REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 10, 2016
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 10th day of November, 2016, 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, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Absent: Hessenius.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mayor Watson stated a new item should be added to tonight’s agenda under new business, to make an appointment to the Vinton Unlimited board. Motion by Hesson, second by Stark to approve the amended agenda. Question: Aye – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Elwick to approve the consent agenda. Question: Ayes – Elwick, 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 October 27, 2016, approve invoices, receive and file the October revenue and expenditure report, receive and file the Parks and Recreation Board meeting minutes of October 13th and October 25th and to receive and file the Library Board meeting minutes of October 19th.
Hesson reported that the iVinton group met with a consulting company. He said it was a good informative meeting about what to consider when creating a telecommunications utility.
Many citizens were in attendance tonight to hear about the IBSSS campus.
The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a proposal to issue General Obligation Refunding Bonds. Tionna Pooler, Independent Public Advisors, stated three bids were received today. She recommends going with the lowest bid from Bankers Trust. The interest rate is 1.62%. This will be a cost savings of about $87,000 over a seven year period. The Mayor closed the hearing.
Motion by Parr, second by Elwick to pass a RESOLUTION AWARDING SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2016, AND PROVIDING FOR EARLY REDEMPTION OF OUTSTANDING BONDS. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 11-16-01 passed and approved.
The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a proposal to dispose of an interest in real property by sale at a public auction. Council had set the starting bid at $14,241.65. The successful bidder will also pay closing costs. Council did not require the successful bidder to build a home on this lot. The Mayor closed the hearing.
Casey Cooling, owner of abutting property to 803 E 2nd Street, made the opening bid of $14,241.65. Steve Speidel, potential home builder, bid $14,341.65. Cooling bid $14,441.65. Speidel bid $15,000. Cooling bid $15,100. This was the final bid.
Cooling was the successful bidder on 803 E 2nd Street with the highest bid of $15,100.
A resolution selling this property will be on the next council agenda.
John Nash and Keith Saunders, Board of Regent representatives, discussed the IBSSS campus with Council. They stated that braille school education has changed, not as many classes are taught on campus. Students are integrated with other classes in the public schools. The AmeriCorps lease goes until July 2018, for about $600,000. The annual operating loss is around $377,000. The statute 270.10 deals with the closure or merger of two special schools. The offer is to sell the buildings and 48 acres to the City for one dollar. Two studies could be done. One by ISU to inspect the buildings. And one by UNI, to decide potential uses of the buildings. Council members may tour the buildings. The Iowa Department of Economic Development could create a package for prospective businesses to come to this campus. Mayor Watson stated that a letter drafted by an ad-hoc braille committee was sent to the Regents even though City Council at the last meeting had decided not to send the letter. The letter was in reference to the potential study of the buildings and infrastructures at the braille school campus. Hesson asked if the Kiwanis Park could be sold to the City. Motion by Hesson, second by Stark to have the ISU start the building study, to have UNI start the possible use study and to start the purchase process of Kiwanis Park. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. The City will not incur any expenses for these studies. Nash and Saunders asked for a City contact. Council said it would be Administrator Ward. Representative Dawn Pettengill stated that Iowa Code 270.10 says there is a two year timing after the Legislature reviews the study reports.
Nate Kass, Fehr Graham engineer, gave an update on the E 3rd Street project. They are working on temporary easements which have slightly delayed the project. The bid letting for this project is in March 2017. Parking will be allowed only on one side of the street. Water mains smaller than six inches will be replaced. Sanitary and storm water sewers will be replaced. Kass also stated the 13th Street repairs have been delayed because of the tornado and flooding this year.
The appointment of a code enforcer will be on the next council agenda.
Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to pass a RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE OFFICIAL 2016 FISCAL YEAR STREET FINANCE REPORT. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 11-16-02 passed and approved.
Motion by Elwick, second by Parmater to pass a RESOLUTION TO APPROVE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM ROAD USE TAX TO DEBT SERVICE FUNDS. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 11-16-03 passed and approved.
Motion by Hesson, second by Stark to approve the disbursement of $6,000 to Vinton Unlimited. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to approve changing the assistant park director position from exempt to non-exempt status so as to comply with the new Fair Labor Standards Act of 2016. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. The Mayor declared the motion carried. This position will be change from a salary to an hourly wage. Director Barker is anticipating some overtime expense because of the new law.
Motion by Hesson, second by Parmater to approve a request for the Tour DeLights 5K route on December 4th. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parmater, second by Elwick to appoint Parr as council representative to the Vinton Unlimited board. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Administrator Ward reported he attended a FEMA meeting. There are two programs Vinton can participate in. The first is the home buyout program. The second is the hazard mitigation program, for flood expense reimbursements. Council’s general consensus was for him to continue working on these programs. He also stated the asbestos had been removed from the structure at 908/910 A Avenue. This house will be demolished soon.
The Electric Utility is seeking a proposal for a telecommunications utility study. They are hoping the City will share in the expense of this study. The next Council meeting will be on Monday, November 21st.
Good & Welfare: Representative Dawn Pettengill organized a fund raiser for the Fourth Street Diner. The diner provides meals to area seniors. This event raised $2,700.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 9:00 p.m.
________________________________
John R. Watson Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk