REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 14, 2015
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 14th day of May, 2015, 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: Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Absent: None.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve the consent agenda. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are: receive and file the council meeting minutes of April 23rd; approve invoices; receive and file the April revenue and expenditure report; approve renewal of a class c liquor license for American Legion; and approve renewal of outdoor service for Mickey’s Bar on July 23rd to 25th.
Stark reported that the general government, community and economic development committee had meetings to discuss health insurance, supervisor wages and housing.
Dennis Fratella representative of acumen spoke to Council. His company is a health benefits advisor company. He asked Council to consider the services of acumen for employee health insurance. Mayor Watson thanked him for coming to the meeting.
Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA, BY AMEDNING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO OPEN BURNING. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. 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 – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared ORDINANCE 1011 duly adopted.
Motion by Stark, second by Bendull to adopt an ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON ADDING CHAPTER 168 ENTITLED “RAGBRAI-MISCELLANEOUS PERMITS”. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been given its second consideration. There was discussion about a possible beer vendor coming to Vinton for this event.
Motion by Stark, second by Elwick to pass a RESOLUTION SETTING SALARIES AND COMPENSATION FOR SUPERVISION, MANAGEMENT AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015-2016. After discussion the motion and second were withdrawn. Motion by Bendull, second by Parmater to table this resolution. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Administrator Ward will do a survey.
Motion by Parmater, second by Elwick to pass a RESOLUTION SETTING TIME OF HEARING ON A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO VACATE AN ALLEY. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 05-15-01 passed and approved. The hearing is set for May 28th at 7:00 p.m.. This is the east-west alley between B and C Avenues in the 800 block.
Motion by Stark, second by Bendull to approve ordering the professional services of Fehr Graham Engineering for reconstructing E 3rd Street from 3rd Avenue to 9th Avenue. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. This engineering expense will be $94,000.00.
Motion by Vermedahl, second by Stark to pass a RESOLUTION TO APPROVE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OFADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, STATE ACCOUNTING ENTERPRISE AND CITY OF VINTON FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE INCOME OFFSET PROGRAM. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 05-15-02 passed and approved.
Motion by Elwick, second by Bendull to pass a RESOLUTION TO APPROVE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM ROAD USE TAX FUND TO DEBT SERVICE FUND. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 05-15-03 passed and approved.
Motion by Stark, second by Parmater to pass a RESOLUTION TO APPROVE TRANSER OF FUNDS FROM LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX FUND TO DEBT SERVICE FUND. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 05-15-04 passed and approved.
Motion by Vermedahl, second by Hessenius to approve a quote from Martin Equipment for backhoe repair expense for $6,623.05. The water utility fund and the road use tax fund will share this expense. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parmater, second by Bendull to approve FIRST AMENDMENT TO TOWER AND GROUND SPACE LEASE with USCOC. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. US Cellular is planning to replace an antenna on top of the water tower.
Motion by Stark, second by Elwick to approve the Assurant dental insurance renewal for July 1st, at no increase of the premium rate. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Elwick, second by Hessenius to approve an order accepting acknowledgment/settlement agreement for a tobacco violation. The permit holder John’s Qwik Stop has paid the $300.00 civil penalty. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Stark, second by Elwick to approve a permit for supervised display of fireworks by Bar Y Pyros, Chuck Yedlik, for Party in the Park on June 26th and 27th, with a rain date of June 28th. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Elwick to set a public hearing for a budget amendment for fiscal year 2014-2015 for May 28th. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Mayor Watson stated that he would like Council to consider a residential TIF area for a new housing development. He and Administrator Ward may seek interested developers. He has been informed of various properties with tall grass.
Administrator Ward reported: 1) The health insurance meeting with PDCM, employees and union representatives went well. 2) The financial advisor has suggested refunding the 2006 bond issue. Council’s general consensus was to do this and save some interest expense. 3) He plans to move forward with the PDCM health insurance proposal. 4) West 13th Street has some cracked panels.
Clerk reported: 1) VMEU plans to relocate the transformer from the city parking lot and place it closer to the line distribution building. 2) VMEU Board of Trustees approved the transfer of the Alco bankruptcy administrative claim to Fair Harbor Capital. 3) Received phone call requesting the city to release a lien for a housing grant administered through ECICOG. This request will be considered at a future council meeting.
Chief Paxton reported: 1) Police department assisted the Parks & Rec. department with the bicycle rodeo. 2) Sent out many notices for tall grass. 3) Will be testing non-certified police candidates this weekend. Planning interviews early in June. 4) Officer West has a new baby boy. 5) Looking into the lease-purchase of two vehicles. There is no cap on the mileage. Council will take action on this at a future meeting. 6) Looking at two nuisance properties. 7) The next nuisances he will be working on are junk vehicles.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 8:35 p.m..
____________________________
John R. Watson Mayor
Attest: _________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk