Regular Council Meeting
June 5, 2023 – 6:00 P.M.
Community Media Center
Mayor David Goedken called the meeting to order. Council present were: Brenda Hanken, Candy Langerman, Chris Lux, Wayne Peach, Scott Brighton and Tom Yeoman. Also present were City Administrator Russell Farnum, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Water /Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden, Public Works Director Nick Kahler, Police Chief Britt Smith and City Engineer Nick Eisenbacher. Park and Rec Director Jacob Oswald arrived during the meeting. The public was invited to attend the meeting in person, or to participate in the meeting electronically via “Zoom Meetings” or “Facebook” and were encouraged to communicate from the chat or message.
Lux moved to approve the agenda, Langerman seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Bud Coyle, 515 North Sycamore inquired on when the potholes would be filled. Kahler advised the department has been busy with taking trees down and painting the streets. They will work on getting them filled. It was suggested the Coyle make a list of potholes that need to be addressed and submit it to Kahler.
Yeoman moved to approve the consent agenda; Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Mayor Goedken opened the public hearing to receive input and to preliminarily accept a proposal for the purchase of 541 North Chestnut Street. Farnum advised no proposals were received and looking for direction on how the Council wanted to proceed. Staff received no written or oral comments. Mayor Goedken closed the public hearing. Yeoman moved to request bids to demolish the structures on the lot, Brighton seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Mayor Goedken opened the public hearing on proposed Budget Amendments #2 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Staff received no written comments. Mayor Goedken closed the public hearing. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2023-77 Approving the City’s Proposed Amendment #2 to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget. Hanken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Monticello Main Street Executive Director Brian Wolken updated Council on the plans for Monti Days celebration, which will be held August 11th thru the 13th, 2023. They put in a request to close section of Hwy 38 to the IDOT, which was approved.
Peach moved to approve Resolution #2023-78 Approving Plat of Survey to Parcel 2023-15. Lux seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2023-79 Approving Plat of Survey to Parcel2023-16 for Property at 12174 190th Street. Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Yeoman moved to approve Resolution #2023-80 Approving Plat of Survey to Parcels 2023-17 and 2023-18 for Property at 15136 170th Street and 14904 170th Street. Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Hanken stated the City Administrator was to move into City limits and questioned his intent. Farnum stated he is looking for a house but the housing market is not good. He stated there was no raise included for him as he has not fulfilled the term in his contract. Goedken stated several members of the Ambulance Department were present and they wanted to know where the Council was planning to go with the department; are we hiring a director or not? Farnum advised that Smith stepped down as Ambulance Director to allow him to get a handle on how the department is run. Farnum would like to visit with the staff, to get an understanding of the issues. Goedken voiced concerns that this was a large department with no director or Board to report to and felt they should have a Board just like the Fire Department has. Also, Smith received a raise to run the ambulance department, how will that be handled? Peach suggested setting up a committee to discuss and look into the issues and report back to the full council. Smith advised he has talked to Farnum and expects his wage to change, once Farnum makes a recommendation. Smith has no issue with changing or tabling his wages, as new rates would not go into effect until July 1st. Ben Hein, ambulance employee stated the department would like a director hired and an Ambulance Board formed, possibly with County representatives. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2023-81 Approving wages for non-bargaining staff for FY ’24, with the exception of Britt Smith and to table Britt Smith’s salary. Lux seconded, roll call was unanimous except Hanken who voted nay because no decision was made regarding Britt Smith’s salary.
Farnum advised that Sully Flynn is studying Chemical Engineering at Iowa State and has worked several summers for the City Aquatic Center. His summer internship fell through and he approached City about an internship with the City. City needs to complete the EPA-mandated Lead/Copper service line inventory report and he would be working on that along with other duties at the wastewater treatment facility. He would be working about 120 hours at $15.00/hour. Hanken moved to approve Resolution #2023-82 Approving the hiring of Water/Wastewater Department internship staff and setting wage. Brighton seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Oswald advised the Park Board has had preliminary discussions regarding the City owned property located north and adjacent to Riverside Gardens and the Monticello Golf Club’s land north of Riverside Gardens, and potentially doing a land swap/sale of the properties. This would allow an access point to the river on City property. Goedken questioned if this could be done with agreements instead of doing abstract and the paperwork. Peach moved to approve Resolution #2023-83 to schedule Public Hearing on proposed Sale of City owned property located north and adjacent to Riverside Gardens, Yeoman seconded, roll call was unanimous. Public Hearing was set for July 3, 2023 at 6:00 PM.
