City of Mechanicsville

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

April 13, 2009

 

The Mechanicsville City Council met in regular session on Monday, April 13, 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, Jeff Christianson and Bryan Lovell.  Others present included Jim Barber, Alan Zerbe, Lonni Koch, Sherie Paup, Rob Davis, Doyle Pickering, Kerri Poduska, Amy Heinen, Joel Polhamus, Ryan Steinberg, Ashley McCormick, Dan and Stacy Paidar, Connie and Gene Knutsen, Terry Kuda, Joe and Kim Smith, Bob Moravek, Scott and Amy Bishop, Travis Galloway, Doug Cook, and Herb and Pat Clark.

 

Receive visitors/public comment:  Pat and Herb Clark addressed the council regarding garbage being burnt in burn barrels.  Inquired about why people are allowed to burn garbage when paper, plastics, cans and glass can all be recycled and all other garbage is picked up with the exception of leaves and sticks.  The burning of leaves and sticks does not create the offensive smell that other garbage does.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: Bryan Lovell motioned, Carla Barnhart seconded to approve all items under the consent agenda including the agenda, the minutes from 3/9/09, finance reports and claims. Roll call vote: Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Christianson, Barnhart, and Lovell. Nays: None.  Motion carried.

 

The claims approved were as follows:

I P E R S

IPERS

1,677.45

INTL REVENUE SERVICE

FICA/MC

3,329.21

TREAS, STATE OF IOWA

WITHHOLDING

1,850.00

WELLMARK

INSURANCE

3,261.63

JONES COUNTY RECORDER

RECORD FEE

54.00

US POSTMASTER

POSTAGE

300.52

ACCO, UNLIMITED CORP.

OPER SUPPLY

412.80

AIRGAS, INC.

OPER SUPPLY

80.48

ALLIANT ENERGY

UTILITIES

6,248.40

ALL MED

OPER SUPPLY

306.57

ANGIE ENTWISLE

BLDG MAINT

270.00

BANYON DATA SYSTEMS, INC

CAPITAL EQ

5,275.55

BOOT'S BODY SHOP

VEH REPAIR

272.32

CASEY'S GENERAL STORE

VEH SUPPLY

172.91

CEDAR CO. SOLID WASTE

LANDFILL

1,008.00

CITA

DUES

25.00

CLAREY'S SAFETY EQUIP

CAPITAL EQUIP

801.21

EC INC

PROF SERVICE

260.00

EMERGENCY VEHICLE SALES

VEH REPAIR

49.14

FARM PLAN

OPER SUPPLY

12.98

FIRE SERV TRAIN BUREAU

TRAINING

127.45

GRAINGER

OPER SUPPLY

133.50

IA FIREMEN'S ASSN.

DUES

330.00

IOWA WIRELESS

TELEPHONE

160.10

JOHNSON CO REFUSE INC

RECYCLING

2,937.50

KEYSTONE LAB, INC

PROF SERVICE

286.00

LISBON-MTVERNON AMB SERV

AMB MUTUAL AID

150.00

LYNCH FORD-MT. VERNON

AMB VEH REPAIR

76.36

MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.

TELEPHONE

324.48

MECHANICSVILLE TELE. CO.

SHIPPING

248.40

MID IOWA SOLID WASTE EQU

CONTAINERS

312.00

NAPA AUTO PARTS

VEH REPAIR

116.24

MOLLY HANSEN

CPR TRAINING

15.00

QUILL CORPORATION

OFFICE SUPPLY

315.49

SANDRY FIRE SUPPLY

CAPITAL EQ

309.00

SHERIE PAUP

TRAINING/MILEAGE

22.80

THE TIPTON CONSERVATOR

PUBLICATION

150.05

WALMART

OPER SUPPLY

31.40

AMAZON.COM

LIB BOOKS

392.32

NEWSWEEK

LIB SUBSCRIPTION

74.00

EAST CENTRAL LIBRARY SER

LIB VIDEO

2.00

JUDY HARTMAN

MEET/CONF

15.00

STAPLES

OFF SUPPLY

14.15

PENWORTHY

LIB BOOKS

673.13

AGVANTAGE FS INC.

