MINUTES OF THE ROLAND CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR SESSION

NOVEMBER 28, 2005

 

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Monday, November 28, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall with Mayor Jerry Spencer presiding.  Council members present at roll call were:  Roger Fritz, Bob Hanson, John Lee, Jeri Neely, and Terry Rasmusson.  Also present were 2 visitors and members of the community.

 

Motion by Hanson, second by Lee to approve the consent agenda containing the following items: agenda, minutes from the November 14, 2005, meeting as written, clerk’s reports, and claims as submitted.  All in favor.

 

There was public input at this time from Duane Canny.  He was concerned with the condition of the flag by DB Hydro.  Harold said he would talk to Galen and see if the Son’s of the Legion have another flag.

 

The Department Heads report were as follows: 

 

Streets - Street Superintendent Harold Hovick reported that he took the extension cord from the bird chirper and used it for the Christmas lights.  Harlan stopped by and said that there was about two dozen birds on the water tower that weekend.  Harold will keep an eye on the tower and if the birds start to congregate again he will plug the bird chirper back in. 

 

Water/Wastewater - Water/Wastewater Superintendent Dean Uitermark was on vacation.

 

City Clerk- City Clerk Deneen Frost was out of town.

 

Mayor Spencer declared that this was the time and the place for the public hearing on Development Agreement with Innovative Lighting.  There were no written or oral comments for or against the Development Agreement.  Motion by Fritz, second by Lee to close the public hearing.

 

Motion by Hanson, second by Lee to approve Resolution No. 05-15 entitled APPROVING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH INNOVATIVE LIGHTING, AUTHORIZING TAX INCREMENT PAYMENTS AND PLEDGING CERTAIN TAX INCREMENT REVENUES TO THE PAYMENT OF THE AGREEMENT.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Fritz, Hanson, Lee. Neely, Rasmusson;  NAY:  none.  Where upon Mayor Spencer declared the resolution duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

Motion by Fritz, second by Lee to approve Resolution No. 05-16 entitled RESOLUTION REGARDING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS PROPOSED BY IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.  The roll was called for and is as follows:  AYE:  Fritz, Hanson, Lee. Neely, Rasmusson;  NAY:  none.  Where upon Mayor Spencer declared the resolution duly adopted and the same placed on file.

 

Council/Mayor comments consisted of the following:  Council member Rasmusson said he talked to Harold about having Nathan help him put up Christmas lights.  He feels that should have been done while Dean was here.  Harold explained that they had planned on putting up the lights before Dean went on vacation but it snowed the day they planned on putting them up, the next day was too windy, the next day the boom truck wasn’t available, and the next day Dean went on vacation.  The weather was nice the next Monday and the boom truck was available, so he had Nathan help him put up Christmas lights.  Council member Rasmusson stated that Harold never gets permission.  He just does what he wants.  He also said that he gets phone calls all the time about Harold.  Council member Neely stated that she received a phone call asking why Nathan was climbing the water tower.  Harold explained that he was unable to reach around the post to install the bird chirper so Nathan was up there helping him.  Council member Fritz stated that he had a conversion with Harold about Nathan putting up the Christmas lights and at the time it seemed reasonable for Nathan to help him.  Mayor Spencer stated that there used to be three employees and he feels that the City should look at hiring a third person to help out with projects like that.  Council member Neely stated she would have to see their job descriptions before she could vote to hire a third person.  Council member Rasmusson asked who oversees the employees.  Council member Fritz stated that the City Clerk keeps track of the hours they work.  As for advisory of the employees, it would be the Mayor and Council.   Council member Rasmusson stated that Harold does do a good job at filling out his daily log sheets.  Council member Neely asked Harold if he needed more help.  Harold stated for certain projects.  She also asked him why he was working on Friday when it was a holiday.  Harold explained that he usually reads meters the day after Thanksgiving so that the water bills can get out on time.  He takes a day off sometime the next pay period to make up for working on Friday.  Some of the council members stated that they are unsure of what committees they are on.  Mayor Spencer asked if they will need help when they replace the water main going west out of town.  Mayor Spencer stated that there needs to be someone available that Harold can call on at anytime to come in and help with projects.  There was discussion on combining the parks position with a third person position after Ed retires.  Council member Hanson would like the council members to bring to the meeting in January ideas on how they can improve the City.  Mayor Spencer asked isn’t that what RADC is suppose to do?  Council member Neely commented that the City’s website needs to be better.  Council member Fritz stated that he has talked with Deneen and she would like to change website programs.  There was discussion of having a work session in January on community improvement ideas.  Council member Hanson also asked if City Hall was going to move to Main Street after the Library moves across the street.  Several of the council members feel City Hall should be on Main Street.

 

There was no public input at this time.

 

With no further business at this time, Rasmusson  moved adjournment of the meeting at 7:45 p.m., second by Lee.  All in favor.  The next regular council meeting will be Monday, December 19, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.