Regular Council Meeting – Official
October 2, 2017 – 6:00 P.M.
Community Media Center
Mayor Dena Himes called the meeting to order. Council present: Dave Goedken, Brian Wolken, Rob Paulson, Johnny Russ, Chris Lux and Tom Yeoman. Also present were City Administrator Doug Herman, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Public Works Director Brant LaGrange, Police Chief Britt Smith and City Engineer Casey Zwolinski.
Yeoman moved to approve the agenda, Russ seconded, roll call unanimous.
Wolken moved to approve the consent agenda, Lux seconded, roll call unanimous.
Mayor Himes opened the public hearing on proposed amendments to the Urban Renewal Area and Urban Renewal Plan. Herman reported that the School and County had no objections to the proposed amendments and P & Z Board recommended approval of the amendments. No public comments were received, and City Staff reported that they had not received any oral or written comments. Mayor Himes closed the public hearing. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-110 to declare necessity and establish an urban renewal area by amending the current Urban Renewal Area, pursuant to Section 403.4 of the Code of Iowa, and to approve the 2017 Addition (Amendment #2) to the Monticello Urban Renewal Area, adding the B & J Hauling and Excavation project at 218 W 1st Street to the plan, Yeoman seconded, roll call unanimous.
Mayor Himes opened the public hearing on the proposed Development Agreement between the City of Monticello and B & J Hauling & Excavation, Inc. Herman reviewed the proposed grants that B & J Hauling would receive and the rebates that would be payable to the owners of the three individual units. Herman reported that the School and County had no objections to the proposed amendments and P & Z Board recommended approval of the amendments. No public comments were received, and City Staff reported that they had not received any oral or written comments. Mayor Himes closed the public hearing. Yeoman moved to approve Resolution #17-111 Approving a Development Agreement with B & J Hauling and Excavation, including tax increment payments in an amount not to exceed $57,500, Russ seconded, roll call unanimous.
Herman reviewed the City expenditures to date related to the property acquired by the City at 224 N Chestnut Street. Council received comments from parties that promoted the sale by the City of the property to Tom Harmon. Goedken and Yeoman commented that they had a duty to look at the interests of the taxpayers, not just the interests of one taxpayer. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-112 to approve proposal related to City owned lot located at 224 N. Chestnut Street and to direct staff to negotiate an agreement with Norm Zimmerman, Russ seconded. Ayes: Goedken, Russ, Lux and Yeoman. Nays: Wolken and Paulson. Motion carried.
Yeoman moved to approve Resolution #17-113 to finally accept Water Tower Project, release Retainage, and approve Change Order #1, seconded by Russ, roll call unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-114 to approve Pay Request #1 related to the Monticello Airport Ten-T Hangar project, to Schaus-Vorhies in the amount of $31,192.30, seconded by Wolken, roll call unanimous.
Yeoman moved to approve Resolution #17-115 Approving Pay Request #2 in the amount of $133,130.74 and Change Order #1 in the amount of $26,447.23, submitted by Eastern Iowa Excavating & Concrete Re: 2017 Main Street HMA Project, seconded by Wolken, roll call unanimous.
Wolken moved to approve Resolution #17-116 Approving Pay Request #2 in the amount of $66,824.14 submitted by Taylor Construction, Inc. Re: 2017 E. 1st Street Bridge Replacement Project, seconded by Russ. Ayes: Wolken, Russ, Lux, Yeoman and Goedken. Nays: Paulson. Motion carried.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-117 Approving Pay Request #6 in the amount of $35,745.84 submitted by Eastern Iowa Excavating & Concrete related to the E. South Street Reconstruction project, Russ seconded, roll call unanimous.
Goedken moved to approve Resolution #17-118 Approving Plat of Survey to Parcel 2017-70, seconded by Yeoman, roll call unanimous.
Russ moved to approve Resolution #17-119 Approving Plat of Survey to Parcel 2017-71, seconded by Wolken, roll call unanimous.
Goedken moved Ordinance #707 amending Monticello Code of Ordinances 63.01 Re: Speed Limits, second reading and in title only, Yeoman seconded, Roll call unanimous. This ordinance will reduce speeds on S. Cedar Street between 1st Street and Washington Street.
Herman reported that Urban Chicken Training will be held on October 12, 2017 at the Citizens State Bank Youth Development Center.
Herman is working to set up a meeting with Mike Felton and a Master Gardener in regard to the significant growth of milkweed in his yard.
Herman reported that the City’s current commercial garbage hauler, Republic, has expressed an interest in collecting recycling in Monticello and proposes to provide recycling containers to all residents. Consensus of the Council was to look into the recycling containers when bidding the recycling contract. Republic would furnish the recycling bins at no cost to the residents, unless it needed to be replaced. Gary Pratt, 432 Bradview Ct, questioned whether the container would be too big for his garage. Lux questioned if more than one container could be set out. Herman indicated that Republic would also like to convert all dumpsters in town to front load, and that the front load dumpsters would be provided by Republic at no cost to the customer.
Herman is working to get more information related to composting from Manchester and Dyersville.
Herman reported that the City received a petition from neighbors of the Marc Bradley house on N. Chestnut Street. While the City had already been working on this issue, additional steps were taken recently and a court date has been set.
The Fire Department was previously responsible for flushing hydrants in the community, and when doing so would create a list of hydrants that they found to be in need of inspection or repair. After the Fire Dept. flushed hydrants in 2016 the decision was made to have City Public Works staff flush hydrants moving forward. The P.W. Dept. will be flushing hydrants in the near future. LaGrange reported that of the 208 hydrants in Monticello that 70 fall into the two-hole category with most of them being on a 3” or 4” water mains. New hydrants are connected to 6” or 8” mains. Council discussed communication of repairs between PW Dept., Fire Dept. and Council; and also discussed the fact that some Fire Depts. charge fees related to their fire calls, depending upon the type of call, the equipment used, and the length of the call. Herman will look into this further.
Council questioned Herman on the status of the Compadres building condition. Owners were making repairs and dealing with issues previously identified by the City, but to Herman’s knowledge little to nothing has happened recently. He expressed the opinion that the roof and windows needed repair and Councilman Goedken indicated that the back steps and the door at the top of the back steps were in serious disrepair. Herman will present options to the Council at the next meeting.
Herman and LaGrange have compiled a list of potential street repairs to be performed next spring. Herman is also working with the engineer to prepare cost estimates for the total reconstruction of North Chestnut St. from 2nd to 3rd, N Sycamore from 1st to 3rd Street and 3rd to 7th Street, and portions of Linden Street.
Herman explained when questioned that the new stone Monticello sign along the south side of West First Street/County Road D62 is located on private property and was paid for by the Zumbach family in memory of their parents.
Herman questioned if the Council was interested in being a host City for next year’s RAGBRAI. Consensus of the Council was to express interest with the understanding that the City could, after learning more, potentially choose to opt out.
Wolken moved to adjourn the Council meeting at 7:41 P.M., roll call vote unanimous.
Dena Himes, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk