City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

February 9, 2009

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, February 9, 2009 at City Hall.  Mayor David L. Furry called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Council members present for roll call were Larry Beck, Carla Barnhart, Gene Brown and Jeff Christianson.  Bryan Lovell was absent.  Others present included Jim Barber, Sherie Paup, Lonni Koch, Alan Zerbe, Doyle Pickering, Sophie Weber, Rob Davis, Brad Norton, Ron Wingert, and Joe Goodlove.

 

Receive visitors/public comment: Brad Norton addressed the council on behalf of Ron Wingert seeking approval to allow cattle on the 4.4 acre lot within the city limits per ordinance 55.05.  Sophie Weber and Rob Davis also addressed the council with their concerns over the thistles, smell of cow manure, flies, and the use of an electric fence if this request were to be approved.  It was further noted that these are Ron’s personal cattle not cattle being run through the sale barn. After much discussion a motion was made by Carla Barnhart, seconded by Gene Brown to turn over to planning and zoning to get an opinion.  Ayes:  Barnhart, Brown Nays: Beck and Christianson.  Motion did not pass.

 

Motion was made by Christianson, seconded by Beck to not grant permission for the cattle to be in the yard.  Ayes:  Beck & Christianson  Nays:  Brown and Barnhart.  Motion did not pass.

 

Motion was then made by Barnhart, seconded by Brown to seek legal opinion from city attorney Lowell Dendinger on the issue.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Joe Goodlove presented information from the Lincoln Highway Association.  He informed the council he will be applying for a grant to get a kiosk in each of the 4 Cedar County towns. The grant will request $1000 for each kiosk as well as seeking volunteers to construct it and matching donations for the remaining building materials.  He is also seeking to purchase 2 Lincoln Highway banners for each community at a cost of approx. $400.  Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown seconded to support the grant application up to $1000 match for the additional building materials and the purchase of the banners up to a cost of $400.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Joe also provided information about the MVPA 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy project which will be traveling though town the afternoon of June 21, 2009.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Larry Beck motioned, Jeff Christianson seconded to approve all items under the consent agenda including the agenda, the minutes from 1/19/09, finance reports and claims. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Christianson, and Barnhart.  Nays: None.  Lovell absent.  Motion carried.

 

The claims approved were as follows:

PAYROLL

6632.04

WAGES

WELLMARK

3017.07

INSURANCE

US POSTAL SERVICE

229.82

POSTAGE

INTL REVENUE SERVICE

4623.75

WITHHOLDING

I P E R S

1988.45

IPERS

AIRGAS, INC.

145.46

OPER SUPPLY

ALLIANT ENERGY

8933.56

UTILITIES

ALL MED

643.30

OPER SUPPLY

AMAZON.COM

740.85

 LIB BOOKS

ANGIE ENTWISLE

270.00

BLDG MAINT

ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICE

252.41

UNIFORM

BANYON DATA SYSTEMS, INC

770.00

MAINTENANCE

JOHN BEMER

318.45

HOTEL/MILEAGE

BUSINESS RADIO SALES

834.86

MINOR EQUIP

CR PHOTO COPY

41.07

MAINTENANCE

DOUG WOLF

118.80

MILEAGE

DANS TIRES AND MORE

177.15

VEH REPAIR

DEMCO

99.74

LIB OFF SUPPLY

EC INC

584.00

PROF SERVICES

FIRE SERV TRAIN BUREAU

130.00

TRAINING

HACH COMPANY

114.18

CHEMICAL

IOWA WIRELESS

137.38

TELEPHONE

JIMS AUTO BODY

337.41

VEH REPAIR

JOHNSON CO REFUSE INC

2232.50

RECYCLING

KEN POSPISIL PAINTING

2175.00

BLDG MAINT

KEYSTONE LAB, INC

21.00

PROF SERVICES

LISBON-MTVERNON AMB SERV

300.00

MUTUAL AID

MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.