VEH SUPPLY

1,310.75

ARAMARK UNIFORM SERVICE

UNIFORM

192.63

KOCH'S PAINT & LUMBER

MINOR EQUIPMENT

460.04

CLEVE CHAMBERLIN

REFUND DEP

14.75

BRIAN DICKERSON

REFUND DEP

6.26

LEROY/VIRGINIA POWELKA

REFUND DEP

50.00

JAKE KOCH

REFUND DEP

50.00

STEVE NOELLER

REFUND DEP

50.00

SOPHIE WEBER

OPER SUPPLY

52.79

PAYROLL

WAGES

5,561.87

HACH COMPANY

OPER SUPPLY

148.99

TREAS, STATE OF IOWA

SALES TAX

1,016.00

CAROL BODENSTEINER

LIB PROGRAM

75.00

 

 

 

Total Receipts and Disbursements for month of March by fund

Fund

Receipts

Disbursements

Agency-Water

150.00

200.00

Ambulance Trust

10244.49

3,177.53

Fire Trust

.35

 

General

7,998.14

35,883.96

Library Expendable Trust

2.96

 

Perpetual Care

100.00

 

Road Use Tax

9,249.33

10,795.19

Sewer Utility

5,318.74

5,913.24

Solid Waste

7,883.23

9,694.73

Special Revenue LOST

5,463.88

 

Employee Benefit

970.01

4,118.05

TIF

685.85

 

Water Utility

3,988.97

6,282.35

Water Sinking Fund

5,000.00

 

 

Public Hearing on 2009 Budget Amendment:  The mayor opened the public hearing at 7:09 pm.  No comments were received from the public.  Gene Brown inquired about the number of holidays employees had and Carla Barnhart commented on the cost of employee insurance.  Larry Beck motioned, Bryan Lovell seconded to close the hearing at 7:11 p.m.  Motion carried.  Hearing was closed.

 

REPORTS:

Ambulance Report: Sherie Paup presented the ambulance report which included 18 medical calls and 1 trauma, 1 search for lost child, 1 standby for barn fire, and 1 cancel for a total of 22 calls.  Paup reported receiving 2 soft stretchers from Cedar County EMS and requested approval for Hazardous Material training for May 11 or 12 and 13th from 6-10 p.m. at a cost of $1100 which was approved with a motion by Bryan Lovell and seconded by Carla Barnhart.  Ayes all.

 

Fire Department Report:  Fire Chief Lonni Koch reported 14 calls for the month with 10 of them being grass fires and 1 being a search for missing child.  Request to purchase 2 Scotty 5 gallon sprayers at $105 each, a 9” stainless steel saw blade $70; 2 – 6 foot extension hoses with couplings <$200; training for Fire Training Officer Conference in Des Moines, no charge; and a request to purchase a 4x4 basket attachment for $150 for a forklift were all approved with a motion by Jeff Christianson and seconded by Gene Brown.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Change in Fireworks Insurance: Bob Moravek reported on a change in J & M’s policy regarding the insurance for the fireworks this year of which the motion was made by Larry Beck and seconded by Gene Brown to purchase a 1 day rider through Seehusen’s Insurance Agency at a cost of approx. $850.  Ayes all. Motion carried.  A motion was also made to authorize issuing a permit for the annual fireworks display on July 4th by Bryan Lovell and seconded by Larry Beck.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Police Report:  Police Chief Jim Barber provided a summary of the calls for the month which included 8 agency assists; 1 ambulance assist; 12 animal cases; 2 arrests; 1 assault, 2 burglary, 12 citizen assist, 1 harassment;  12 - 911; 1 theft; 15 traffic stops, 2 citations, 13  warnings.  1 bad check notice served; 1 abatement served, 9 warnings for code violations including littering, curfew, illegal parking, animal at large, and abandon vehicle.  10 citations issued for illegal parking, animal at large and vicious animal.

 

Public Works Report:  Zerbe reported replacing the door sweeps on the back doors of the Memorial Building, turning on the water at the park, trimming some trees, installing more meters and requested input from the council on the decals for the garbage truck to identify it.  Bryan Lovell motioned to approve a request for vacation for April 29 and 30 and Gene Brown seconded it.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.  Council also reviewed correspondence from a resident regarding the wind blowing over the container and directed that if the wind has blown a container they should be stopping to pick it up.  A statement was also made indicating that all garbage should be picked up and if it is incorrectly put out, the container should be tagged and then not picked up.

