VINTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 25, 2021
A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa was held on the 25th day of March, 2021 at 7:00pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, Vinton, Iowa. Due to COVID-19, the meeting was also held electronically using Zoom which was hosted at 110 W 3rd Street. Mayor Maynard presided with roll being called the following Council Members were present and absent: Present – Edwards, Elwick, Gates, Hessenius, Parr, Stark. Absent – None.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion by Stark, second by Hessenius to approve the agenda. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to approve the consent agenda. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are to receive & file Council meeting minutes of March 11 & March 18, 2021, receive & file Veterans Memorial Airport meeting minutes of March 17, 2021, approve renewal of Class C liquor license for La Reyna – 202 W 4th Street, approval of city invoices and approval of library invoices.
Mayor Maynard opened the public hearing on the proposed budget for FY21-22. Administrator Ward reminded Council Members the property tax levy increased to $17.228 per $1,000 of valuation due to the debt service for the street repair projects. With no other comments being heard, the Mayor closed the public hearing.
Motion by Parr, second by Gates to approve A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022. Question: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Gates, Hessenius, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Hessenius, second by Edwards to approve a bid to repair a sewer line at 8th Street & 2nd Avenue. The leak is underneath the brick portion of 2nd Avenue. The infrastructure was not updated when the rebricking project was completed over 10 years ago. After much discussion if the cost was the city’s or homeowners responsibility, Council Member Hessenius and Edwards withdrew their respective motions.
Motion by Parr, second by Hessenius to table the approval of the sewer repair bid for an upcoming meeting. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried. A work session will be scheduled to discuss this further.
Motion by Parr, second by Stark to RESOLUTION ORDERING CONSTRUCTION OF THE REHABILITATE RUNWAY 9/27 PROJECT AT THE VINTON VETERANS MEMORIAL AIRPORT IN VINTON, IOWA, SETTING PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATED COST AND DIRECTING
PUBLICATION OF NOTICE TO BIDDERS. Questions: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Gates, Hessenius, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Stark, second by Parr to approve A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE DISBURSEMENT OF HOTEL/MOTEL FUNDS TO VINTON UNLIMITED in the amount of $7,588.67. Questions: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Gates, Hessenius, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. This is the quarterly disbursement.
Motion by Stark, second by Parr to approve the Agreement for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads with the Iowa DOT. Questions: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Gates, Hessenius, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. This is renewal of a 5-year agreement to allow the DOT to maintain C Avenue and K Avenue within City limits.
Motion by Parr, second by Gates to approve the appointment of David Gates, Jimmy Kelly, Jennifer Kreutner and Rylie Pflughaupt to the Vinton Library Board. Questions: Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Gates, Hessenius, Parr, Stark. Nays – None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. As the county appointee, Ms. Kreutner will also need to be approved by the Benton County Board of Supervisors.
Motion by Stark, second by Parr to approve the appointment of Council Member Gates to the 1) public works, 2) culture, recreation, health & social services and 3) general government, community & economic development committees. Question: Ayes – All. The Mayor declared the motion carried.
An increase in food trucks operating within the City has been noticed in the recent months. The City currently has no policy to address location or licensing of food trucks. Council does not wish to discourage food trucks but wants to make sure location and licensing is appropriate. No action was taken.
Council Member Gates read a proclamation proclaiming April as sexual assault awareness month.
City Administrator Ward shared the City will be receiving federal funding as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. There are guidelines for how the funding can be spent. The owner of the former IBSSS steam plant will be attending the April council meeting. Staff from the Iowa League of Cities is willing to host a workshop on open meetings procedures for all of the city’s board and commissions; a date just needs to be set. A resident has contacted Ward and Street Superintendent Meyer about the policy for mailbox replacement due to snowplow damage.
Street Superintendent Meyer shared the new grader has arrived. Stop signs and no parking signs have been placed in Anderson Creek.
Fire Department Chief Garwood shared the fish fry was very well supported.
Water Superintendent Walker shared they will begin hauling sludge in the next month.
Police Chief Paxton shared a building inspector has been hired and will begin Monday, April 12. The Benton County SART team is back and will begin providing services and support again.
City Clerk Schwan shared the renewal for the property and liability insurance coverage has been received. As follow-up to the prior discussion on employees driving city vehicles home, if the city authorizes an employee to drive a city vehicle home, the city’s insurance will be primary if an accident occurs on the commute.
Mayor Maynard shared Anderson Creek work continues to progress. Planning & Zoning will be meeting next week.
A work session will be held on Wednesday, March 31 beginning at 6pm.
Good & welfare: spring is here!
Being no other business before the City Council, motion by Hessenius, second by Parr to adjourn the meeting. Question: Ayes – All. The motion carried. Time: 8:00pm.