said the ones on Main Street might have to be 11’ since they are taller poles.  He talked with Manatt’s regarding street work.  The S. Main Street overlay came in higher than he expected and S. Cottonwood Street was just a little higher than he expected.  Manatt’s would like to have the contract signed as soon as possible so they can get the work scheduled.  Consensus of the council was to go ahead with the street work, but to visit with Manatt’s about why the S. Main Street project is so much higher than expected. 

 

Water/Wastewater Department – Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark is on vacation.

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost reported she will be out of the office on Tuesday for a meeting in Atlantic, Monday and Tuesday of next week for a check up and Thursday for a meeting in Des Moines.  There will be a Planning & Zoning meeting on Wednesday night to consider rezoning the property located at 926 E. Maple Street.  Council member Fritz asked about the web site.  Deneen said she hasn’t heard anything other than the e-mails that were sent.

 

Lorrie Hanson and John Pohlman of the Resource Recovery Center were present to update the council on the services they provide for the citizens.  They explained that the garbage that is picked up by Stone Sanitation is brought to the Resource Center and is then turned into fuel to run the electric plant for Ames.  They provide a hazardous materials waste program on a weekly basis.  The citizens need to call and make an appointment to drop of their hazardous materials.  They also take appliances and tires for a charge.  They are having two free days this spring.  One is April 22^nd and the other is June 10^th .  Both will be from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m..  They will not take any construction debris.  They are also asking that residence refrain from placing glass items in the garbage.  There are recycling bins at Fareway, Cubs, and Hy-Vee to drop of the glass items.  They have purchased a machine that will crush the glass from fine powder up to 5/16” pieces.  The crushed glass can be used for many things such as, sandblasting, landscaping, and sand traps.

 

Marty Wymore of Region 6 Planning was present to give the council an overview of the Housing Rehabilitation Grant.  He explained that this is an owner occupied grant that is given to residents who meet certain income levels.  The grant will pay for exterior repairs such as siding, roofing, windows, doors, etc..  On occasion some interior repairs have been approved.  Interior repairs would be a new furnace and hand railing.  This is a two (2) year program.  Grant applications are due in November and are funded in March.  This year the regional funding was between $4 - $5 million dollars.  The City will have to provide a match of not less the $2500.00 per application.  Most of the improvements run between $20,000.00 and $35,000.00 with the property owner picking up the remaining balance.  The City will need to provide that there is sufficient interest in the program.  Usually, it takes about 20 applications that meet all the criteria.  Right now, the majority of the grants are funding six (6) to seven (7) applications.  They try to find local contractors to do the work.  All repairs go through the bidding process.  Marty was asked if he would be interested in working with the City.  He said his main goal is to serve his four (4) counties, and he would have to charge the City for his service.   He thought it would be approximately $1500.00 for the first part of the application process.  The council members said they will discuss the program further and thanked him for his time.

 

Mayor Samuel Juhl proclaimed April 23 – April 29, 2006 as National Volunteer Week.

 

Motion by Fritz, second by Canny to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance No. 50 entitled, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ROLAND, IOWA, 2003, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO SNOW REMOVAL AND SNOW ROUTES.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Canny, Fritz, Hanson, Lee, Neely; NAY:  none.  Where upon Mayor Juhl declared the ordinance duly adopted and the same placed on file.  The ordinance will go into effect after it’s publication on April 19, 2006.

 

There was discussion on moving the council meetings to the new library building until they start construction.  Council member Fritz stated he has visited with Library Director Laura Urbanek and she didn’t have a problem with it.  The City would need to purchase a table and some chairs if they decide to move over there.  Council member Lee stated he feels we should stay where we are at.  All the files are here if they would need anymore information at a meeting.  Council member Hanson said it would be nicer, that way all the council members could  face the public.  Council member Neely stated they could move the meeting to the new library if they knew there was going to be a lot of citizens.  Council member Canny agreed with council member Neely.  Council member Lee said he’d like to leave it well enough alone.  Council member Neely would also like to see the time of the meeting changes.  Council member Fritz said not before 6:30 p.m. and that he was content with 7:00 p.m..  Council member Lee stated that if someone worked in Des Moines it would be hard for them to make it to any earlier meeting.  Council member Hanson said it didn’t make any difference to him..  Council member Neely said if they were only looking at half an hour, it won’t make any difference to her.  Council member Lee stated to leave the meeting time at 7:00 p.m..  Council member Fritz agreed.

 

There was discussion on the Roland Clean Up Day.  It will be Saturday, June 10, 2006.  A flyer will be put together telling the citizens what the City will take and what the charges will be if there are tires and appliances.  They will set up a staging area were citizens can drop off items, or the citizens can call city hall to have the items picked up.

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  They would like to discuss the Housing Rehab Grant a little more.  City Clerk Frost will contact Tom Simmering of Simmering-Cory to see if he’d be interested in administering the grant for Roland, since they have done other grants for the City and they have all the information on Roland.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Fritz moved adjournment of the meeting at 8:12 p.m., second by Neely. All in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, April 24, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.