 

Administration Report:  Coppess reported completing the Community Disaster Grant application for the purpose of funding items within the pre-disaster mitigation plan and a fire proof filing cabinet.  It was also brought to the council’s attention that the floor in the post office has not been completed do to an issue with the post office not wanting to pay overtime for their employees to be present while the work is being done.  A request from a resident to have their sidewalk inspected was received.    Bryan Lovell motioned, and Larry Beck seconded to approve attendance at the Ambulance Billing Conference in West Des Moines on April 29 at a cost of $125; the Safe Route to School Federal Aid Overview Seminar in Ames on April 30, and the Iowa League of Cities Clerks Academy July 22-24.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Old Business:

Establishing a Parks and Recreation Board Ordinance 2nd reading:  The council agreed upon striking the “all residents within the city” statement within the proposed ordinance; and then Jeff Christianson motioned, Carla Barnhart seconded to approve the second reading with the statement being removed. Ayes all.  Motion carried. 

 

Larry Beck motioned, Carla Barnhart seconded to waive the 3rd reading of the ordinance.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Larry Beck then motioned, and Jeff Christianson seconded to adopt the ordinance establishing a parks and recreation board.  Roll Call vote:  Ayes: Beck, Brown, Christianson, Barnhart, and Lovell  Nays:  None.  Motion carried.

 

Request for reserved parking spaces:  Further discussion regarding the request received last month for reserved parking spaces resulted in no changes being implemented.

 

New Business:

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON:

Resolution 2009-4 approving budget amendment:  Jeff Christianson motioned, Bryan Lovell seconded to approve the budget amendments as published.  Roll call: Ayes:  Beck, Brown, Christianson, Barnhart, and Lovell.  Nays:  None.  Resolution 2009-4 adopted.

 

Proclaim May 20 as Poppy Day:  Bryan Lovell motioned, Jeff Christianson seconded to approve the proclamation for Poppy Day.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Ambulance Billing Policy:  Mayor Furry provided information he received from the city attorney as a response to the question on “Is it permissible for the City of Mechanicsville to charge preferential rates to a special class of persons which is lower than the rate charged for the same service to the general public?”  The response being as a general rule as a matter of public policy, a universal rate should be applied and charged to any individual receiving the benefit of the same service.  This rule would apply to persons regardless of their status as an employee or quasi-employee for the City of Mechanicsville.  For example, should a person in such capacity be charged a reduced rate for water service, sewer service, or garbage pickup?  If not, then should an employee or quasi-employee receive a lower rate when utilize other services such as fire calls or ambulance service?  Applying this rationale, the answer appear to be NO.  A committee of Gene Brown, Bryan Lovell, Sherie Paup, Connie Knutsen, and Lonni Koch was appointed to review the information in more detail.

 

Liquor license & postponement of event:  Bryan Lovell motioned, Larry Beck seconded to approve the change of date for the Post Prom Committee fund raiser and the license to be issued for April 17, 2009.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Ordinance 22.05 P & Z Commission duties:  Carla Barnhart motioned, Gene Brown seconded to forward the preliminary plans for the Safe Route to School sidewalk plans and the plans for replacing the existing tennis courts with 1 tennis court and an area for skateboarding to the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Apply dust control on approx. 1200 feet:  Two proposals were received and a motion was made by Larry Beck, seconded by Gene Brown to approve the lowest bid for applying calcium chloride from Binns and Stevens at a total cost of $1066 for two applications.  Ayes all.  Motion carried.

 

Inquiry about skateboarding on old tennis court-signage:  Council directed Zerbe to remove the sign as there was no ordinance to support enforcing the sign. 

 

Tuckpointing or repair of Memorial Building West Entrance:  Council was made aware of deteriorating squares at the West Entrance.  Zerbe has contacted a vendor from Vinton to provide a proposal for repairing.

 

Resolution Setting the salaries for fiscal year 2010:  Tabled.

 

Committee Reports:  None

 

Correspondence: was received from the City of Clive, Cedar County Engineer/State bid for salt which was sent back indicating a desire for 25 ton; information on the Small City Workshop and the 2009 City Candidates Guide. 

 

Set next regular meeting date: 5-11-09 

 

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 8:23 p.m. Ayes all.  Meeting adjourned.

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________                     _______________________________

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

City Clerk/Finance Officer