REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 11, 2017
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 11th day of May, 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, Parr, Stark. Absent: Parmater.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to approve the agenda. Question: Aye – All. The Mayor
declared the motion carried.
The Mayor reported that Council Member Parmater had given him a resignation letter. Motion
by Stark, second by Hessenius to accept the resignation. Question:Ayes – All. The Mayor
declared the motion carried. Administrator Ward stated council could either make an
appointment to fill the vacant council seat or have a special election. Mayor Watson stated that
Bud Maynard is willing to fill the vacancy. The Mayor also stated he would like Parmater to
remain on the watershed management authority committee. Motion by Parr, second by Elwick
for council to make an appointment to the 3rd ward vacancy. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor
declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to approve the consent agenda. Question: Ayes – All.
The Mayor declared the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are to receive and file the
Council meeting minutes of April 27, 2017, approve invoices in the amount of $506,078.28,
receive and file the April revenue and expenditure report, receive and file the Parks and
Recreation Board meeting minutes of April 13, 2017 and to approve the renewal of a class E
liquor license for Fareway.
Council received letters not in favor of gravelingan alley in the 200 block between 4th and 5th
Avenues. Mary Fisher, 203 5th Avenue, stated she is happy that only the west one-half of this
alley will be graveled. She inquired about the process of possibly vacating this alley. It was
suggested for her to wait until after the E 3rd Street project was completed before seeking the
vacation of the alley.
Stark reported that the IBSSS committee held the final public input session on May 2nd. This
committee will make a recommendation to council soon. The safety committee met with the
school board to discuss a proposal for a school resource officer. Also, there was a watershed
meeting. The director will be contacting property owners in the near future.
Toni Parizek, Veterans Affairs director, requested approval for a Veterans’ Ruck March route on
June 3rd. Motion by Hesson, second by Parr to approve the route requested. Question: Ayes –
All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Stark to approve the health and dental insurance renewals.
Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared
the motion carried.
Nate Kass, Fehr Graham engineer, recommends accepting the lowest bid from Dave Schmitt
Construction in the amount of $1,282,526.84. Motion by Parr, second by Hesson to award a
contract to Dave Schmitt Construction Co. Inc. for the E 3rd Street reconstruction project.
Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared
the motion carried. The latest start date for the project is July 10. The project should be
completed in 55 working days.
Hesson asked Kass about the 13th Street project intersection at 2nd Avenue. Kass has talked
with the contractor. The contractor does not feel they are liable for any repair costs. Kass will
review the contract to see if it includes any language about arbitration.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to approve pay estimate #2 for the runway 16-34
improvement project to LL Pelling Co. Inc. in the amount of $96,700.46. Question: Ayes –
Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hesson, second by Elwick to approve pay estimate #3 for the wastewater UV light
replacement project to WRH, Inc. in the amount of $156,111.60. Question: Ayes – Elwick,
Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Rick Erickson, Street Superintendent, informed Council that some downtown sidewalks are
uneven. He would like to try doing repairs by Movies and More and Nick’s Appliance. He gave
cost estimates and time frames for repairs to the sidewalk if his department did the repairs versus
if they hired the project to be done. Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to approve a bid from
PolyRaise for $2,060.80. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays –
None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. The repairs will be from the curb to the brick
stripe.
Motion by Hesson, second by Elwick to approve closing and re-routing streets for Party in the
Park activities on June 22nd, 23rd and 24th. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the
motion carried.
Motion by Elwick, second by Hesson to approve the Party in the Pink 5K walk/run route on
June 23rd. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to approve a $500.00 sidewalk reimbursement to Todd and
Sheri Lehman, 1115 A Avenue. Question: Ayes – Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.
Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Administrator Ward reported that the Planning and Zoning Commission had met. Tionna Pooler,
Independent Public Advisors, plans to attend the next council meeting to discuss water, sewer
and solid waste utility rates. The City has not yet heard anything from the court system on the
nuisance property case. Parr asked Ward to send a map of Vinton’s lineal feet of the HESCO
barriers to AquaDam. Erickson stated that it takes 3 days to set the HESCO barriers up and
about 3 weeks to take them down. Hessenius inquired about a street in Bascom’s Addition.
Ward stated it is a private drive for a duplex. The builder will attend a future council meeting.
Clerk reported a few garden plots have been rented out on Q Avenue. VMEU is reviewing
their utility rates. They are considering increases in the rates and adding the energy adjustment
factor to the City’s utility accounts.
Good & Welfare: Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps are working on a property in town.
Have a Happy Mother’s Day.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 8:15 p.m.
_____________________________
John R. Watson Mayor
Attest: _________________________
Cindy Michael City Clerk
Categories: 2017Meeting Minutes