REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 12, 2017
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 12th day of January,
2017, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers, Vinton, Iowa. Mayor Watson presided
and the roll being called the following Council Members were present and absent: Present:
Elwick, Hessenius,Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Absent: None.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to approve the agenda. Question: Aye – All. The Mayor
declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to approve the consent agenda. Question: Ayes – All.
Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are to
receive and file the council meeting minutes of Dec. 22, 2016, approve invoices for
$2,125,284.22, receive and file the December revenue and expenditure report, receive and file
the Parks and Rec. Board meeting minutes of Dec.8, 2016 and the Airport Commission meeting
minutes of Dec. 21, 2016, approve the renewal of a class c beer permit with Sunday sales for
Shopko and to approve the renewal of a class c beer permit with Sunday sales for Dollar General
Store.
Council received a thank you note from the Paxton family.
Parmater reported the Watershed Management Authority received 11 applications for
coordinator position. They have scheduled 4 interviews for later this month.
Chris Bendull inquired about meter reading dates for the December utility bills. He was told
the November billings had less than 30days and the December billings were for more than 30
days, causing most utility bills to be higher in December. Per IUB and IAC rules, meter reading
intervals should be fairly consistent, close to 30 days.
Motion by Parr, second by Hesson to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA, BY DESIGNATING A NEW
REVITALIZATION AREA (John’s Qwik Stop). Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson,
Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said
ordinance had been given its second consideration.
Motion by Hesson, second by Parmater to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF VINTON, IOWA BY ADDING A SOCIAL HOST ORDINANCE.
Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor
declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been given its first consideration.
Council discussed financing for the West water tower repair and rehabilitation. Administrator
Ward suggested three different options, Iowa State Revolving Loan Fund, USDA Water and
Waste Water Loan Fund and a Revenue Bond. Veenstra and Kimm, Inc. has recommended
sandblasting and painting the tower. Gary Garwood, past water superintendent, said the tower
was painted after 1978 and should not have any lead in the paint. He feels the cost estimate of
$450,000 is high. The lead level tested is below the EPA standards, so tenting would not be
required when painting. V&K engineer, Loren Leach will be contacted. This subject will be on
the next council agenda.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Parr to approve pay estimate #1 for Runway 16-34
Improvements project in the amount of $14,818.58 to L.L. Pelling Co. Question: Ayes –
Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the
motion carried.
Hesson reported that some advisory committee members had toured the IBSSS campus. There
was a meeting this afternoon with UNI’s Institute for Decision Making. They discussed the
formation and member selection for this committee. These committee meetings will be open to
the public. They want to explore all the possible uses of the IBSSS campus. Hessenius
suggested hiring an independent party to inspect the buildings.
Council received a letter from VMEU requesting financial assistance for the
telecommunications utility feasibility study. The anticipated cost is $60,000. Motion by Elwick,
second by Stark to approve paying one half, up to $30,000, for this study. Question: Ayes –
Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the
motion carried. This expense will be in the next fiscal year.
Council discussed how they might dispose of the A Avenue property. Administrator Ward
reported that there is a retaining wall on the northeast corner of the property and a neighbor’s
garage sits close to this retaining wall. Council discussed possibly requiring the next owner to
build a house on it. Motion by Hesson to sell the lot with the requirement that a home be built on
it within five years. There was no second. Hesson withdrew the motion. It was suggested to
auction the lot with a starting bid of $15,000. Then council asked Administrator Ward to seek
the last assessed valuation of this lot. Attorney Fischer will start preliminary paperwork to
auction this property.
There was an inquiry about the 13th Street and 2nd Avenue intersection. It has a crack.Nate
Kass, Fehr Graham engineer, has contacted the contractor of this project.
Council received a letter requesting funding from VU. This will be considered at budget time.
A budget work session is scheduled for January 23rd at 6:00 pm.
Mayor Watson reported he has been working with the landfill on recycling options.
Parr asked to have the AquaDam company come to a council meeting to demonstrate their
flood bladder.
Administrator Ward reported the school’s Animal Learning Lab will have a mare that is about
to foal at the school. This will only be during a few days and nights this spring. The nuisance
property court case is Jan. 25th. Acumen, insurance company, wants to attend another council
meeting.
Clerk reported anticipating another budget amendment because for the recent house demolition
expense. The City has received a draft audit report.
Office Meyer reported that K-9 unit Gino has made his first drug find.
Good & Welfare: Vinton Unlimited has applied for a River Town of the Year award.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 8:40 p.m.
________________________________
John R. Watson Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk
Categories: 2017Meeting Minutes