REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

JULY 9, 2020

   A regular meeting of the City Council of Vinton, Iowa, was held on the 9th day of July, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers, Vinton, Iowa.  Due to the COVID-19 virus the meeting was also held electronically using ZOOM Cloud hosted at 110 W 3rd Street.  Mayor Maynard 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 Stark, second by Hesson to approve the agenda.  Question:  Ayes – All.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.

   Motion by Elwick, 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 June 25th and June 30th, approve invoices in the amount of $526,306.83, receive and file the June revenue and expenditure report, receive and file the Library Board meeting minutes of June 10th, and approve a cigarette/tobacco permit for Kwik Trip.

   Motion by Stark, second by Hessenius to adopt AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF VINTON, IOWA, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO CHAPTER 78 GOLF CARTS.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried and that said ordinance had been given its second consideration.  This amendment will not allow golf carts to travel on Third Street from K Avenue to 9th Avenue, but shall allow carts to directly cross the street.

   Motion by Stark, second by Elwick to pass a RESOLUTION TO AMEND ESTABLISHED TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES PURSUANT TO THE CITY OF VINTON CODE OF ORDINANCES.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried and declared RESOLUTION 07-20-01 passed and approved.  This resolution places No Parking and Stop signs in the Anderson Creek Estates First Addition.

   Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to approve the recommendation from Shive Hattery to award a bid to Baker Enterprises, Inc. for the 2020 S Trail Improvements project, in the amount of $685,411.00.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.  Parks and Rec Director Matt Boggess said they received eleven bids.  The project is to be completed by the spring of 2021.  A unique aspect of this project will be the glow stone, which should last twenty years and has a twenty-year warranty.

   Motion by Stark, second by Hessenius to approve a change order for the geogrid for the south side of splash pad.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

   Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to discuss the airport’s mower and tractor.  Administrator Ward stated that the FAA grant covering ninety percent of the new John Deere tractor was for snow removal equipment and not for mowing.  Funds from selling the old mower and tractor were to cover the City’s ten percent of the new tractor.  Administrator Ward will look for other funding options.

   Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to set a public hearing date on plans and specifications for street projects for July 23rd at 7:00 pm.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.   Fehr Graham engineer Nate Kass said that bids were to be accepted on July 17.  September 1 is set as a late start date.  He added that contractors he has been in contact with seem pleased with the project schedule and that Oct. 1, 2021 is the completion deadline. 

   Motion by Stark, second by Hessenius to approve the land use change request for Elwick Bros LLC,  this is just outside the city limits.  The requested use is residential housing.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.     

   Motion by Stark, second by Hesson to approve a request from the Vinton Lions Club to park their food trailer on Celebration Park for the Farmer’s Markets.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.    

   Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to approve of the disposal of a water department dump truck.  Superintendent Walker is to decide how best to do this.  The Parks and Rec department could use it, it could be put up for auction on govdeals.com or sold to a truck dealership.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

   Motion by Hesson, second by Parr to approve a supervised display of fireworks to the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association on August 28th and 29th at the Benton County Fairgrounds.  This display is only for association members.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.  

   Motion by Elwick, second by Stark to approve the disbursement of LOST Funds to the Vinton Community Foundation in the amount of $21,100.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

   Council discussed the idea of J & R Sanitation picking up residential brush.  A third container would have to be given to all residential properties.  This container would be emptied the alternate week of recycling collections and only used half the year.  No action was taken.  Residents will be reminded to take their yard waste to the brush dump and not place it in either the recycling or trash containers. 

   Motion by Hesson, second by Stark to set a public hearing for July 23rdat 7:00 pm for an appeal from Andrew Weyer to keep his dog.  Question:  Ayes – Edwards, Elwick, Hessenius, Hesson, Parr, Stark.  Nays – None.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.     

   Water Superintendent Walker said they have been replacing fire hydrants.  Administrator Ward said that Building Inspector Jerry Michael will be retiring this fall.  A work session was scheduled for July 13 at 6:00 pm to discuss this position.  Mayor Maynard asked to hold a special council meeting on July 13 at 7:00 pm to consider a developer’s agreement with Hobart Historic Restoration.  Clerk received an inquiry if a sidewalk could be placed along K Avenue for residents to walk to Dollar Fresh, Kwik Trip or Theisen’s.  

   Good & Welfare:  The American Flags along the streets look nice.

   Motion by Hesson, second by Hessenius to adjourn the meeting.  Question:  Ayes – All.  The motion carried.  Time:  8:25 p.m.