City Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Roland City Council

Regular Session

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The Roland City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.  The meeting was held at 6:00 pm at the Roland Community Center with Mayor Andy Webb presiding via Zoom.  Council members present at roll call via Zoom: Jerry Balmer, Malissa Grimsley, Russ Neely, and Kailah Schmitz.  Absent: Riley Larson.  Also present were City Clerk Jodi Meredith, Public Works Director Nathan Hovick via Zoom, Public Works Assistant Director Dalton Johnston via Zoom, and 5 visitors from the public via Zoom. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the public can access through Zoom.

It was moved by Balmer and seconded by Neely to approve the consent agenda which included Agenda, Minutes from the January 6, 2021 Council Meeting, Claims for January 20, 2021 in the amount of $54,872.80, and Lien: 117 N. Vine Water Shutoff Valve Repair.  All in favor, motion carried.

Public Input: none.

Department Head’s Reports were as follows:

Public Works Director: The Headwaters WMA contract will need to be approved at the next meeting.  The bridge replacement pre-con meeting was this morning.  Alliant is working on moving their overhead lines, the bridge is scheduled to close by 10:00am on February 1 and open on May 28.  Mayor Webb shared that the Kiwanis will be purchasing 3 more holiday decorations, he will ask Friends N Service if they plan to purchase any.  It was asked if the pedestrian bridge was still an option, the property that it would go to is not interested in a public bridge, they would just like to have a private bridge.  The car parked on Main St. with snow around it was discussed, the council would like it to be towed.

City Clerk: The role of the clerk was explained to the Roland Softball group who had been sharing that the clerk was responsible for the shed destroyed in the derecho not being replaced.  They will need to go to the park board or council for answers to their questions, she just informs them of how much insurance money they got for it not what to do with the money.  The structural engineer will be looking at expanding cracks in the community center wall.

CM Larson joined the meeting via Zoom at 6:06pm.

Nick Sorenson of the Ames Chamber gave a presentation of damaged buildings he has helped get funding for fixing up and shared that based on his experience and the report from Haila that the 201 N. Main St. building would not be cost effective to repair and needs to be demolished.  The council would like the sidewalk and parking barricaded off for safety.  They will look into money to help with asbestos abatement and taking over ownership of the building to move the demolition along faster.  Nick will be presenting this information to the RADC at their next meeting.

CM Balmer left the meeting at 7:00pm to attend a Story County meeting.

Mayor Webb opened the Public Hearing Pool for Discontinue The Pool Board at 7:13pm.  Hearing no comments, a motion was made by Schmitz and seconded by Neely to close the Public Hearing at 7:14pm.  All in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Grimsley and seconded by Neely to approve Resolution 21-05: Resolution To Discontinue The City Of Roland Pool Board.  Aye: Schmitz, Larson, Neely, Grimsley.  Nay: none.  Motion carried.

A motion was made by Neely and seconded by Grimsey to approve Pay Estimate #1 to Henkel Construction Company in the amount of $72,215.40.  All in favor, motion carried.

A motion was made by Grimsley and seconded by Larson to approve Pay Estimate #10 to Sande Construction in the amount of $17,242.37.  All in favor, motion carried.

The clerk led a discussion about where the money comes into the City from and where the different income is required to be spent.  Departments and Boards are to have their budgets turned in by the 28th to be discussed at the next meeting.

Mayor/Council Comments: Mayor Webb shared that the 150^th Committee is still looking for family pictures and short biography for their Roland 150^th book as well as businesses.

CM Grimsley hopes to get pool fundraising started back up for the pool after the bridge project.

CM Schmitz asked if there is still money from fundraising or if had been spent, it will have to be looked in to.

Public Input: Pat Murphy likes the flexibility of having the council meetings on Zoom and hopes that something along those lines can continue even after the pandemic.

With no further business at this time, Schmitz moved for adjournment of the meeting at 7:49 pm seconded by Grimsley.  All in favor, motion carried.  The next regular scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 6:00 pm at the Roland Community Center.

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Andy Webb, Mayor                                                    Jodi Meredith, City Clerk