MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, September 12, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., at City Hall with Mayor Jerry Spencer presiding.  Council members present at roll call were Bob Hanson, John Lee, Jeri Neely, and Terry Rasmusson.  Absent was council member Roger Fritz.  Also present were 4 visitors and members of the community.

 

Motion by Rasmusson, second by Lee to approve the consent agenda containing the following items:  agenda, minutes from the August 22, 2005, meeting as written, treasurer’s report, clerk’s reports, claims as submitted, and tax abatement for Jerry Handsaker.  All in favor.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

Department Head Reports were as follows: 

 

Street Department - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick reported the roof is leaking at City Hall.  He called the company that installed the roofing materials and they are no longer doing that type of work and recommended someone out of Nevada.  He looked at the roof last week.  He was going to check out what would be the best way to repair it and get back to Harold with a price.  Council member Rasmusson asked about the asphalting.  Harold said the last time he visited with Manatt’s they thought it would be sometime late September.  Paving still hasn’t been completed at the Industrial Park.  He called Eldon and Eldon said he will send Scharnweber’s a letter stating they are in violation of their contract.  Council member Lee asked how his dog bite was coming.  Harold stated it was fine.  Mayor Spencer asked if the sign that was knocked down by the pool had been put back up yet.  Harold said he still needs to get it put back up.

 

Water/Wastewater Department - Water/Wastewater Superintendent reported that the 2^nd phase of the 2” main replacement has been completed.  The last phase will be to connect N. Main Street with N. Cottonwood Street.  They will start on that as soon as the crops are out of the field.

 

City Clerk - City Clerk Deneen Frost just arrived at 7:08 p.m. and apologized for her lateness.  She reported that everything has been completed for the purchase of the hardware store building.  Due to a scheduling conflict City Hall will be close on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.  and will open on Thursday at 1:00 p.m..  Deneen will be at a conference in Des Moines Wednesday - Friday, and Doris will be having cataract surgery on Wednesday.

 

Mayor Spencer declared that this was the time and the place for the public hearing on the Annual Financial Report.  There were no oral or written comments for or against the report.  Motion by Lee, second by Rasmusson to close the hearing.

 

Motion by Rasmusson, second by Hanson to approve Resolution No.  05-09 entitled, A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE CITY ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FYE JUNE 30, 2005.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Hanson, Lee, Neely, Rasmusson;  NAY:  none.  Whereupon Mayor Spencer declared the resolution duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

James Graham of 622 S. Main Street was present to ask the council to grant him permission to park his semi tractor in his driveway.  He had been parking his tractor and trailer on S. Main  Street in front of his residence, but was sent a letter stating that he was in violation of the City’s Truck Route ordinance.  He has made arrangements with the coop to let him park his trailer at the coop, but he would like to park the tractor at home so he can plug it in during the winter.  Motion by Rasmusson, second by Hanson to park the tractor in his driveway as long as the City doesn’t receive to many complaints.  All in favor.  If the City starts receiving complaints, they will revisit the issue.

 

Motion by Rasmusson, second by Lee to approve the audit proposal submitted by Denman & Co. in the amount of $6500.00.  All in favor.

There was discussion on what to do with the birds on the water tower.  Harlan Hall asked if the council would look into doing something with them.  The south side of his house, his driveway and his vehicles are constantly covered in bird droppings.  Mayor Spencer said he was going to visit with some people in Ames on how they handled their bird situation, but time got away from him.  It was suggested that Jim Pease at ISU be contacted.  He might have some information.  Water Superintendent Uitermark was directed to call Maguire Iron, the company that services the water tower, to see if they are having this problem in other towns and if they have any solutions.  Council will revisit this issue at the next meeting after more information has been gathered from the above suggestions.

 

There was discussion on municipal infractions.  It was decided that all infractions will be presented to the council for approval before citations are issued.  Once the council decides if an infraction exists, they will authorize one of the city employees to first initiate a phone call asking the property owner to correct the infraction.  If after a period of time the infraction still hasn’t been abated then a certified notice will be sent to the property owner stating they have ten days to abate the infraction or they may appear in person at the next council meeting to contest the infraction.  If the council decides that the infraction exists and the property owner hasn’t abated the nuisance in the time the council allots, a citation will be issued.  The citation will be delivered by the Story County Sheriff’s Office.  City Clerk Frost will put together the information above into a Municipal Infractions Policy for the council to approve at the next council meeting.

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  Mayor Spencer stated that he and Harold did a walk through of Wright’s building before final payment was made.  There was also discussion on what they’d been hearing from the public on what renovations are going to be done at Wright’s building.  Mayor Spencer said he is meeting with Tammy Shadlow on the 28^th and will find out what is going on.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Rasmusson moved adjournment of the meeting at 7:50 p.m., second by Neely. All in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, September 26, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.