REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 9, 2015
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 9th day of July, 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 Elwick, 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 June 24, 2015 with the correction that Vermedahl was not present at that meeting to vote on the consent agenda item; approve invoices; receive and file the June revenue and expenditure report; receive and file the Parks and Rec. Board meeting minutes of June 11, 2015 and approve the renewal of a class c liquor license with Sunday sales for Ron-Da-Voo.
Stark reported the Public Safety Committee had met to discuss a snow emergency route and procedure. This committee recommends moving forward with establishing a snow emergency route and procedure. They also discussed the golf cart ordinance. They are concerned for the safety of children riding on golf carts. This committee will discuss this at their next meeting on July 23rd at 6:00 p.m..
John Mayhew and Alan Garwood, Vinton Car Cruise representatives, presented the proposed car cruise route for July 18th. They also discussed a possible contingency route of W 16th Street, if the Hwy 218 resurfacing project interferes with the south end of the route. Council’s general consensus was to approve the route. They anticipate around 400 cars to participate in the cruise.
Kurt Karr stated that he would like to see Vinton have its own telecommunication utility, to provide high speed internet service locally. He plans to have a petition to put a question on this fall’s election ballot.
The Mayor announced that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a proposed loan agreement. The loan would be for financing street and related improvements and refunding and refinancing bonds from 2006. The interest rate will be less than it was in 2006. The Mayor closed the hearing.
Motion by Vermedahl, second by Parmater to pass a RESOLUTION EXPRESSING INTENT TO ENTER INTO A LOAN AGREEMENT. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 07-15-01 passed and approved.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Elwick to approve Chief Paxton’s recommendation of hiring William Spece, Wesley Meyer and Justin Coshow as new police officers. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Stark, second by Elwick to approve Chief Paxton’s recommendation for setting the part-time police officer wage to $23.07 per hour. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Administrator Ward stated he had discussions with the employees about changing to a public works director, that would oversee streets, water and sewer departments. But after the discussions, the general consensus was to remain operating as we have been in the past.
The discussion on a possible storm water utility was tabled till the next meeting.
New housing was discussed. The city owns 3 lots on Q Avenue. Are there any local contractors or developers that would be interested in building 3 homes within say 18 months? Ward stated that new TIF areas for housing have a 10 year life. There are seven lots on the west side of town in Westridge addition. Motion by Elwick, second by Vermedahl to authorize the Mayor and Administrator to spend up to $5,000 for engineering cost for planning water and sewer lines. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Vermedahl, second by Stark to pass a RESOLUTION TO AMEND SEPTIC TANK DUMPING RATE OR CHARGE CONFORMING WITH THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 98.08, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 08-09-02. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 07-15-02 passed and approved. This resolution raises the leachate rate from 2 cents to 3 cents per gallon.
A RESOLUTION TO AWARD BID FOR SEWER DEPARTMENT MOWER was tabled.
Motion by Vermedahl, second by Elwick to approve the disbursement of $17,784 from LOST funds to Vinton Unlimited and $6,000 from the General Fund. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve VU’s request for downtown street closings for RAGBRAI on July 23rd. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Vinton Unlimited has discussed RAGBRAI with the street and police departments and the county.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve a new class b liquor license with Sunday sales for Cobblestone Inn and Suites. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve a new class b beer/wine license with outdoor service for Backpocket Brewing on July 23rd. Question: Ayes – Bendull, Elwick, Hessenius, Parmater, Stark, Vermedahl. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to approve a supervised display of fireworks for the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association at the Benton County Fairgrounds on Aug. 28th and Aug. 29th. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Vermedahl, second by Parmater to approve the Mayor’s reappointments of Melissa Tandy and Tyler Lorenzen to the Parks and Recreation Board, each a 3 year term. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Administrator Ward reported: 1) The final walk through with the county was done at the old animal shelter. 2) He will be attending a city managers conference July 15th to 17th. 3) Held an East 3rd Street construction meeting. A federal grant pre-application will need to be done. The project is now expected to be done in 2017. Soil boring samples were done, showing the ground is stable. They plan to remove trees on the south side of the street. 4) Some repairs will be done on W 13th Street during the first week of August. That project is still under warranty for one more year.
Clerk reported that election paperwork, affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions, are now available.
Chief Paxton reported that Captain Smith will be retiring soon.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 8:35 p.m..
________________________________
John R. Watson Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk