Special Council Meeting/Work Session
February 26, 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, Scott Brighton and Mary Phelan. Also, present were City Administrator Russell Farnum, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Library Director Faith Brehm, Park & Rec Director Jacob Oswald, Public Works Director Nick Kahler, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden, and Police Chief Britt Smith.
Brenneman moved to approve the agenda, switching discussion order of the wages committee work session to proceed 2024-2025 budget work session. Langerman seconded, roll call was unanimous.
Farnum reported he was working with Tyler Freye and Roger Stephen to provide sanitary sewer to the Freye proposed vet clinic. The proposal was to annex a portion of the Stephen property, including the Freye proposed lot, and create an Urban Renewal district to provide TIF funding to either pay for, or reimburse, the cost of extending the sewer. Due to the way the process of annexation and creation of an Urban Renewal District (for TIF funding) is required to proceed, there was not a way that the City could have the sewer in place to accommodate Freye’s aggressive construction schedule, with construction starting in March and leading to opening the business in the fall. Tyler Freye, 960 Valley Drive, stated they would annex in 19 acres of Roger Stephens’ property and his lot. This would be an opportunity for City to work with Roger Stephen to develop this area. Freye was looking for a timeline, for City to extend the sewer or if the City intends to extend the sewer. Freye has options for his septic system, to considered, based on what the council sets for a time line. Freye stated Farnum had talked to City consultant and they had no concerns on them connecting to the City sewer system. Farnum stated Freye vet clinic would be no where near the flow that would require a pretreatment agreement. Farnum reviewed possible options to extend the sewer. Consensus of the Council was to have Farnum work on possible options to support the extension of sewer and to proceed with the project.
Farnum reported the Compensation Committee discussed wages and recommended a 6 1/2 % across the Board for non-hourly staff, which is built into the budget. Phelan stated she was on the committee and wanted to amend her decision to 4%. After much discussion, consensus of Council was to place this on the next agenda for discussion, along with the acknowledgement of Library staff wages.
Farnum reviewed the proposed tax rate and how that would affect property owners, with the HF718 changes from 2023. Hinrichsen handed out a draft copy of the new School, County and City Budget Year Statement to Owners and Taxpayers that the County Auditor is required to mail by Iowa Code 24.2A. Consensus was to proceed with the budget as presented. This notice will not include all levy authorities in Jones County.
Council previously set this hearing for April 1, 2024 at 5:30 PM.
Council held a budget work session for amendment #1 for FY 2023-2024 budget. After review of the proposed amendments, consensus was to proceed with March 18th for hearing date and they will officially set that date at next meeting.
Ellwood moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 P.M.
Wayne Peach, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk/Treasurer