Regular Council Meeting
February 6, 2017
Community Media Center
6:00 P.M.
Mayor Dena Himes called the meeting to order. Council present: Dave Goedken, Brian Wolken, Johnny Russ, Chris Lux and Tom Yeoman. Also present were City Administrator Doug Herman, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Public Works Director Brant LaGrange, City Engineers Patrick Schwickerath and Casey Zwolinski and Police Chief Britt Smith. Council member Rob Paulson was absent.
Wolken moved to approve the agenda, Lux seconded, roll call unanimous.
Dave Schoon discussed his desire to separate a house and building from other buildings on one parcel with a plan to tear down the other buildings at some point in the future. The separation would result in the other buildings not meeting setback requirements. No action was taken; will be on next agenda for consideration.
Yeoman moved to approve the consent agenda, Russ seconded, roll call unanimous.
Mayor Himes opened the public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs related to the Monticello North Water Tower Repainting Maintenance Project. Staff received no oral or written comments. Herman stated that 7 bids were received. Schwickerath reviewed the bids with the Council and recommended awarding the project to Utility Service Co/. Inc from Perry, Georgia the lowest responsive responsible bidder. The Council discussed whether or not the tower should have a “Monticello” logo painted on it at a cost of $5,000 for one or $9,000 for two. Mayor Himes closed the hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs related to the Monticello North Water Tower Repainting Maintenance Project. Schwickerath stated that the early start date would be May 1st and the late start date would be July 18th with a 90 day construction completion period once they start. Yeoman moved to finally approve the proposed plans, specifications with addendum one, form of contract and estimate of cost for the North Water Tower Repainting Maintenance Project, the acceptance of bids, and awarding the project to the apparent lowest responsive, responsible bidder, Utility Services Co., Inc, with one logo on the south side of the tower, Russ seconded, Roll call vote, Yeoman, Russ, and Lux voted aye and Goedken and Wolken voted nay. Motion failed. Goedken moved to finally approve the proposed plans, specifications with addendum one, form of contract and estimate of cost for the North Water Tower Repainting Maintenance Project, the acceptance of bids, and awarding the project to the apparent lowest responsive, responsible bidder, Utility Services Co., Inc, with no logo, Wolken seconded, Roll call vote, Goedken, Wolken and Yeoman voted aye and Russ and Lux voted nay. Motion failed. Council will look for community input and address this question on the next agenda.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-14 Approving Louis & Jeri Soppe Tax Abatement Application related to Residential Improvements constructed at 831 Breckenridge Drive, Monticello, Iowa, Lux seconded, roll call unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-15 Approving Jacob Ciha Tax Abatement Application related to Residential Improvements constructed at 302 N Chestnut Street, Monticello, Iowa, Wolken seconded, roll call unanimous.
Herman reported that Jerry Krueger sold Hangar VII to Thomas Yeoman who took over the land lease with the City. Yeoman added on to the hangar in 2016. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-16 Approving Hangar Space Lease Agreement between Monticello Regional Airport (City of Monticello) & Thomas W. Yeoman, Russ seconded. Roll call vote, Goedken, Russ, Lux and Wolken voted aye and Yeoman abstained. Motion carried.
Wolken moved to approve Resolution #17-17 Scheduling Public Hearing on the City of Monticello 2017/2018 Fiscal Year budget for March 06, 2017 at 6:00 p.m., Lux seconded, roll call vote unanimous. Council set Saturday February 11, 2017 at 1:00 pm to further review the budget.
Herman recommended that Casey Reyner be hired as the Park & Recreation Superintendent of Parks and Facilities. Lux moved to approve Resolution #17-18 to approve the hiring of Casey Reyner as Monticello Park and Recreation Superintendent of Parks and Facilities, Russ seconded, roll call unanimous.
Herman reviewed some statistics and articles related to pit bulls that he found and suggested that the Council go to DogsBite.org website for more information. Jayne Iben, with the Animal Welfare Foundation, spoke briefly to the Council, asking if any of the statistics Herman provided dealt with dog bites in the home versus in the public. Herman reviewed some specifics and indicated that the site had many pages of additional statistics. Annie Locher, Animal Welfare Foundation Board Member, indicated that she favored restrictions related to muzzling and short leashes and the lifting of the Pit Bull ban explaining that the shelter has a hard time placing pit bulls because of the ban in both Monticello and Anamosa.
Staff discussed Storm Water project involving Jerald and Sherry Behrends and the City of Monticello. LaGrange reviewed Jerry McElmeel bid in the amount of $2,650 for labor and material estimate in the amount of $4,966. Goedken moved to approve the project, using plastic pipe, with a cost of $3,000 to Jerald Behrends with over runs to be paid by the City, Motion died due to the lack of a second. Council was concerned with the approval of an agreement that was not basically a 50/50 split as has been the case in prior projects. Herman suggested that Behrends could take advantage of the City Loan program with a 5-year loan at 0% interest, if desired. After more discussion, Behrends agreed to a 50/50 cost split with a not to exceed sum of $3,800, with the granting of an easement to the City at no cost, with the easement including language that excludes heavy equipment or traffic over the easement area, and with the City accepting maintenance of the pipe once installed. Goedken moved to proceed with the JeraldBehrends storm water project as a 50/50 cost share with the understanding that the Behrends share would not exceed $3,800, that Behrends would grant an easement to the City at no cost, with the easement including language that excludes heavy equipment or traffic over the easement area, and with the City accepting maintenance of the pipe once installed, with the further understanding that the City would approve a loan, through the City Loan Program, for 5-years at 0% interest, consistent with past practices, should Behrends wish to take advantage of that opportunity, Wolken seconded, roll call unanimous.
The remainder of the meeting was spent on FY ’18 budget discussions and review with no action taken. The Council agreed to hold a work session on the budget on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Wolken moved to adjourn the Council meeting at 8:56 P.M., roll call vote unanimous.
Dena Himes, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk