AUGUST 23, 2018
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 23rd day of August, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers, Vinton, Iowa. Mayor Maynard presided and the roll being called the following Council Members were present and absent: Present: Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Absent: None.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Happy Birthday was sung to Councilman Parr.
Vinton’s newest police officer, Cory Nesbitt, took the Oath of Office.
Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to approve the agenda. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Stark, second by Hessenius to approve the consent agenda. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are to receive and file the council meeting minutes of August 9th, to receive and file the Library Board meeting minutes of May 9th, to approve the renewal of a class E liquor license with a class B wine permit and a class C beer permit for Fareway, and to approve the renewal of a class C liquor license with Sunday sales for Ron-Da-Voo.
Council received a letter from the Vinton-Shellsburg Consolidated School District in support of a local telecommunications utility. Council also received a letter from the Braille School Committee saying they will provide progress reports and support until the transfer of the property is complete.
Edwards reported the business type activities committee met to discuss sewer connection fees.
This committee recommends a fee of $100 for water connections and a fee of $100 for sewer connections. These will be for both new connections and replacing old connections.
Kurt Karr and Sue Gates spoke in support of a local fiber optics utility.
The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a nuisance abatement for a property owned by Jim Gill at 7th Avenue and E 2nd Street. Mr. Gill had requested the hearing but was not present. The Mayor closed the hearing. Chief Paxton said the City will clean up the property.
The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a nuisance abatement for a property owned by Wayne and Barb Merchant at I Avenue and W 8th Street. Matt Merchant spoke for his parents. They plan to take down the west part of the building that has loose blocks. The building has an USGS federal marker on it. The property is zoned R-3. They would like to build a senior housing unit there. Building inspector Jerry Michael said the building is not yet all boarded up. He suggested that the Merchant’s hire a structural engineer before construction because for many years there was no roof. A building permit will be required before any construction is started. Michael will want to see designs from an architect before approving a building permit. Merchants will put a fence around the building but are waiting to hear from the railroad on how far away from the railroad a fence needs to be placed.  Also present for this discussion was William J. Sueppel, attorney with Meardon, Sueppel, & Downer P.L.C. The Mayor closed the hearing. Motion by Hessenius, second by Hesson to allow the Merchants 7 days to close up the structure tight so that no one can enter the structure and to allow 90 days to get the property cleaned up. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a proposed annexation of land into the City limits. St. Mary Catholic Church has voluntarily requested this annexation. The Mayor closed the hearing.
Motion by Hesson, second by Elwick to pass a RESOLUTION ASSENTING TO THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE TO THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 08-18-02 passed and approved.
The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a proposed annexation of land into the City limits. Vinton-Shellsburg Consolidated School District has voluntarily requested this annexation. The Mayor closed the hearing.
Motion by Stark, second by Hessenius to pass a RESOLUTION ASSENTING TO THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE TO THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 08-18-03 passed and approved.
Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to pass a RESOLUTION SETTING DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON 2018 AMENDMENT TO URBAN RENEWAL PLANS FOR VINTON URBAN RENEWAL AREAS. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 08-18-04 passed and approved. The public hearing is set for September 27th at 7:00 pm. Administrator Ward stated the new urban renewal area will include the new annexations, E 3rd Street and the IBSSS campus. A consultation with the county and school district will be scheduled prior to the public hearing.
Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been given its third consideration.
Motion by Elwick, second by Hessenius to now adopt the above stated ordinance. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared ORDINANCE 1034 duly adopted.
Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been given its third consideration.
Motion by Elwick, second by Hessenius to now adopt the above stated ordinance. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared ORDINANCE 1035 duly adopted.
Motion by Stark, second by Hessenius to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO CIGARETTE AND TOBACCO PERMITS. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been given its third consideration.
Motion by Elwick, second by Hessenius to now adopt the above stated ordinance. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared ORDINANCE 1036 duly adopted.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Edwards to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO OPERATION OF SNOWMOBILES AND ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been given its initial passage.
Council discussed the collection of garbage and recycling from large apartment complexes with J & R Sanitation, owner Josh Frye, and Vinton Park Apartments, manager Karri Landers.   Frye will give Landers recycling information sheets for her to educate the apartment residents. Then in 30 days, about October 1st, Frye will deliver a recycling dumpster to this complex. Frye is to verify the size of the four garbage dumpsters that are currently there. If they are the 4 yard size they will need to be replaced with the 6 yard size.
Motion by Elwick, second by Edwards to approve a management plan of J & R Sanitation, L.L.C. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. For families wanting an extra garbage container, they may contact the garbage hauler directly to arrange for an extra weekly collection service that will be billed directly to the family from the hauler.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to pass a RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMMUNITY CATALYST AND BUILDING REMEDIATION GRANT FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 08-18-05 passed and approved. This grant will assist the businesses destroyed by the fire back in February.
Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to approve a letter to IEDA regarding Hobart Historic Restoration’s intent to restore Palmer House located on the IBSSS campus. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to approve a letter stating the City is working to gain ownership of the IBSSS campus while at the same time planning to transfer ownership of this campus Hobart Historic Restorations. Hobart is applying for local, state and federal financial incentives. Any incentives they receive will not be binding on the City. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Presbyterian Church, 608 1st Avenue, is planning for handicap parking spaces. These spaces need to be 13 feet wide.
Motion by Elwick, second by Hessenius to pass a RESOLUTION TO APPROVE TRANSFER FROM EMERGENCY FUND TO GENERAL FUND. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 08-18-06 passed and approved.
Council took no action to assist financially with the fiber optic engineering study that VMEU has authorized.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve the disposal of the police department’s Toyota Tundra and Toyota Camry. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried. These vehicles were originally acquired by asset forfeiture.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve a sidewalk reimbursement to David Backes, 504 6th Avenue, in the amount of $1,500.00. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Administrator Ward will be attending the ICMA conference Sept. 22nd to 26th.
The City will be requesting the County to abate property taxes on the parcel at 7th Street and 7th Avenue. The payment for the old park house, $1.00, has been received. The sidewalk has been replaced along the east side of the new community gardens, along 3rd Avenue.
Good & Welfare: BoomFest and BoomTown are this weekend. The Library’s craft beer event had a good attendance. The River Rats cleanup day was good.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 9:50 p.m.