Regular Council Meeting
April 19, 2021 – 5:30 P.M.
Community Media Center
Mayor Brian Wolken called the meeting to order. Council present: Dave Goedken, Brenda Hanken, Scott Brighton, Candy Langerman, Chris Lux and Tom Yeoman. Also present were City Administrator Russ Farnum, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Police Chief Britt Smith, Public Works Director Nick Kahler, Water/ Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden, Park & Rec Director Jacob Oswald, Library Director Michelle Turnis and City Engineer Patrick Schwickerath. The public was invited to attend the meeting in person, with limited seating or to participate in the meeting electronically via “Zoom Meetings” and were encouraged to communicate from Zoom Meeting via chat, due to the heightened public health risks of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). The meeting did have public attendance, both in-person and via Zoom.
Council and staff walked around downtown inspecting various potential street, handicap ramp and crosswalk changes proposed by the IDOT with the Hwy 38 Overlay Project, then reconvened at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers.
Yeoman moved to approve the agenda, Lux seconded, roll call unanimous.
Kaye Junion, 245 N. Arminda Ave, requested the Council reconsider the days allowed in Monticello to do fireworks and to not allow a month to do them.
Tom Osborne, 630 S. Sycamore St, inquired when the decision was made to change the Zoom meeting to audio only and no longer have video. Wolken stated the decision was made just prior to this meeting, as the new audio/video system was recently installed.
Goedken moved to remove the minutes from the consent agenda and to be voted on separately, Lux seconded, roll call unanimous.
Goedken felt the vote for the 4th of July donation at the last Council meeting seemed complicated and questioned the need to change how meetings were ran for the last 12 years. Wolken advised he is following the City Code on how to conduct the meeting. He was contacted by Council members who felt they were not being heard and Robert’s Rules allows them to be heard. It also helps to keep discussion on the topic and keeps things moving. A few Councilmembers felt it was confusing and limits discussion and others felt it was a good policy and would get easier, if used. Wayne Peach, 108 Monk Ct, advised his church council uses Robert’s Rules only on controversial issues. Yeoman moved to approve the Council minutes from April 5, 2021 and Langerman seconded. Roll call all ayes except Goedken who voted nay, as he wanted to review the vote on the 4th of July motions from the meeting. Carried.
Yeoman moved to approve the consent agenda and Lux seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Mike McDonough, 501 Park Drive, advised he met with Farnum and Jones County Assessor to discuss his request for a TIF grant and/or rebate. He stated former City Administrator Doug Herman advised him about the grant/rebate program and helped him put the proposal together. Herman called him after the last Council meeting and advised him there is no set rebate schedule and the Council can do what they want. McDonough questioned what the qualifications were for the grant. Council advised there were no set rules or standards and depends on the size of the project. Wolken stated Iowa TIF rules are it should spur job creation and/or develop blight area improvements. McDonough advised the project estimated cost is $378,000 and brings approximately $9,500 in taxes each year. McDonough advised if he was offered a tax rebate with a sliding scale of 100-90-85-80-75-70-65-60-60-60% for the 10 years, they would move forward with the proposed project. After a lengthy discussion, Goedken moved to direct City Administrator to work with Mike McDonough to prepare a development agreement for Council approval using a rebate with a sliding scale of 100-90-85-80-75-70-65-60-60-60% for the 10 years, Brighton seconded, roll call unanimous.
Council discussed the crosswalks, handicap ramp and intersection that they toured earlier in the meeting. They reached a consensus of the following: 1. Crosswalk in the 100 block of East First Street, near the Pocket Park & Grand China – Public Works Director directed to reach out to the businesses in that block to see if they would rather see the crosswalk remain or to remove it and create more parking, if abandoned. 2. Crosswalks on South Maple Street and East First Street, near the Theisen’s Store – the crosswalk on the west side of South Maple Street should remain and the crosswalk on the east side of South Maple Street should be removed., and 3. Intersection of North Maple Street and East First Street handicap ramp – Public Works Director was directed to ask IDOT to consider other options related to the handicap ramp and work with IDOT to come up with other options. Yeoman moved to approve Resolution #2021-46 directing Public Works Director to contact IDOT with recommendations related to Proposed changes to crosswalks, handicap ramps and street with the Hwy 38 Overlay Project. Hanken seconded, roll call unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2021-47 To Acknowledge Monticello Public Library Director and staff Wage Increases for FY 2022. Hanken seconded, roll call unanimous.
Goedken moved to table action on resolution to approve FY ’22 Wages for Non-Bargaining Staff, to allow more detail to be compiled. Hanken seconded, roll call unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2021-48 scheduling Public Hearing on the City of Monticello FY 2020/2021 Budget Amendments for May 17, 2021, Langerman seconded, roll call unanimous.
Tjaden advised the sewer department will pay the trade-in value towards the cemetery mower. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2021-49 Approving purchase of a Toro 5000 Series mower from Scherrman’s Implement. Brighton seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2021-50 Authorizing the City Clerk to make the Appropriate Transfers of Sums and Record the same in the Appropriate Manner for FY 2022 for the City Monticello. Brighton seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Oswald reviewed the proposed changes to the MYBSA agreement with City of Monticello and School. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2021-51 Approving Agreement between the City of Monticello, Monticello Community School District and the Monticello Youth Baseball Softball Association (MYBSA). Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Farnum reported moving forward on several projects and developments that will be coming to the Council soon. Wolken advised that they may need to turn down some agreements, so we don’t over TIF, as it affects the City’s general fund taxes.
Hinrichsen reported the USDA Grant related to the Sixth Street Ditch has been submitted.
Hinrichsen stated the FY 2019-2020 audit has been completed and the State Auditor’s Office has released the audit for public viewing and emailed it to the Council.
Kahler reported the first day of yard waste pickup went well. He stated a lot of people are coming to the site to drop off yard waste and/or picking up wood chips or mulch.
Kahler stated the asphalt plant opened today and he is hoping get some asphalt soon to patch areas around town.
Tjaden reported Royal Flush’s system is up and running and water discharge at the treatment plant is much better.
Tjaden stated he is working on a Risk & Resiliency and Emergency Response Plan that is required by the EPA and is due June 30th. The America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) required systems serving at least 3,300 people to conduct a risk and resiliency assessment, and then incorporate those findings into an updated Emergency Response Plan.
Smith reported funding for the K-9 unit has been secured and they are moving forward with the required training and equipment purchases.
Smith stated he is working on bugs with the new sound system with Zoom and Facebook Live. Council and staff need to use the microphones, so the viewers can hear.
Wolken stated the anti-glare installed at the Library looks good from the outside of the Library.
Oswald reported there will be around 350 to 400 trees coming in the next week or so. A lot of the trees will be planted along North Sycamore Street.
Oswald reported they are making plans for their summer programs, with two new programs: Golf(ish) and Summer of Fun. He updated Council on dates and events for the Summer Fundraising, with the first event being a golf tournament on June 19th.
Oswald stated the City was contacted by the organizer of the Farmer’s Market and they would like to bring in a food truck once a month, on a Wednesday evening to the Farmer’s Market at Willow Park. Council wanted to ensure they were legally licensed and questioned who and how many they were planning. Oswald thought it was just one per evening. Oswald stated the City code reads if it is considered a Special Event then the fees would be waived and questioned if the Council considered this a special event. Consensus of the Council was to consider this a special event and to waive the fees.
Brighton moved to adjourn at 8:01 P.M.
Brian Wolken, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk