MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

MAY 14, 2007

 

Note:  The following minutes are unofficial until they are approved by the City Council at the next council meeting.

 

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, May 14, 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, Bob Hanson and John Lee.  Absent was council member Jeri Neely.  Also present were 12 visitors and members of the community.

 

It was motioned by Fritz, seconded by Hanson to approve the consent agenda containing the following items:  agenda, minutes from the April 23, 2007 meeting, as written, clerk/treasurer reports, and claims as amended.  All were in favor.

 

There was public input at this time from Rick DeWald and Lt. Dru Toresdahl.  Rick DeWald representing the Library Board on the NLJC gave a brief outline of dates for creating the committee and the tasks the committee was delegated to perform.  The committee was notified by CM Fritz that the company he had been talking to about doing the second structural study was too busy at this time.  He tried to get a committee meeting ASAP but was unable to with all the conflicts in schedules.  He feels that hiring someone to do the structural study is a task that was delegated to the committee and stated that by not letting the committee do this will be considered “out of order”.  He also stated that if the Mayor and Council members have lost confidence in the committee to have the committee disbanded.  Then the decisions can be made at the council meetings.  CM Fritz stated that the group is having a tough time getting together and there are people interested in getting the second study done.  Since the building is a city facility and could be used as the library, city hall, or even torn down he feels the council should hire the company to do the structural study and have the cost taken out of the administrative fund.

 

Lt. Dru Toresdahl was present to update the council on what is going on at the Sheriff’s Office.  They have just completed a 6 day seat belt project and will be running another project later in the month.  The Task Force has been busy giving talks on drug trends.  They attended the Risky Business conference and explained the risks of the new game called “The Chocking Game”.  This is where the individual is chocked to give them a euphoric high.  And, a listing of current inmates is now available on the Sheriff’s Office website.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick was not present due to other commitments.

 

Water/Wastewater Department – Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark reported that he has talked to Rob Morgan about fixing the bottom portion of the standpipe and has contacted Maguire Iron about fixing the upper ones.  He has not heard back from Maguire Iron.  There was discussion on where the holes were at and where the birds are picking out the insulation..  Dean explained that it is where the braces attach to the standpipe.

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost had nothing to report at this time.

 

Mayor Juhl stated that this was the time and the place for the public hearing on the FY 2006/2007 Budget Amendment.  There were no comments for or against the amendment.  It was motioned by Fritz, seconded by Lee to close the public hearing.  All were in favor.

 

It was motioned by Fritz, seconded by Canny to approve Resolution No. 07-05 entitled, A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2007.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Canny, Fritz, Hanson, Lee; NAY:  none.  Whereupon Mayor Juhl declared the resolution duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

Emily Rindels was present to ask the council’s permission to use the building located at 221 N Main Street for an exercise class.  Library Board President Rick DeWald stated that she has been to the Library Board meeting and the only concern they had pertained to the liability if someone got hurt.  That issue has been addressed and the Board  has approved her using the building for her exercise classes.  Emily gave a brief overview of her background and the Zumba exercise program.  Zumba is a low impact and Latin inspired group exercise for all ages.  The program will be one night a week for six weeks.  It was motioned by Hanson, seconded by Fritz to approve the usage of the building located at 221 N. Main Street by Emily Rindels for an exercise class.  All were in favor.

 

Mike Stille was present to discuss getting the rest of N. Main Street re-surfaced and would like the water runoff addressed.  He was told the ditch where the new water main was put in needed to settle.  It’s been two years and now he’s being told it will be seal coated later this fall.  CM Fritz stated that the street is scheduled to be seal coated this fall at a cost of $2280.  He’d like to see all the streets that have curb and gutter asphalted.  The cost to asphalt the street will be $19768.  Several other council members agreed it would be nice to have all of Main Street asphalted.  There was discussion on seal coating the street as soon as possible and then asphalting it next year when the City asphalts S. Main after the school addition is completed.  Mike stated that there is a drain on the east side that is to drain to the north but it doesn’t go anywhere.  Trenton Twedt also commented on the water drainage and the amount of rock that builds up in front of his place from the seal coating and from the Coop.  He also commented that the sidewalk just north of JA Max has been covered up by the Coop.  Mike stated that he is planning on putting in a new driveway in the next month or so and needs to know what the grade will be.  Council members tabled further discussion on this issue until the next meeting so they can get more information on where the drain goes, the sidewalk north of JA Max, time line for surfacing the street and gravel retention at the Coop.

 

Harlan Hall was present and stated that he was here three weeks ago about getting the holes on the water tower fixed and nothing has been done yet.  He gave the council thirty days to get them fixed and they have nine days left.  He said there are nests on the lower and second tier rods that are about to come out and he stated they need to come look at the bird droppings.  He feels that the City could have had the bottom ones fixed by now.  Dean stated that he has contacted Rob Morgan about fixing them and Rob said he’d call him when he had time to fix them.  Harlan stated that this has been going on for two years and he has turned the issue over to his attorney Bob Huffer.  He stated that whatever the council decides needs to be sent to Mr. Huffer in a letter.  CM Canny stated that the council can’t control when Rob gets here and he feels it’s a neighbor feud.  He understands he has bird droppings, but he hasn’t seen any birds on the tower in the last month.  Consensus of the council members was to turn this issue over to the City Attorney.

 

There was discussion on the equipment at the wastewater plant.  CM Canny stated that during the excessive rainfall the last part of April there were some issues with a couple of the trash pumps not working and having to borrow a pump from Story City.  Dean stated that all three pumps were started this Spring.  CM Canny would like to see the pumps put on a regiment where they are started and used at least once a month if not every two weeks.  He’d like to see the City purchase a 6” diesel mounted pump.  This will have a larger capacity than the three 3” trash pumps, which could then be used as backups.  He checked online and the cost runs between $9,000 - $18,000.  CM Fritz stated that he has also checked on the price of a generator with wheels on a trailer and they run approximately $1000/kw.  There was discussion on the bypass at the pool.  Dean stated the bypass has been sealed so the water from the creek can’t overflow into it.  Dean also stated that DNR was contacted when the lagoons overflowed into the creek and he will include that in his report when he files it with the DNR tomorrow.

 

CM Canny and CM Hanson gave the council members a quick update on the special RADC meetings this month.  Craig Anderson is planning on closing the grocery store the 1st of July if no one purchases it.  There is an individual that is interested in purchasing the building, but is needing help with financing.  The RADC has been meeting with this individual to see what the needs are and if there is anything the RADC and the City can do to help.  The individual is to present a business plan at the next RADC meeting which is Wednesday night.  This will need to be acted on quickly and the council may need to discuss what they can do to keep the store.  If there is no one viable by July 1st, the store will close.

 

There was a lengthy discussion on hiring a firm to do a second structural study on the building located at 221 N Main Street.  CM Fritz stated that the NLJC is having issues getting together.  Since it is a City-owned facility, he feels it is appropriate for the council to approve the hiring of a firm to do the study.  There is a lot of interest in getting the second study done.  He’d like the council to go forth and have the study done and have the expenses paid for out of the administrative fund.  He has contacted SVPA and they will do the structural study for $1500.00.  The study will include the life span of the roof, electrical conditions, load bearing walls, if the floor can hold the weight of the books, and if the building can be used as a City facility whether being the library, city hall or grocery store or is it beyond repair.  Rick DeWald stated that no one on the committee is opposed to the second study.  The problem they have is with the council taking care of it instead of the committee.  The committee developed a punch list to be included in the analysis.  There was discussion on the need for the second study to be completed in order for the committee to move forward.  There was discussion on the fact that the council can hire someone to do the structural study because it is for a city purpose, even though it can benefit the library.  There was discussion on the need for the second study.  It was explained that no one is against the second study, just the process in which it is being done and that it is needed for the committee to proceed.  There was also discussion on tearing down the grocery store building and using that for the library, if it closes and using the other building for city hall.  There was also discussion on the resolution that was passed regarding the usage of the building located at 221 N Main Street.  Rick again reiterated his comment that if the Mayor and Council have lost confidence in the committee to disband it.  CM Fritz stated that he has confidence in the committee otherwise he would have resigned from the committee by now.  He feels that this is beyond just the NLJC project.  It’s for a City facility.  There was discussion on why a study wasn’t done before the building was purchased.  It was motioned by Hanson, seconded by Canny to authorize the Mayor to sign the letter of agreement with SVPA in the amount of $1500.00 for the second structural study.  All were in favor.

 

It was motioned by Canny, seconded by Lee to authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to sign the letter of intent with Denman & Co. for the 2006/2007 audit in the amount of $6500.00.  All were in favor.

 

There was a short discussion on changing the date of the next council meeting due to the fact it is a holiday.  After discussion it was decided to leave the meeting as scheduled. 

 

CM Hanson left at 8:30 p.m.

 

It was motioned by Lee, seconded by Fritz to approve Resolution No. 07-06 entitled, RESOLUTION INCREASING THE WAGE OF JANET OLSON, UTILITY BILLING CLERK/RECEPTIONIST, BY $1.00 PER HOUR AS DETERMINED BY HER 90 DAY REVIEW.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Canny, Fritz, Lee; NAY:  none.  Whereupon Mayor Juhl declared the resolution duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

It was motioned by Fritz, seconded by Lee to approve Mayor Juhl’s appointments to the Pool Board.

                  Adam Pitman                                                Term Expires 06/30/2008

                  Rob Coghlan                                                Term Expires 06/30/2010

All were in favor.

 

It was motioned by Lee, seconded by Canny to approve Mayor Juhl’s appointment of the City Council as the Revolving Loan Fund Review Committee.  All were in favor.

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  CM Canny asked about clean up day.  City Clerk Frost stated that they will run it in conjunction with the Ames Resource Free Day, Saturday, September 8th.  CM Fritz asked that the property owners that need to mow their yards be contacted.  CM Canny asked Mayor Juhl to remove him from the NLJC as he has lack of confidence in the committee.

 

There was public input at this time from Rick DeWald, Trenton Twedt and Catherine Steward.  Rick DeWald, representing the NLJC asked the City to purchase more tapes for the tape recorder since they are recorded over.  City Clerk Frost explained the legality and why the tapes are taped over or erased.  Rick stated that they should be kept, at least until the minutes are approved.

 

Trenton Twedt asked about the process for contacting property owners that need to clean up their properties.  City Clerk Frost explained the process of Nuisance Abatement to Mr. Twedt.

 

Catherine Steward stated she would like it clarified for public record that it sounds like it was the library people holding up getting a meeting together.  It has been the two council representatives holding up the meeting.

 

With no further business at this time, Fritz moved adjournment of the meeting at 8:46 p.m., seconded by Lee.  All were in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, May 28, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

 

 

APRIL RECEIPTS

 

 

General Fund

 $   126,692.28

 

Road Use Tax

 $       8,074.88

 

TIF

 $       3,629.65

 

Economic Development

 $       4,975.04

 

Meter Deposit

 $          109.57

 

Library Trust

 $          114.88

 

Debt Service

 $     12,331.31

 

Capital Projects-NLAC

 $                -  

 

Water

 $     12,308.27

 

Sewer

 $       7,709.37

 

 

 

 

      TOTAL        

 $   175,945.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY CLAIMS

 

 

GENERAL FUND

 

 

 

 

Fire Dept.

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $          240.59

Ed M. Feld Equipment

5" barrel strainer

 $          120.00

Toyne, Inc

service pump on pumper

 $          578.23

True Value

(11) 8' bulbs

 $            54.89

 

Total Fire Dept.

 $          993.71

 

 

 

Roland Response Team

 

 

Roland Service Center

replace fuel filter/oil change ('96 E350)

 $          223.92

 

Total Roland Response Team

 $          223.92

 

 

 

Streets

 

 

Heart of Iowa Coop

fuel

 $            50.61

Keith Cooper & Sons

street sweeping

 $          507.00

Lowe's

hi-performance patch

 $            19.96

Martin Marietta Aggregate

class A rock

 $          315.48

OSE Trustworthy Hardware

6v batteries/snaps/wire ties

 $            21.34

Robb's Tree and Stump Removal

take down (4) trees

 $       1,300.00

 

Total Streets

 $       2,214.39

 

 

 

Street Lights

 

 

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $       1,639.88

 

Total Street Lights

 $       1,639.88

 

 

 

Landfill/Garbage

 

 

Stone Sanitation

garbage hauling - April

 $       6,150.00

 

Total Landfill/Garbage

 $       6,150.00

 

 

 

Library

 

 

EFTPS

Fed/SS/Med

 $          951.54

Ia Public Employee Retire Sys

IPERS

 $          447.39

Treasurer, State of Iowa

Iowa w/h

 $          114.00

Alliant Energy

gas & electric

 $          399.94

Anderson Meat & Grocery

program supplies

 $            62.15

Auld, Kimberly

mileage/workshop registration

 $            94.92

Baker & Taylor

adult-juvenile F/NF

 $          570.20

ICN

long distance