Regular Council Meeting
April 3, 2023 – 6:00 P.M.
Community Media Center
Mayor David Goedken called the meeting to order. Council present were: Chris Lux, Candy Langerman, Wayne Peach, Brenda Hanken and Tom Yeoman. Also present were City Administrator Russell Farnum, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Library Director Faith Brehm, Water /Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden, Park and Rec Director Jacob Oswald and Police Chief Britt Smith. Council member Scott Brighton arrived during budget public hearing. 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.
Yeoman moved to approve the agenda, Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Open Forum, John Sauser, 526 West First Street thanked the City Council and staff for getting the stop light repaired at the First Street and Main Street intersection.
Langerman moved to approve the consent agenda; Lux seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Mayor Goedken opened the public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2023/2024 City of Monticello Budget. Staff received no written comments. Staff received questions on various item on the budget and responded to those. Mary Phelan, 1040 Riverview Court voiced her concerns on trends of the Park and Recreation budget and offered suggestion to lower the budget. Tom Osborne, 630 South Sycamore voiced his concerns on the tax levy which includes the City, School, County, EMS and a few others. He stated public was advised the City taxes would not increase if the EMS levy was approved. Osborne presented some data he gathered from the Park & Recreation master plan survey. With the ambulance budget increasing $150,000.00 and Park and Recreation increasing $112,000.00, he suggested Council review line items of those budgets. Farnum stated if you removed the cost of the MYBSA programing and the one-time vehicle purchase the Park and Recreation only increased $1,000.00. The Park contract programing will create their own revenue streams to support the programs. Goedken stated there was too much fat in the budget, which needs to be cut. Abby Slauson, 722 Southaven Drive stated she intended to address Council as a City resident but also answered questions from the Council. Slauson suggested the Council present the Park Board with a workable budget and they will make it work. She also stated the taxes were not going up just because of the Park and Recreation budget. Shannon Poe, former Park & Recreation employee stated the Park and Recreation is an important entity of the City, which brings people to town and helps the town to grow. She pointed out previous comments about maintaining staff and stated that part of that is basic respect. The turn-over rate is not good and the staff supports the City with many hours of their time. Josh Brenneman, 958 Valley Drive stated that he served on the MYBSA for seven years and at one point they brought in $50,000 in one season. He stated there is 67 teams registered for the next tournament. Goedken stated he wanted to see a lower tax rate. Mayor read a message he received about the Park & Recreation staff working for Public Works Department. After a lengthy discussion, Mayor closed the public hearing. Yeoman moved to approve Resolution #2023-48 Adoption of Budget and Certification of City Taxes for Fiscal Year July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, with the tax levy rate of 15.80145, Peach seconded, roll call unanimous, except Hanken who voted nay as the budget was not lowered.
Mayor Goedken opened the public hearing on the proposed Amendment to the Zoning Map of the City of Monticello, changing the zoning on 200 West 11th Street property from “C-1” General Business to “M-1” Light Manufacturing. Staff received no written or oral comments. Gary Schwandt, 711 N Birch questioned the lot size difference between the legal notice and Beacon site. Farnum advised he used the legal description from 2009, when the property was annexed into the City and felt it could be the legal description includes street right-of-way. Marcia Schwandt did not want City to take any of her family farm from the family. It was suggested the property could be surveyed to locate the property lines but that would be between the two property owners and not the City. City is only re-zoning the property. Mayor Goedken closed the hearing on the Amendment to the Zoning Map of the City of Monticello, changing the zoning on 200 West 11th Street property from “C-1” General Business to “M-1” Light Manufacturing. Yeoman introduced and moved Ordinance #761 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to “Zoning Regulations”, first reading in title only. Peach seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Shannon Poe, 920 West First Street, stated when she worked for the City, she ran the pool with three managers and City didn’t have the MYBSA. She stated she didn’t know how she would have done both. Langerman moved to override the Mayor’s veto of Resolution#2023-47Approving the hiring of Aquatics Coordinator and Park and Recreation internship staff and setting wage. Brighton seconded, roll call was unanimous, except Hanken who voted nay.
Yeoman moved to approve Resolution #2023-49 Approving Change Order #1 in the decrease amount of $9,750.00 and Change Order #2 in the increase amount of $2,535.00 submitted by Boomerang related to the Monticello Airport Taxiway Connector Project. Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous
Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2023-50 Approving the temporary use of yard signs for Theisen’s Lawn and Garden Center. Hanken seconded, roll call was unanimous, except Yeoman who abstained, as Theisen is a customer of his business.
Schwickerath advised they will bid the project as a reconstruction with a concrete street, with an alternate bid for concrete curb and gutter with a brick street and an alternate bid for decorative street lights. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2023-51 Approving agreement between Snyder & Associates and City of Monticello to Design and Oversee the Construction of the Chestnut Street Project. Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Smith stated the outside of 541 North Chestnut Street was cleaned up, as a condition to allow the owner more time to remove his belongings from the home. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2023-52 Approving purchase of home at 541 North Chestnut Street and authorizing City Administrator to Close Real Estate Transaction. Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Farnum stated the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires City to have pretreatment agreements with industries in Monticello. City took action against the one business who did not meet the terms of their pretreatment agreement. However the DNR has taken action against the City and fined the City $5,000. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2023-53 Accepting Consent Order from Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Hanken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2023-54 Approving the hiring of Water /Wastewater employee and setting wage. Hanken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Farnum advised during the ice storm on February 23, 2023 that a dump truck tipped onto its side while attempting to sand the sewer plant hill. The estimate to repair the truck was $34,150.20, which was turned into the City’s insurance company who totaled the truck. Staff recommended purchasing the truck back for $8,150,00 and pay the $1,000 deductible, and insurance company will pay City $37,582.00. Staff will look for aftermarket or salvage yard parts to use to save on cost to repair truck. The truck would have a salvage title. It would take 2 to 3 years to get a replacement truck ordered and delivered. Langerman moved to direct staff to go with Option C to buy the truck back for $8150.00, pay the $1000.00 deductible, and get a check for $37,582.00. Staff to purchase aftermarket or salvage yard parts, if available. The truck would have a salvaged title and the money that is not spent would then go into the truck set a side. Lux seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Yeoman moved to approve Ordinance #759 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by Adding New Section to Chapter 23, “Park and Recreation Board” Section 23.08 Accounting of Park and Recreation Checking Account, third and final reading in title only. Peach seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve Ordinance #760 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by Adding New Section to Chapter 180, “Signage Regulations”, Section 180.30 Special Sign Provisions for Buildings in the Main Street District, second reading in title only, Lux seconded. Roll call was unanimous. Yeoman moved that the rule requiring that an ordinance be considered and voted on for passage at two council meetings prior to this meeting be suspended and to place Ordinance #760 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by Adding New Section to Chapter 180, “Signage Regulations”, Section 180.30 Special Sign Provisions for Buildings in the Main Street District to be considered for its third and final reading. Hanken seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Mayor advised the next four ordinances are to amend the City Code after the results of the special election held on March 7, 2023. Brighton moved to approve Ordinance #762 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 3 “Ward and Precinct Boundaries”, first reading in title only, Hanken seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Hanken moved to approve Ordinance #763 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 2 “Charter”, first reading in title only, Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Hanken moved to approve Ordinance #764 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 15 “Mayor”, Section 15.05 Voting, first reading in title only, Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Peach moved to approve Ordinance #765 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 17 “City Council”, Section 17.01 Number and Term of Council, first reading in title only, Hanken seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Staff advised Iowa Code 384.84 requires utility rates to be set by ordinance and State Auditor has asked that the rates be set by ordinance and not resolution. There is no change to the rates, from what was previously approved by the Council. Lux moved to approve Ordinance #766 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending provisions pertaining to Chapter 106 “Collection of Solid Waste”, Section 106.08 Collection Fees, first reading in title only, Peach seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Schwickerath updated Council on various projects. Chestnut Street Project, they will start working on the design plans; Water Tower Project, they are working on identifying who equipment is on the tower, verifying that there is no lead in paint, and working with FAA to see what is allowed for color and other items. Sixth Street Ditch Project they are working on the getting all the permits required. First Street Project they have about 60% of the plans completed, which will run from Hwy 151 to Disc Golf trail. Wastewater Treatment Plant Project they are waiting on the USDA to approve the City to begin the bid process.
Farnum reported several trees were downed during the recent wind storm and City staff did a good job cleaning up after the storm. JP is working on the street sweeper to get it repaired and ready to start cleaning the streets.
Hinrichsen stated been busy working on the budget revisions and agenda.
Goedken felt the needs to take down more the of dying Ash trees from the Right-of-Way.
Tjaden reported Royal Flush was in violation of their pretreatment agreement and will be sent a $2,000 violation notice. Tjaden stated the past couple of months they were staying in compliance. Farnum stated City goal is to get them into compliance and not to shut them down.
Oswald reported a pine tree fell at the City Park during the recent wind storm, just missing the shelter. He is working with the school to set a clean-up day for early May.
Brehm advised they were working on inventory of the library.
Peach moved to adjourn at until 8:26 P.M.
David Goedken, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk/Treasurer