Regular Council Meeting
March 18, 2024, 6:00 P.M.
Community Media Center
Mayor Wayne Peach called the meeting to order. Council present were: Josh Brenneman, Jake Ellwood, Dave Goedken, Candy Langerman and Scott Brighton. Mary Phelan joined the meeting electronically. Also present were City Administrator Russell Farnum, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Public Works Director Nick Kahler, Library Director Faith Brehm, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden, Park Director Jacob Oswald, Ambulance Director Lori Lynch and City Engineer Colton Ingels. Police Chief Britt Smith arrived later 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.
Langerman moved to approve the agenda, Ellwood seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve the consent agenda; Brenneman seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Mayor opened the public hearing on proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the 2024 N. Chestnut Street Reconstruction Project. No public comments were received. Mayor closed the hearing. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-46 Approving the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the 2024 N. Chestnut Street Reconstruction Project. Brighton seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2024-47 approving engineering inspection services for the 2024 N. Chestnut Street ReconstructionProject in the amount of $67,500, Brighton seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Mayor opened the public hearing on the City of Monticello 2023/2024 Fiscal Year budget amendment #1. No public comments were received. Mayor closed the public hearing on the City of Monticello 2023/2024 Fiscal Year budget amendment #1. Goedken questioned Road Use budget increase of $20,000. Hinrichsen advised it was for repairs to street/stop lights. Goedken questioned if there were any funds to remove more ash trees. Kahler advised there was a little left in this year budget. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2024-48 Approving the City’s Proposed Amendment #1 to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget, Brenneman seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Watershed Coordinator Erin Erickson gave a brief presentation on the Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority related to various projects completed and that they are working on to address water quality, water quantity and other issues in the watershed area. Goedken advised Jones County was cutting the funding for the Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority. Council discussed lowering the asking from $1.50 to $1.00 per capita. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-49 Approving Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority Investment and Agreement for FY ‘25 in the amount of $4,040.00, Brighton seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Project Coordinator Jennifer Husmann gave a brief presentation on the Jones County SAFE and Healthy Youth Coalition related to various projects completed and what they are working on. She also stated that they added mental health issues to their mission statement and are providing suicide training. Goedken stated he talked to Smith who had good things to say about SAFE, however Jones County is cutting their funding and suggest City cut the funding request in half. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-50 Approving Jones County SAFE and Healthy Youth Coalition Investment and agreement for FY ’25 in the amount of $1,500.00. Motion died due to a lack of a second. Peach advised kids are living with a lot of stress, and felt the $3,000 investment was not out of line. Brenneman stated he sees it every day and also felt $3,000 was a good amount to support our kids. Ellwood agreed that we need to invest in our kids. Brenneman moved to approve Resolution #2024-50 Approving Jones County SAFE and Healthy Youth Coalition Investment and agreement for FY ’25 in the amount of $3,000.00, Ellwood seconded, roll call was unanimous, except Goedken who voted nay. Smith arrived.
Tourism Director Kaileen Weaver gave a brief presentation on Jones County Tourism related to various projects completed and that she is working on to promote Tourism in Jones County and updating various social media sites. Goedken questioned how much the hotel/motel tax coll57ected was. Hinrichsen advised the hotel/motel taxes collected in FY 2023 was $35,840.12 and the 4% Tourism is requesting would total $1,433.60 for a total of $2,645.60 for their per capita rate of $0.30 and hotel/motel tax at 4% (using the taxes collected in FY 2023). Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-51 Approving Jones County Tourism Investment and Agreement for FY ’25 in the amount of $1,212.00, plus 4% of the Monticello Hotel/Motel tax collected in FY 2023 for a total amount of $2,645.60. Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous
Executive Director Derek Lumsden gave a brief presentation on the Jones County Economic Development. He stated he will be working on housing along with HUD and City’s in the County. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-52 Approving Jones County Economic Development (JCED) Investment and agreement for FY ’25, seconded by Langerman, roll call was unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-53 Approving Jones County Senior Dining Investment and agreement for FY ‘25 in the amount of $4,745.00, Ellwood seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Brenneman moved approve Resolution #2024-54 Approving Jones County JETS Transportation System Investment and agreement for FY ‘25 in the amount of $1,500.00, Goedken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2024-55 Approving Monticello Firefighter’s Organization investment and agreement for the Independence Day Fireworks festivities to be held on July 4, 2024 in the amount of $2,600.00, Ellwood seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-56 entitled reporting all employees’ wages for calendar year ending December 31, 2023, seconded by Brenneman, roll call was unanimous.
Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2024-57 Acknowledging the hiring of Monticello Library seasonal employee and setting wage, Goedken seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Goedken stated he was not in favor of adding parttime staff for all seasons and felt they should get volunteers. Brighton stated they get several 100’s of volunteers to help with coaching, concession stand, etc. Goedken stated the Board had discussed charging for open gyms, to cover the cost of having gym open and programs need to pay for themselves. Peach stated people are attracted to Monticello and spend money at the businesses while in town. Oswald stated parttime staff would be cleaning parks grounds and facilities, as people won’t come back if they are not clean. Steve Hanken, 823 South Main Street stated that he has been picking up trash at the disc golf for the last 3 months and the trash cans have not been emptied. Goedken stated if people have pride in the community, don’t throw trash on the ground. City wouldn’t need to clean up, if it was put in the trash cans. Oswald stated if Council wants to charge the kids to come to open gym, then will need someone to be there to collect. When asked what the parttime staff would be doing, Oswald stated Berndes Center cleaning, flag football, cleaning dog stations, trash cans, picking up sticks and various other jobs. Goedken was okay hiring the parttime summer staff just not year-round. Oswald advised between Parks and Public Works they had a person working 20 hours per week from September to early January at $15/hour. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2024-58 Approving the hiring of Monticello Aquatic Center and Park and Recreation part-time seasonal staff positions and setting wages, Langerman seconded. Roll call was: Ayes: Brighton, Langerman and Brenneman. Motion failed. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-58 Approving the hiring of Monticello Aquatic Center and Park and Recreation part-time seasonal staff positions and setting wages, removing the Park Maintenance staffing from September to April. Ellwood seconded. Roll call was: Ayes: Goedken, Ellwood and Phelan. Nays: Brighton, Langerman and Brenneman. Motion failed. After a lengthy discussion, Ellwood moved to approve Resolution #2024-58 Approving the hiring of Monticello Aquatic Center and Park and Recreation part-time seasonal staff positions and setting wages, with the change of authorizing a maximum of 180 hours for Park Maintenance staffing from September to April. Brighton seconded. Roll call was unanimous except Phelan who voted nay.
Farnum stated the lease is for two years so it will expire the same time as the other leases and can then be leased as one parcel. Brighton moved to approve Resolution #2024-59 Approving Lease Agreement between the City of Monticello and Justin Buck with regard to the “Rowland Trust” farm ground at the Monticello Regional Airport, Ellwood seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2024-60 Approving License Agreement with Theisen’s Inc., with regards to the use of City Right-of-Way along South Maple Street, Langerman seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Fire Chief Joe Bayne gave a brief presentation on the fire department driveway, sidewalk and approach, which is in need of replacement. This project is not budgeted in this year or next year’s budgets. The proposed project includes tiling the downspouts into the storm sewer system. Currently the drainage from the downspouts runs across the drive from the building to South Street. This creates icing issues in the wintertime. In addition, the drainage water seeps into the cracks in the concrete and further heaves and cracks the slabs. Brighton moved to authorize Fire Chief to proceed with the driveway/approach repairs and to amend the budget to account for this and transferring the funds from the general fund in the amount of $37,100.00. Goedken seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Brenneman moved Ordinance #773 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by adding a new paragraph pertaining to “Street Grades”, second reading in title only. Goedken seconded. Roll call was unanimous.
Peach asked Council to think about where they want to see Monticello in the next couple of years and what it should be. Goedken suggested doing a goal setting session for this.
Farnum gave an update on various projects including: contractor working on the airport taxiway punch list; Wastewater Treatment Facility pre-construction meeting was held and contractor intends to start March 26th; contractor for the water tower repainting project plans to start painting in April or May depending on the temperature.
Farnum advised on Wednesday March 27, 2024, Jones County Dispatch will be setting off the city’s sirens at 10 A.M. for the annual Statewide Siren Testing during Severe Weather Awareness Week. If there is severe weather on March 27th, the test will be conducted at 10 A.M. on March 28th.
Farnum stated the City insurance will be renewed on April 1st. The deductible for vehicles is raising from $500 to $1,000. Insurance agent advised City could increase the Linebacker Deductible from $2,500 to $5,000, saving City $473. They could also increase the Property Deductible from $5,000 to $10,000, saving $6,131. Consensus of the Council was to increase the Property Deductible from $5,000 to $10,000, saving $6,131.
Farnum stated the City received a Catalyst Grant to renovate the Market at the Tap building and they were just awarded “One of the Top Ten Burgers in Iowa”, which is voted on by the public.
Brehm gave update of events for the next two weeks at the Library.
Lynch gave a February update on the ambulance.
Brenneman moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 P.M.
Wayne Peach, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk/Treasurer