310.81

TELEPHONE

NAPA AUTO PARTS

26.32

VEH REPAIR

QUILL CORPORATION

150.69

OFFICE SUPPLY

SEEHUSEN INS. AGENCY,INC

797.00

INSURANCE

THE TIPTON CONSERVATOR

220.39

PUBLICATION

WALMART

33.00

 LIB VIDEO

WENDLING QUARRIES INC

73.95

OPER SUPPLY

BRIDGE COMMUNITY BANK

71.34

MISC CONTRACTS

US POSTAL SERVICE

180.00

PERMIT FEE

PAYROLL

5534.37

WAGES

EAGLE ENGRAVING

11.40

FD OTHER EQUIPMENT

US POSTAL SERVICE

243.60

POSTAGE

KEYSTONE LAB, INC

219.00

PROF SERVICES

CASEY'S GENERAL STORE

70.02

VEH SUPPLY

CEDAR CO. SOLID WASTE

936.00

LANDFILL

QUILL CORPORATION

67.98

AMB OFFICE SUPPLY

CARUS CORPORATION

365.68

CHEMICAL

DOUG COOK

76.15

VEH SUPPLY

BUSINESS RADIO SALES

79.00

FD MINOR EQUIP

SHEPLEY SNYDER PHARMACY

9.47

AMB OPER SUPPLY

KIRKWOOD COMM. COLLEGE

60.00

AMB TRAINING

CONNIE KNUTSEN

40.00

AMB TRAINING

AGVANTAGE FS INC.

1429.30

VEH SUPPLY

EAST CENTRAL LIBRARY SER

10.00

LIB  OP SUPPLY

ALL MED

64.04

AMB OPER SUPPLY

CLIA LABORATORY PROGRAM

150.00

USER FEE

MARILYN FITZGERALD

310.73

HOTEL/MILEAGE

PETTY CASH REIM

99.00

POSTAGE

 

 

 

Total Receipts and Disbursements for month of January by fund

Fund

Receipts

Disbursements

Agency-Water

43.65

93.65

Ambulance Trust

9171.43

1108.30

Debt Service

 

         1,367.56

Fire Trust

.40

 

General

11507.55

15416.05

Library Expendable Trust

3.34

 

Perpetual Care

 

 

Road Use Tax

6,752.50

4,886.52

Sewer Utility

5,915.67

4,496.56

Solid Waste

97826.73

71352.70

Special Revenue LOST

-83986.28

0

Employee Benefit

179.43

1497.26

Water Utility

5736.25

4765.03

Water Sinking Fund

2,500.00

 

 

REPORTS:

 

Ambulance Report: Sherie Paup presented the ambulance report which included 24 medical and 2 traumas for a total of 26 calls.  The calls included 4 Mutual aid with A-4 and 1 with A-5, 1 refusal, 2 calls to Stanwood, 3 calls tiered with A-51, 1 with rescue 57 and 2 Lifeguard.  Sheri also reported that the volunteers purchased a Drager PAC 7000 COHb Screening monitor which will help them identify potential victims of Carbon Monoxide poisoning at a cost of $475.

 

Fire Department Report:  Lonni Koch reported that the fire department responded to 3 calls in January with one being a mutual aid call to Tipton, 1 assist to A-3 with CPR and 1 to land air care.  A request to purchase 10 NOMAX hoods at $25 each, 5 Cairns Face shields $40, 2 Pistol grip Nozzles 1 ½ “$415 each, 12 pair of gloves $40 each,2 DVD’s and Essential 5 workbook $130, and a tank to calibrate gas monitor $180 was approved with a motion by Larry Beck, seconded by Gene Brown.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Police Report:  Police Chief Jim Barber provided a summary of the calls for the month which included 2 agency assists; 6 animal cases; 1 arrest; 2 assist motorists; 12 citizen assist, 5-911, 5 traffic stops 1 citation and 4 warnings.  25 warnings for code violations included livestock violation, illegal parking, animals at large, and an abandon refrigerator. 7 citations issued for illegal parking, false 911 calls, and expired tags.

 

Additional communication has taken place with Friends of the Animals; however, no revised contract with extended hours has been received to date.  The Cedar Valley Humane Society board advised that they would not be able to expand their area to include Mechanicsville at this time.

 

Public Works Report:  Zerbe reported that the pump at the lift station has been reinstalled, was blowing snow to try to keep streets widened and keeping catch basins open to allow melting snow to run off.  A request for 2 vacation days for Feb 26-27 was approved with a motion by Beck and second by Brown.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Discussion was also held about the pros and cons for switching garbage pickup to a different day than recycling.  The reason for the request is that recycle containers are being placed too close to the garbage container and then the garbage can not be picked up.  Council directed to keep putting stickers on and to make a list of the violators so that a discussion can be held with the resident to instruct them on the proper way to put out their garbage.

 

Administration Report:  Coppess reported making contact with Cathy Cutler to make sure that the Mechanicsville Route to Learning (Safe Route to School Grant) project was included in the TIP and STIP programs.  Also a copy of the TEAP study and information about the grant being received was forwarded to IIW Engineers so that they can begin reviewing the preliminary design work.  There will be a training session in Ames during April to obtain additional information on how to proceed with the award.

 

Old Business:

Creating job description for on-call/temporary maintenance:  Coppess reported not receiving any sample descriptions through clerk net; however, council reviewed the assistant public works job description and identified items that could be modified so that it could be used to create a position for people to apply for that would be available for on-call temporary help.  Council directed to post at the post office and on the cable channel.

