MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2008

 

Note:  The following minutes were approved by the Roland, Iowa, City Council at its July 14, 2008, council meeting.

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, June 23, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., at the Roland City Hall with Mayor Pro-tem Duane Canny starting the meeting.  Mayor Samuel Juhl arrived at 7:03 p.m. and presided over the rest of the meeting.  Council members present at roll call were Duane Canny, Larry Ford, Corey Johnson and Erin Varley.  Absent was council member Jeri Neely.  Also present were 6 visitors and members of the community.

 

It was moved by Varley, seconded by Ford to approve the consent agenda which contained the following items:  June 23, 2008 agenda, minutes from the June 9, 2008 meeting as written, clerk/treasurer reports, and claims, with the addition of the following: Central Financial Group, Wal-Mart, Central Iowa Televising and Manatt’s.  All were in favor.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick had nothing to report at this time.  He was asked about the tree trimming.  He said it is on his list of things to do but hasn’t had time to get to it.  He was asked if he knew Alliant’s timeframe for finishing up the pole conversions on W Maple Street.  Harold will contact Alliant to see when they will be back to finish the project.  He was asked about waterproofing the manhole at Linn & Poplar from the flood waters.  Harold stated that it was not the floodwater that backed up into the basements; it was the excessive water in the system.  He was asked about the bridge that was painted last year that is already rusting.  Harold said he has talked with Mike Louis and he will be here in the next three or four weeks.

 

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

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost reminded the council members that the survey for the Goal Setting Session is due by July 3rd.  Deneen also reported she will be out of the office on Tuesday to attend the FEMA meeting in Ankeny in the morning and the Road Use Tax class in the afternoon in Ames.

 

Dave Stone with Stone Sanitation was present to discuss an increase in the garbage pick up rate.  Dave said he’d like to have the rate increased by one dollar ($1.00) per month.  He’d like to see it stay at a fixed rate instead of leaving the rate where it is and adding a monthly fuel surge charge.  He’d also like to have the council look at the contract and place a limit on the number of garbage cans/bags that they would be required to pick up on a weekly basis.  The current contract does not address this.  There was some discussion about the extra loads that were needed to dispose of the materials destroyed by the flood/sewer water the first part of the month.  City Clerk Frost was directed to draft an ordinance with the proposed $1.00 increase and to draft an addendum to the contract limiting the number of cans/bags for the next meeting.

 

Matt Schell was present to discuss the speeding on S Cottonwood Street.  He’s like the council to install stop signs at the intersection of Samson and Cottonwood.  Matt said he visited with the council about a year ago on this issue and they were going to looking into other options.  Nothing has happened and they are still having problems with the speeding.  He feels the stop signs would be a cheap fix to the problem.  The new council members were updated on what options were discussed the last time Matt was at the meeting.  The options ranged from speed bumps, to blinking signs that flashed the vehicles speed, to painting chevrons coming into town.  Matt says it is affecting their quality of life.  CM Johnson said that there are many studies that show that stop signs do not help the speeding problem.  Consensus of the council members was that something needs to be done, but all agreed that stop signs were not the way to go.  There was also discussion on enforcing the sidewalk ordinance so the residents can walk on the sidewalks instead of in the street.  Funds have been budgeted to paint the chevrons and for a blinking sign (not one with the speed on it) in the FY 08/09 budget.  Harold was directed to get the sign and the chevrons painted as soon as possible.  The council would also like Harold to visit with the County about the cost of putting in a couple of rumble strips. 

 

CM Ford reported that the 6” pump the council voted to purchase at the last council meeting was an older pump and was not equipped to be automatic.  In addition, the pump has been loaned out to the State and the company was not sure how many hours would be on the pump when it was returned.  CM Ford stated that the price to keep the current pump we are using will be $30,600.00 plus the company will apply 90% of what the City has paid to rent the pump towards the purchase of the pump.  CM Ford also stated that he had Dean look at a multi-pump in Boone last week.  The cost of that pump would be approximately $2400 more, but it would pump an additional 750 gallon per minute.  Harold was asked if he thought we needed the additional pumpage.  Harold stated that he didn’t think so, since the one they have now drained the pipe at the wastewater plant faster than what the 15” pipe could provide and they had to turn it down.  It was moved by Canny, seconded by Johnson to purchase the Godwin pump with high/low floats and suction hoses from Central Services at the quoted price of $30,600, less the 90% rent.  All were in favor. 

 

It was moved by Ford, seconded by Varley to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance No. 57 entitled, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ROLAND, 2003, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO CHAPTER 165, ZONING REGULATIONS.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Canny, Ford, Johnson, Varley; NAY:  none.  Whereupon Mayor Juhl declared Ordinance No. 57 duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

It was moved by Ford, seconded by Canny to suspend the rule that requires the reading of an ordinance on three (3) separate days.  All were in favor.

