REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 22nd day of September, 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, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Absent: None.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mayor Watson asked to add an item under new business, to discuss the Housing Needs Assessment. Motion by Parmater, second by Elwick to approve the amended agenda. Question: Aye – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Hesson 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 September 8, 2016 and to receive and file the Library Board meeting minutes of August 10, 2016.
Administrator Ward received a letter back from the Board of Regents executive director and CEO, Dr. Robert Donley, regarding the IBSSS campus.
Elwick reported the Public Safety Committee met to discuss a shared building inspector. The committee in a 2 to 1 vote recommended to council to pursue sharing a building inspector with the City of Center Point. Motion by Elwick, second by Parr to discontinue this discussion of sharing a building inspector with Center Point. Question: Ayes – Hesson, Elwick, Parr. Nays – Hessenius, Stark, Parmater. Mayor Watson broke the tie by voting Aye. At this time Vinton City Council does not plan to share a building inspector.
Motion by Parmater, second by Hesson to approve a request for the high school homecoming parade route on October 7th. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parmater, second by Hesson to approve a request for Sole Sisters Celebration Run route on November 20th. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Gary Bierschenk, candidate for county supervisor, introduced himself to Council.
Alan Garwood, inquired about purchasing the city owned lot at 803 E 2nd Street. Attorney Fischer stated that council would have to go through sale procedures. Council may decide to sell it at an auction. A resolution will need to be done and the public to be notified.
Andy Shifflett, TrueNorth Companies representative, said his company specializes in insurance coverages for cities. He suggested a separate meeting with council called a discovery step at no cost to the City. After that TrueNorth would come up with a plan for the City.
Dennis Fratella, Acumen Insurance, stated his company specializes in health insurance. Council will be talking about insurance at budget time.
Mayor Watson would like talk with a citizens group about the IBSSS campus.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to approve the low bid from Abatement Specialties for $7,645 to remove the asbestos from the property at 908/910 A Avenue. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Council discussed adding a utility recreational vehicle, also known as a side by side, to the golf cart ordinance. These vehicles are not designed for operating on paved roads. They have more power than typical golf carts. Captain Eric Dickinson, stated that the police department is not in favor of allowing the side by sides to operate on the streets. Council took no action to amend the golf cart ordinance.
Motion by Stark, second by Hesson to hold a public hearing on October 13th at 7:00 pm for the proposed 2016 Wastewater System Improvements project. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to pass a RESOLUTION TO APPROVE TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO LIBRARY FUND. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 09-16-03 passed and approved.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to approve a fuel system improvement project for the Vinton Veterans Memorial Airpark. The estimated cost of this fuel system is $100,000. An IDOT grant will pay for 85% of the project. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Stark, second by Elwick to approve the disbursement of budgeted funding to HACAP in the amount of $6,028. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Stark, second by Parr to approve the disbursement of budgeted funding to North Benton Ambulance in the amount of $5,257. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parmater, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Administrator Ward asked Council if they wanted to follow the recommendations of the housing needs assessment done by Maxfield Research. Council would like a property owner to bring a plan to the City. Ward will do some more research on developing housing.
Mayor Watson stated it will be a busy week mitigating the flooding. The landfill per ton fees will be increasing and the City per capita fees will go down. Recycling costs have gone up.
Administrator Ward reported will be attending a conference in Missouri.
Clerk reported a chicken permit application was given out. The auditors plan to be here in October. The airport runway project was delayed until next week.
Captain Dickinson reported the police department is raising things up off the basement floor. They are wanting garage space to store the speed trailer. The remodeling project is on hold. They are taking applications for reserve officers until Monday.
Good & Welfare: The house is gone from 803 E 2nd Street and the lot leveled off. Boomtown had a record attendance.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 8:22 p.m.
________________________________
John R. Watson Mayor
Attest: ___________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk