MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009

 

Note:  The following minutes were approved by the Roland, Iowa, City Council at the council’s May 11, 2009, meeting.

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 6:00 pm, at the Roland City Hall with Mayor Samuel Juhl presiding.  Council members present at roll call were Duane Canny, Larry Ford, Corey Johnson, Jeri Neely and Erin Varley.  Also present were Street Superintendent Harold Hovick, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark and 6 visitors and members of the community.

 

It was moved by Ford, seconded by Johnson to approve the consent agenda which contained the following items:  April 27, 2009 agenda, minutes from the April 13, 2009 meeting as written, Clerk/Treasurer reports, claims as submitted, tax abatement for Mark & Marian Klinger, and set public hearing date for the FY 08/09 budget amendment for Monday, May 11, 2009 at 6:00 pm at City Hall.  All were in favor.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick reported Manatt’s is in town doing patchwork, manhole cut-outs and resurfacing the pool parking lot.  He was asked about the washouts where Alliant installed the new sidewalk sections.  Harold stated that he was told that the ground crew for Alliant will be back to fix it.

 

Water/Wastewater Department – Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark reported he started the pump at the wastewater plant Sunday night around 1:30 am and the covers for the pool drains have been ordered.

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost reported that the nuisance letters will go out tomorrow and she thanked CM Neely for taking notes at the last council meeting her.

 

Bo Ammerman, 102 Ryan Circle, was present to ask the council to look at changing the maximum size on accessory buildings.  He presented the council with a lay out of what he’d like to build.  Current code allows an accessory building not to take up more than 40% of the rear yard, not to exceed 1000 sq ft, or if attach it to the house it can be any size as long as it meets the required setbacks.  He has a total of 2,400 sq ft of buildable area, so he could put up three buildings instead of one and still be in compliance.  He would like to build an accessory building that is 1225 sq ft.  He provided the council with a copy of Story City’s code which allows for the usage of 30% of the rear yard with no size restrictions.  He would also like further clarification on what “of like material” means.  Consensus of the council was to present the information to the Planning & Zoning Committee for their review.  City Clerk Frost will get a meeting set up.  CM’s Ford & Johnson will work with the P & Z on this issue.

 

There was discussion on the scheduling of practice, games, etc. at the softball diamonds.  City Clerk Frost stated that she has a sheet that shows all the dates and times that the Youth Sports, Girl’s Softball, and High School teams have practice and games.  Brandon Hansen, representing the Park Board, was present to pass along some of the Park Board’s concerns.  They are requesting that the fields be used in the following order: 1st – softball games, 2nd practice on the south diamond, using the north diamond only if necessary, 3rd resident use (south diamond only).  They also request that if someone uses the field for practice that they leave it in the same or better condition than when they found it.  The Park Board would also like to know that since all these other groups are going to be using the facilities are they going to help with paying for maintenance and repairs, either through fees or donations.  There was discussion on expanding the number of members on the Park Board to include one member from each of the groups – Roland Youth Sports, Girl’s Softball, High School Softball, etc.  City Clerk Frost will check with the City Attorney to see if additional members can be added.  If so, she will draft an ordinance for the next meeting.

 

It was moved by Canny, seconded by Johnson to approve the FY 08/09 Audit contract with Denman & Co. in the amount of $6700.  AYE:  Canny, Ford, Johnson, Neely; NAY:  Varley, wanted to offer $6500 since that is what was budgeted for.

 

The council discussed whether the benefits of joining MIDAS out weighed the costs.  With the different City boards and committees that have projects and MIDAS’s grant writing and knowledge of the grants available, the council felt it would be worth it to try them on a one year basis.  It was moved by Neely, seconded by Ford to join MIDAS Council of Governments.  All were in favor.

 

There was a short discussion on the following ordinances.  Fence ordinance – will be presented to the Planning & Zoning Commission for review of the side and rear setbacks and the height in the front and side yards.  Sidewalks – they don’t want to raise taxes, but there needs to be safe sidewalks for the children to walk on to get to and from the school, the pool and parks.  CM’s Ford and Johnson will work on a plan to present to the council.  Trees – City clerk Frost reported that she has a call into the DNR Forestry Department to see if they will do a survey of the number of trees in the right-of-way, and determine their conditions.  CM’s Varley and Neely will review the ordinance and put together a plan for the council to review.

 

It was moved by Neely, seconded by Johnson to suspend the three readings of Ordinance No. 67 entitled, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ROLAND, IOWA, 2003, PERTAINING TO THE BURNING OF LEAVES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF ROLAND.  All were in favor.

 

It was moved by Johnson, seconded by Ford to approve Ordinance No. 67 entitled, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ROLAND, IOWA, 2003, PERTAINING TO THE BURNING OF LEAVES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF ROLAND.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Canny, Ford, Johnson, Neely, Varley; NAY:  none.  Whereupon Mayor Juhl declared the ordinance duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  contract for the antenna’s on the water tower, Comp plan, NIMS certifications, new speed limit signs, grading the ditch on the east side of S Cottonwood Street across from the wastewater plant.

 

There was public input at this time from Heather Slifka.  She would like to request that the City have the restrooms at the park open during the day.  Several of the council members were unaware that the restrooms were locked.  Brandon Hansen of the Park Board stated they are locked when no one is using the shelter house due to vandalism.  Consensus of the council members was to have the restrooms unlocked during the day.  Brandon will talk with Ed and have him unlock the bathrooms.  There was also a discussion on installing automatic locks on the restroom doors so that no one would have to be there to lock and unlock them.

 

With no further business at this time, Johnson moved adjournment of the meeting at 7:30 pm, seconded by Varley.  All were in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, May 11, 2009, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.

 

 

APRIL CLAIMS

 

 

GENERAL FUND

 

 

 

 

Fire Dept.

 

 

Ed M Feld Equipment Co

nozzle

 $       575.00

 

Total Fire Dept.

 $       575.00

 

 

 

Streets

 

 

Hallet Materials

pea gravel

 $       511.72

 

Total Streets

 $       511.72

 

 

 

Library

 

 

Business Card (Platinum Plus)

prog-ofc supplies,adult-juv F/NF,dvd's,postage

 $       133.66

Wal-Mart

prog-ofc supplies,dvd's

 $       441.02

City Employees

wages

 $    1,399.50

 

Total Library

 $    1,974.18

 

 

 

Park

 

 

Cyclone Window & Door

keys, window repair

 $         13.91

 

Total Park

 $         13.91

 

 

 

Policy & Administration

 

 

Aramark

rug rental

 $         32.03

Business Card

postage (Spring flyer)

 $       132.11

EMC National Life Company

life, dep life, ad/d, std

 $         52.28

Frost, Deneen

reimb mileage/meal

 $       150.42

IKON Office Solutions

copier lease

 $       172.00

Imagetek

annual maintenance

 $       350.00

McFarland Clinic

dot random drug testing

 $         21.00

MIDAS

4th qtr dues

 $       381.28

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

May '09 premium

 $       714.76

City Employees

wages

 $    1,080.37

 

Total Policy & Admin.

 $    3,086.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL GENERAL

 $    6,161.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROAD USE

 

 

EMC National Life Company

life, dep life, ad/d, std

 $       106.10

Hall Backhoe & Trenching

storm sewer repair - Cottonwood & Ash

 $       626.25

Iowa Prison Industries

speed limits signs, stop signs

 $       120.56

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

May '09 premium

 $       714.76

City Employees

wages

 $    1,310.81

 

TOTAL ROAD USE

 $    2,878.48

 

 

 

METER DEPOSIT

 

 

Cerka, Mike

meter deposit refund

 $         51.81

City of Roland

md used on acct - A. Monahan/M. Cerka

 $         98.19

 

TOTAL METER DEPOSIT

 $       150.00

 

 

 

WATER

 

 

Central Service & Supply Inc

6" elbow, female adapter

 $       451.84

EMC National Life Company

life, dep life, ad/d, std

 $         81.12

Maguire Iron

water tower inspection/maintenance

 $    1,850.00

 

TOTAL WATER

 $    2,382.96

 

 

 

SEWER

 

 

EMC National Life Company

life, dep life, ad/d, std

 $         81.12

Municipal Supply

6" sewer pipe, female adapter, bend

 $       133.25

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

May '09 premium

 $       714.76

City Employees

wages

 $    1,720.29

 

 

 $    2,649.42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAND TOTAL

 $  14,221.92

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________                   __________________________________________

Samuel Juhl, Mayor                                                       Deneen Frost, City Clerk