MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

AUGUST 8, 2005

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, August 8, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall with Mayor Pro-tem Roger Fritz presiding.  Council members present at roll call were Roger Fritz, Bob Hanson, John Lee, Jerilyn Neely, and Terry Rasmusson.  Also present were 10 visitors and members of the community.

 

City Clerk Frost asked that the agenda be amended to include Resolution 05-07, authorizing the closing of N. Main Street for a period of time for the hardware store auction.  Motion by Rasmusson, second by Hanson to approve the consent agenda, as it has been presented in their council packets, containing the following items:  agenda, minutes from the July 25, 2005, meeting as written, treasurer’s report, clerk’s reports, claims as submitted, and tax abatement for Corey & Dena Johnson.  All in favor.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick stated he had nothing to report at this time.  Council member Neely stated she has talked with Jack Frandsen about the cracks in the new street and they are covered under the two year warranty and will be fixed.

 

Water/Wastewater Department - Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark stated he had nothing to report at this time.  Council member Fritz asked if the N. Cottonwood Street project was done.  Dean stated Hall’s are done for now, but they will be starting up again in a couple of weeks to complete the N. Main Street portion of the project.  Then when the crops are out of the field, they will loop the two lines.

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost provided the members with opinion letters from the City Attorney.  She also provided them with a letter the Girl’s Summer Softball Director Kathy Hovick had received from the City of Story City regarding increasing the amount of fees the program charges.  City Clerk Frost will place this item on the next agenda for further discussion and action.

 

Motion by Rasmusson, second by Hanson to accept the resignation of Mayor Jerilyn Neely.  AYE:  Fritz, Hanson, Rasmusson;  NAY:  Lee;  ABSTAIN:  Neely.  Motion carried.

 

There was a short discussion on the appointment to fill the Mayor’s position.  Jerry Spencer was in the audience and was asked if he was still interested in filling the position.  He indicated that he was still interested.  Motion by Neely, second by Lee to appoint Jerry Spencer as the Mayor of Roland.  All in favor.

 

Mayor Jerry Spencer took the Oath of Office at 7:10 p.m., and presided over the meeting from that point on.

 

Heather Stephenson with Story County Empowerment was present to make the council aware that they have grant funds available for School Ready and Early Childhood Development, and will be taking RFP (request for proposals). The funds will be available December 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.   The funds are available to provide education and support services to parents of children from birth through age five, to increase the availability and access to childcare services or preschool services for low-income families with children from birth through age five, and to assist providers in meeting licensing, registration or accreditation standards.  City Clerk Frost will send copies of the flier handed out by Heather to the local daycare providers in Roland.  

 

Pool Board members Kent Arnold, Becky Barclay, and Kalynne Seydell were present to discuss the check that was written to them for concessions.  Kent stated that the Pool Board received a check in the amount of $1,184.01 for concessions.  He asked the council if they did or did not approve for the Pool Board to received a one time check in the amount of $2500.00 for concessions.  Council members stated yes.  Kent then asked when it was decided to change the amount of the check.  It was explained that at the July 11^th meeting, City Clerk Frost provided a claim from Sam’s Club for concession at the swimming pool and asked the council if they wanted her to bill the Pool Board for the charged concessions or to take it out the $2500.00 check.  Consensus of the council members was to have City Clerk Frost use which ever method was easier for her.  There was discussion on why the Sam’s Club bill wasn’t paid in June, and where were the concession revenues deposited for May and June.  City Clerk Frost tried to explain that the City works on a cash basis.  Revenues are deposited as they come in and bills are paid as they are received.  The bill for the concessions was not received until July.  Council member Hanson stated the City should give them a check for the balance of the $2500.00.  Motion by Hanson, second by Rasmusson to provide the Roland Municipal Pool Board with a check for an additional $1315.99, to make the $2500.00 total.  Kent stated that the Board should have been notified that the check was going to be changed.  He would also like the council to define the responsibilities of the Pool Board, in writing, as to what they are and are not responsible for.  He would also like to know if they will have to pay taxes on the profits made from the concessions.  City Clerk Frost will contact the City Attorney to find out.  Mayor Spencer stated that there is a motion and a second on the floor and called for the vote.  All in favor.

 

Council member Jerilyn Neely stated she was representing the Roland Days Committee.  They would like to make a better pop receptacle, and would like a place to permanently leave it.  They would like to use the lot just north of Casey’s.  City Clerk Frost stated that the property was in the flood plain and that a permanent structure could not be constructed on the property.  After discussion, it was motioned by Fritz, seconded by Rasmusson to allow the Roland Days Committee to permanently place a temporary pop receptacle on the property just north of Casey’s.  All in favor.

 

There was a request to allow realty directional signs in the City right-of-way.  Council member Neely would like the council to allow the signs in the City right-of-way.  After a short discussion, it was motioned by Rasmusson, seconded by Lee to not allow directional and realty signs in the City right-of-way.  AYE:  Fritz, Lee, Rasmusson;  NAY:  Hanson, Neely.  Motion carried. 

 

Council member Neely stated she will notify Jack Frandsen and the property owners that the city council will not allow the signs to be placed in the City right-of-way.  She also requested Harold and Dean remove all the directional and realty signs that are in violation.

 

Motion by Hanson, second by Fritz to move to item #12 on the agenda.  All in favor.

 

Story County Deputy Kevin McKinley was present and asked if the council has any concerns or complaints for him to pass on to the Sheriff.  Speeding was the only complaint.  Kevin reported they had a little trouble with scooters on Samson Street, and there is someone riding a go-cart around town.  If any one has information regarding this person he would like for them to contact him.  The vandalism has gone down.  He said the Sheriff’s Office is buying a speed sign, currently they are borrowing one from Waukee, and it will be available for City’s to use as part of the Community Policing effort.  Kevin explain a little on how Community Policing was first started and that no one ever showed up.  He would like the council’s help in putting together an agenda of what they would like to see accomplished with the Community Policing program.  Council members will bring their ideas to the next council meeting.

 

There was a short discussion on testing the PowerBill+ Fund Accounting software.  Council member Fritz stated that he had talked with City Clerk Frost about the software.  He believes it has some value, and there is money in the budget to cover the $1500 installation fee.  Council member Rasmusson asked if we really need the new software.  Council member Fritz stated no, but if we had it, it could speed up some things.  Motion by Rasmusson, second by Neely to decline the opportunity to test the PowerBill+ Fund Accounting software.  All in favor.

 

City Clerk Frost asked the council members what they would like her to tell Marvin Wright regarding his request to close N. Main Street for an auction on Sunday, August 21, 2005, since they did not amend the agenda to take action on his request. 

 

Motion by Neely, second by Hanson to add the request to the agenda at this time and consider Resolution No. 05-07.  All in favor.

 

Motion by Hanson, second by Neely to approve Resolution No. 05-07 entitled,  A RESOLUTION TEMPORARILY CLOSING A PORTION OF MAIN STREET IN ROLAND, IOWA, TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FOR WRIGHT’S HARDWARE STORE AUCTION, AUGUST 21, 2005, FROM 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM.   The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Hanson, Neely;  NAY:  Fritz, Lee, Rasmusson.  Whereupon Mayor Spencer declared the resolution died due to the lack of a majority vote.  

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  Newly appointed Mayor Spencer thanked the council for the opportunity to serve the community.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Hanson moved adjournment of the meeting at 8:11 p.m., second by Rasmusson. All in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, August 22, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.