Farnum reported Jamie Appleby’s home at 303 East Second Street had a water line break, which flooded her basement. Her plumber had to pump out the basement, as there are no floor drains in the home. There was 112,000 gallons used in 4 days, with the leak, resulting in a charge of $1,454.64 for the sewer portion of the bill. Peach moved to approve Resolution #2023-84 Approving $1,435.28 Credit against Jamie Appleby’s utility billing for the property located at 303 East Second Street, Langerman seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2023-85 To approve the hiring Monticello Ambulance Part-Time Paramedic and setting wage, Hanken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Kahler advised he sent proposals to three tree removal companies and received two quotes back by the deadline and received the other after the deadline. The bids were not to include stump removal. Kahler stated there are about 190 City Ash trees that are looking bad and they will work to get them down with City staff and will contract to have more taken down. Langerman asked if any of the Ash trees were located in the City parks and Goedken stated there are 12 Ash trees in Jacobs park alone. Lux moved to approve Resolution #2023-86 Accepting bid for Tree Removal along North Cedar Street and awarding bid, Hanken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Goedken questioned how City would do snow removal if they stop using the snow blower and asked what the plan was. Kahler stated City does not have to get rid of the snow blower. The tractor does not run long enough and hard enough for the DEF system to do what it needs to do. Kahler has been talking with the City Administrator and Schermann’s Implement and Schermann’s will take the tractor back and treat the last two years as a rental. They will subtract the two years rental off of what we paid for the tractor and pay the City the difference. We can keep the tractor if we want, but if we do Schermann’s would want us to pay for the parts that were used for the engine overhaul. Yeoman stated he knows a farmer that would be willing to rent the City a tractor for snow removal season. Kahler recommended sending the tractor back to Schermann’s. Yeoman moved to sell the tractor back to Schermann’s Implement as discussed above. Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Farnum advised the Wastewater Treatment Facility bids came in $6M to $8M higher than the cap for financing. Eisenbacher stated the bids came in much higher than anticipated and he has reached out to contractors to discuss why. If they could have bid in January, when contractors were looking for jobs to fill their schedule, bids may have been lower. USDA recommended rejecting the bids. If bids are rejected, the bid specifications will need to be updated to include the Buy American Build American standards, which USDA recommended bidding as an alternate. The plans and specifications will need to be re-approved by DNR and USDA. Eisenbacher stated the contractors were only given two years to complete the project and some equipment is taking two to three years to get, so may need to extend the length of the project. They will also look to see what can be cut from the project. Eisenbacher stated City will need to work with DNR and get them a new schedule and keep them informed where City is with the project. This will be on next agenda to formally reject the bids.
Goedken stated he helped clean up the damaged trees at Jacobs Park. The ditch needs to be looked at and the regulations on what can be done to open the ditch to help the water flow. Diane Flannagan contacted him regarding the fence, posts and barbwire. Goedken suggested the Council do a site visit to see the issues. Farnum advised this is a “Waterway of the US”, as it is part of the Sixth Street ditch, so need to talk with engineer to set up the correct procedures. Yeoman stated City needs to determine where the property line is before cleaning up the fence.
Farnum and Hinrichsen have been busy with the State Auditors and will have the exit interview on this Friday to go over their findings.
Smith advised he is recruiting to fill the vacancy when Officer Blaine Kamp resigned. Officer Dawn Graver is back from the SRO and is patrolling. He hopes to extend an offer in mid-August.
Tjaden stated they have been busy with the cable companies, doing water and sewer line locates. They have around ¾ of the fire hydrants tested. He has also contacted Pirc-Tobin to fix the manhole at Pine Street and Sixth Street and to replace the sewer line on Cherry Street.
Oswald stated the pool is open. They have given out a lot of trees but still has about 40 more trees, he requested if anyone would like a tree on the terrace to reach out to him. They had three sets of tournaments and have one more this weekend. They made about $15,000 profit so far. The seasonal staff have started.
Yeoman moved to go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5 (1)(j) to discuss the purchase of real estate where the premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the City would have to pay for said property. Hanken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to return to open session, Peach seconded, roll call was unanimous. Yeoman moved to authorize City Administrator to pursue purchase of Real Estate consistent with the terms and provisions discussed and directed during closed session. Brighton seconded, roll call vote was unanimous.
Peach moved to adjourn at 7:56 P.M.
David Goedken, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk/Treasurer