 

Review Parks & Recreation Board sample ordinances:  Coppess provided council with several samples of ordinances from other communities for possibly implementing a Parks and Recreation board.  The park committee will review.

.

New Business:

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON:

Approve Fire Chief (Ord. 35.06) Jeff Christianson motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve Lonni Koch as Fire Chief.  Ayes all.   Motion carried.

 

Name official newspaper:  Motion was made by Jeff Christianson, seconded by Carla Barnhart to name the Tipton Conservative as the official newspaper.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Authorize Mayor to sign township trustee contracts:  Motion was made by Larry Beck, seconded by Carla Barnhart to authorize the Mayor to sign the township trustee contracts.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Approve Liquor license for Bubba’s Sports Bar & Grill:  Motion was made by Carla Barnhart, seconded by Gene Brown to approve the liquor license for Bubba’s Sports Bar & Grill.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Approve schedule for newsletter (Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) Motion by Jeff Christianson, second by Gene Brown to approve a quarterly newsletter schedule with ½ of the postage cost being paid for by the Senior Citizens.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Repair of overhead doors:  Larry Beck motioned, Jeff Christianson seconded to approve the proposals from Barron Equipment Company to add weather stripping to the 3 doors at the shop at a cost of $598.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  Gene Brown motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve the proposal from Barron Equipment Company to repair the ambulance door with the addition of replacing the 2x8 and replacing the weather seal on the other 2 overhead doors at a cost not to exceed $1000.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Request to purchase software:  Larry Beck motioned, Jeff Christianson seconded to approve the proposal from Banyon Data Systems for the purchase of Utility billing software and Fund Accounting software, training and maintenance at a total cost of $10,337.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Medical Center need for full size refrigerator requires removal of cabinets:  Since the medical center is classified as a rural clinic it is eligible to provide free vaccinations for children.  The dorm size refrigerator that they have is not adequate to maintain the temperature required for the vaccination supplies.  To make room for the full size refrigerator the clinic is requesting a couple cupboards to be removed.  They also requested to relocate the locked cabinet and the old typewriter counter top.  Jefff Christianson motioned, Larry Beck seconded to authorize the medical center to proceed with making the necessary changes in the shelving and removal of the cabinets at their expense.  The light fixture maintenance will be looked into by the city.    Ayes all.  Motion carried. 

 

Set date for public hearing for 2009 budget amendment:  Council set Monday, March 9, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. as the date and time for the public hearing to be held on the budget amendment. 

 

Set date for public hearing for 2010 budget:  Council set Monday, March 9, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. as the date and time for the public hearing to be held on the 2010 budget.

 

Library ceiling tiles/water in light fixture:  Council reviewed situation with the roof and oversized eave spouts which created an ice jamb and then water backed up and leaked back into the light fixture and ceiling tiles in the storage room.  Council directed to have the roof looked at for possible solutions to prevent from happening and to verify the light switch was safe to use.

 

Update drug & alcohol policy:  Coppess presented information received from CJ Cooper regarding an update to the DOT Policy related to new federal regulations on controlled substances.  One of the new statements is that employees are prohibited from possessing ANY amount of alcohol (including medications or over-the-counter remedies containing alcohol) while on duty.  Motion was made by Jeff Christianson and seconded by Larry Beck to approve the updates to the DOT Policy and directed the clerk to incorporate the provided policy into the existing personnel policy. Ayes all.  Motion carried.   Employees will be required to acknowledge the updated Drug & Alcohol policy.  The Confidential Alcohol & Drug Abuse Helpline poster has been posted.

 

Committee Reports:  2009 Mayor appointments to Committees:  The appointments were made as follows:  Public Safety: Jeff Christianson & Gene Brown; Public Works: Larry Beck and Gene Brown; Culture & Recreation: Carla Barnhart & Jeff Christianson; Health & Social Services: Bryan Lovell and Gene Brown; Community & Economic Development:: Carla Barnhart & Jeff Christianson; General Government: Larry Beck & Bryan Lovell; Debt Service: Carla Barnhart & Bryan Lovell; Capital Project: Larry Beck & Jeff Christianson; Business Enterprises: Gene Brown and Carla Barnhart.

 

Correspondence: Correspondence was received from Nilles Associates & Garden & Associates introducing their engineering firms to the city as well as information from the Hwy 30 Coalition. 

 

Set next regular meeting date: 3-9-09 

 

ADJOURN:  There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, council member Larry Beck motioned, Gene Brown seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:53 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                     _______________________________

Linda K. Coppess, CMC                                         David L. Furry, Mayor

City Clerk/Finance Officer