REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 26, 2017
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 26th 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 Hesson to approve the agenda. Question: Aye – All. The
Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve the consent agenda. Question: Ayes –
Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the
motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are to receive and file the council meeting minutes
of Jan. 12, 2017 and to receive and file the Library board meeting minutes of Dec. 14, 2016.
Hesson asked to have a meeting with the building inspector and discuss the fee schedule for
permits. A general government committee will meet on Feb. 2nd at 5:00 p.m. A budget work
session will be held Feb. 2nd at 6:00 p.m. Parmater reported that the watershed management
authority group interviewed four candidates and have made a selection. This person will start
March 1st and be an employee of BentonCounty.
Dave Vermedahl, VGH representative,asked the city to take over ownership and responsibility
of Cedar View Drive from the hospital. It is currently a private street. The ownership of the
condos is transitioning to a private association. They do pay property taxes and part of these
taxes go to the city. The street superintendent has several concerns about the city taking of
ownership of this private street. Since the street is only 24 feet wide, plowing the snow with the
street plow would be very difficult. A pickup truck with a plow could do snow plowing.
Concern was expressed about water drainage from the street to the golf course. Council
members were asked to look at this street. The subject will be discussed again at the next
council meeting.
Motion by Stark, second by Parmater to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES FO 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 third consideration.
Motion by Elwick, second by Parmater to now adopt the above stated ordinance. Question:
Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor
declared the motion carried and declared ORDINANCE 1019 duly adopted.
Motion by Hesson, second by Parmater to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE
OF ORDINANCNES OF THE CITY 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 second
consideration.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to pass a RESOLUTION APPROVING GRANT
AGREEMENT WITH IDOT FOR E 3RD STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT. Question:
Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared
the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 01-17-10 passed and approved.
Motion by Parmater, second by Hesson to approve a change order for the UV replacement
project at the waste water treatment plant. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson,
Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. This change order
will allow WRH, Inc. four more weeks to complete the project. Veenstra & Kimm engineer,
Loren Leach, explained that the contractor WRH, Inc. has a delay in getting the UV equipment
from the manufacturer. He also stated that IDNR has been notified of the delay. Council asked
Leach to confirm the deadline extension with IDNR.
Loren Leach and Dave Schechinger, Veenstra&Kimm engineers, talked about the West water
tower repairs and repainting. They recommend sandblasting and repainting the interior and
exterior. Paint samples were taken and sent in for testing to Keystone Labs. The exterior sample
results showed a lead level that would require tenting when sandblasting. They estimate tenting
a tower adds $60,000 to $100,000 to the project cost. Former water superintendent Gary
Garwood said that the paint was a Tnemec paint and should not have lead in it. He stated the
tower was recoated in 2002 with an epoxy. Council’s general consensus was to have current
water superintendent Craig Walker call Maguire Iron to get a second opinion or sampling of the
water tower’s paint. Administrator Ward stated three financing options; 1) State Revolving Fund
loan, 2) USDA Rural Development loan and 3) revenue bonds, but that the overall project cost is
too low to use this option. Garwood stated that Maguire Iron might finance a project like this,
offering a five or six year loan.
Nick Angeloff and Mark Vogt talked about how AquaDam’s flood barriers work.These flood
barriers are filled with water from the river and then the water can be drained back to the river
after the flood recedes. The company offers a lease purchase option. Maybe the city could
partner with the county. These flood barriers have a ten year life or longer. Angeloff thought
maybe with FEMA’s approval, Northstar Textiles and Arcadis engineers could work
together,designing a pilot flood mitigation project for Vinton.
Dennis Fratella, ACUMEN health insurance representative, thinks the city could save some
health insurance expense by switching to his company and by the use of partial self-funding.
After the recent political elections, there may be changes coming to health insurance coverages.
Mayor Watson stated that any change in the health insurance coverage would have to be
negotiated with the unions.
Motion by Hesson, second by Stark to dispose of the A Avenue property by auction, with the
starting bid to be $12,800.00 and the requirement to build a house on it within two
years.Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Attorney Fischer will
prepare a resolution proposing the disposal of this property.
UNI’s Institute for Decision Making has scheduled three meetings for the visioning advisory
committee to discuss ideas for the use of the braille school campus. John Nash, Iowa Board of
Regents staff, has requested a meeting with Vinton’s City Council. Motion by Stark, second by
Hesson to set a special council meeting on Feb. 3rd at 10:00 a.m. to meet with Regent
representatives, including Dr. Robert Donley. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the
motion carried. Hesson reported that 30 people have agreed to be on the advisory committee.
Motion by Elwick, second by Hessenius to approve the purchase of a garage door for the street
department from Dan’s Overhead Doors & More for $1,695.00. Question: Ayes – Elwick,
Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion
carried.
Mayor Watson reported attending an assessor’s meeting and landfill meetings.
Administrator Ward thanked Stark and Fischer for their participation at the recent court case on
a nuisance property. He also reported that Vinton was awarded a design grant from FEMA to
look at relocating VMEU, the fire station and the ambulance garage. Motion by Elwick, second
by Hessenius to have Administrator Ward pursue the possible relocations of these essential
facilities with FEMA. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Administrator Ward stated that possibly FEMA’s flood buyout program will be available to
Vinton properties.
Good & Welfare: Vinton Off Road Cycling had a good meeting at the library Monday night.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 9:05 p.m.
________________________________
John R. Watson Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk
Categories: 2017Meeting Minutes