REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
DECEMBER 14, 2017
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 14th day of December,
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:
Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Absent: None.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to approve the agenda. 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 Nov. 28, 2017, approve invoices in the amount of $1,265,432.33,
receive and file the November revenue and expenditure report and to receive and file the Parks &
Rec Board meeting minutes of Nov. 9, 2017.
Elwick reported that the public safety committee had met to discuss a 28E agreement with the
school system about sharing a school resource officer. They also reviewed a job classification
for this position.
The IBSSS Repurpose Committee members, Jon Kremer and Dennis Lausar, stated they have
created committee sub-teams to focus on different geographical areas of the IBSSS campus. One
area might be developed for commercial or multi-family housing and another area for single
family housing. Parks and recreation may be expanded and the residence hall could be
repurposed for multi-family housing. Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to allow this
committee to discuss with the Regents the idea of acquisition of certain areas of the IBSSS
campus. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
The Mayor stated that now was the time and place set to hold a public hearing on a proposed
West water tower rehab and repaint project. Administrator Ward reported that 5 bids were
received. The lowest bid was under the engineer’s cost estimate. The Mayor closed the hearing.
Awarding a bid will be on the next council meeting agenda.
Council discussed a retaining wall for 717 E 3rd Street. Administrator Ward reported the City
has received bids from two companies. The public works committee will meet on Wednesday,
Dec. 20 at 7:00 pm to discuss this with the property owner, Ken Hanson. Fehr-Graham engineer
Nate Kass will be asked to attend this meeting.
Motion by Hesson, second by Stark to approve pay estimate #4 to Dave Schmitt Construction
in the amount of $217,012.71. After discussion about water drainage at the intersection at 3rd
Street and 5th Avenue the motion and second were withdrawn.
Council received letters requesting annexation into the city limits for land just south of the high
school. The letters were from J.W. Fry Trust #2 and VGH Healthcare Foundation. There is
approximately 60 acres in the Fry Trust and 40 acres in the Healthcare Foundation. The five
trustees for the Fry Trust are looking into making a housing development. Administrator Ward
stated he has spoken will bond counsel about creating a new TIF district. Motion by Stark,
second by Hesson to accept the annexation request. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick,
Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. The
annexation request will be sent to the County Supervisors for approval, then to the Secretary of
State. Dean Schminke, one of the trustees stated that the farm trustees were taking this action
and not the hospital board.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Parr to approve the submittal to the Federal Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) FFY 2019 Capital Improvements Plan. Question: Ayes – All. The
Mayor declared the motion carried. This will allow the City to be eligible for future federal and
state grants for airport projects.
Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to approve sending a request from Joe Wood and Judy
Burkey to re-plat a parcel to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The request is so that the
septic system will be on the property that it is being utilized on. Question: Ayes – All. The
Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Elwick, second by Parr to approve a sidewalk reimbursement to Ken Osterhaus, 908
E 9th Street, for $500.00. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.
Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to appoint the Cedar Valley Times and the Vinton Eagle as
official newspapers for the City’s legal notices. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the
motion carried.
Administrator Ward reported 1) The new flat screen tv is hooked up in council chambers. 2)
Had a request from a resident to raise snakes. This is not allowed in the city nor the county. 3)
Strategic planning session is scheduled for Feb. 13th.
Clerk reported 1) The fire department has sold the old ladder truck. 2) VMEU employee Mark
Smith is retiring. 3) A lien for legal and clean up expenses has been placed on 615 A Avenue. 4)
VMEU has funds available to assist electric customers on paying their bill. If they qualify for
LIHEAP, an application is available at the HACAP office. These Project Share funds will match
up to $75, once in a calendar year. 5) A retirement open house will be held on December 28th to
honor retiring Mayor John R. Watson.
Good & Welfare: Happy Holidays.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Time: 8:15 p.m. ______________________________ John R. Watson, Mayor
Attest: __________________________
Cindy Michael, City Clerk