 

It was moved by Ford, seconded by Canny to approve the final reading of Ordinance No. 58 entitled, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ROLAND, 2003, BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER ESTABLISHING THE ROLAND RESPONSE TEAM.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Canny, Ford, Johnson, Varley; NAY:  none.  Whereupon Mayor Juhl declared Ordinance No. 58 duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

It was moved by Ford, seconded by Canny to approve Resolutions 08-18 entitled, A RESOLUTION SETTING THE WAGES FOR THE ROLAND RESPONSE TEAM EFFECTIVE JUNE 7, 2008.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Canny, Ford, Johnson, Varley; NAY:  none.  Whereupon Mayor Juhl declared Resolution No. 08-18 duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

There was a short discussion on the iCash program being developed by the Iowa League of Cities that will allow the residents to pay their utility bills with a credit card.  The initial joining fee would be $100.00 if the City joined by June 30.  The City can join later if they wish, but the cost could be higher.  City Clerk Frost stated that she hasn’t had a whole lot of requests from residents to pay their bills using a credit card, but has had a number of requests to pay with a debit card.  Currently, the City does offer automatic debit of the utility bill if the customer is interested.  Consensus of the council was not to join the League’s iCash program at this time.

 

There was discussion on the wages paid to “as needed” personnel.  It was moved by Johnson, seconded by Canny to change the wages paid for “as needed” personnel as follows:  Regular Day Labor to $10.25/hr., Operating Minor Equipment to $11.25/hr., Operating Heavy Equipment to $12.25/hr.  All were in favor.

 

City Clerk Frost reported that the health insurance increased by almost 15% and she had budgeted for a 20% increase.  It was moved by Johnson, seconded by Ford to renewal the City’s health insurance with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for September 1, 2008 – August 31, 2009.  All were in favor.

 

Mayor Juhl made the following appointments:

            Library Board                 Kristy Anderson             3 yr term      Expires – June 30, 2011

                                                Pat Martens                  3 yr term      Expires – June 30, 2011

                                                Marvin Wright                3 yr term      Expires – June 30, 2011

            Board of Adjustments     John Kline                     5 yr term      Expires – June 30, 2013

            Pool Board                    Adam Pitman                2 yr term      Expires – June 20, 2010

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  CM’s commended the Pool Board for the improvements they have made at the pool this year, and the status of the grocery store.

 

There was public input at this time from Adam Pitman.  He’d like the City to contact the County about maintaining the walk trail.  He also inquired about the status of the basketball court at the old ice rink area.  CM Ford also stated that he had been approached by a citizen that would like to put in a shelter house with restrooms in that area also.

 

With no further business at this time, Varley moved adjournment of the meeting at 8:31 p.m., seconded by Ford.  All were in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, July 14, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.

 

 

JUNE CLAIMS

 

 

GENERAL FUND

 

 

 

 

Roland Response Team

 

 

Alliance Medical

supplies

 $          860.95

Heartlink

defib pads

 $          153.00

 

Total Roland Response Team

 $       1,013.95

 

 

 

Streets

 

 

Grimes Asphalt and Paving

cold patch

 $          496.85

Heartland Construction Company

utility locator

 $       1,831.00

 

Total Streets

 $       2,327.85

 

 

 

Mosquito Control

 

 

Clarke Mosquito Control

30 gal spray/partial payment on sprayer

 $       5,512.80

 

Total Mosquito Control

 $       5,512.80

 

 

 

Library

 

 

Business Card (Platinum Plus)

prog-off supplies/juv F/NF/dvd's/postage

 $          897.86

Hometown Market

program supplies

 $            13.60

Wal-Mart

prog-off supplies/dvd's

 $          209.57

City Employees

wages

 $       1,565.98

 

Total Library

 $       2,687.01

 

 

 

Park

 

 

Hometown Market

paper towels/toilet paper/garbage bags

 $          236.00

McCoy Electric

service call to ball diamonds

 $            75.00

 

Total Park

 $          311.00

 

 

 

Swimming Pool

 

 

Blume, Jeff

concrete work at pool

 $          200.00

Business Card-Platinum Plus

spine board/signs/neck stabilizer

 $          810.23

Coghlan, Rob

reimb for Sam's membership/supplies

 $          119.99

Dan's Overhead Doors & More

4 x 4 rolling steel shutter

 $       1,576.50

Hawkins Water Treatment

chlorine/hydrochloric acid

 $          909.38

Hometown Market

cleaning supplies

 $            27.70

Manatt's

flow fill/concrete-deck repair

 $          415.00

Norsemen Hardware

paint, brushes

 $          238.75

Paragon

popcorn machine

 $          443.20

Roland Pool Board

reimb-loungers/frig/deep freeze/cash reg/misc

 $       3,596.83

Sam's Club

trash bags/toilet paper/paper towels

 $            72.36

Schnur, Renee

reimb for fun night giveaways

 $          194.57

Wal-Mart

miscellaneous supplies

 $            39.64

City Employees

wages

 $          312.81

 

Total Swimming Pool

 $       8,956.96

 

 

 

Policy & Administration

 

 

Business Card

pre-stamped envelopes

 $            81.20

Central Financial Group

updated wc rates/add rrt

 $          821.00

Frost, Deneen

mileage (May & June)

 $            82.33

Hometown Market

comet/trash bags

 $              4.30

IKON Office Solutions

copier lease (June & July)

 $          206.30

Kaeser & Blair Incorporated

final payment on double enders

 $          145.00

City Employees

wages

 $       1,100.92

 

Total Policy & Admin.

 $       2,441.05

 

 

 

 

TOTAL GENERAL

 $     23,250.62

 

 

 

ROAD USE

 

 

Ames Outdoor Power

chain saw repairs

 $            36.50

Aramark