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ELY CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

February 14, 2005

 

Meeting called to order at 7:04 pm by Mayor Dale Stanek.  Present: Don Sturgeon, Kevin Meskimen, Mark Banowetz, John Smith and Kris Tharp.  Guests:  Jim Miller, Marie Miller, Linn County Deputy Sheriff, Steve Van Note, Donn Haase, Marie Haase, Millicent Cozzie and Gary Whittom.

 

Motion by Sturgeon, seconded by Smith, to approve agenda as submitted.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by Tharp, seconded by Sturgeon, to approve minutes of January 10 and February 1, 2005 minutes as submitted with the stipulation that the motion in the 1-10-05 minutes regarding the library renovations made by Meskimen read only that the Council has concern with the lack of a heating source in the area being remodeled.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by Sturgeon, seconded by Smith, to approve payment of bills as submitted.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by Meskimen, seconded by Sturgeon, to accept the January Treasurer’s report and place it on file.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Correspondence was noted.  Minutes of the 12-15-04 & 1-26-05 Plan & Zoning Commission  along with miscellaneous correspondence was included.  Council directed City Clerk to ask the Plan & Zoning Commission about why they want to change nursing home to care facility in the zoning code.   

 

Mayor Stanek asked Donn & Marie Haase, representatives of the Meadowland Park Owner’s Association about the letter submitted concerning the excess snow that is being deposited into yards on Comisky Court from the owners at 1825 & 1845 State St. respectively.  The Haases state that the excess snow causes drainage problems and that gravel and debris are also being dumped into the yards along Comisky Court .  Council directed the City Clerk to send letters to the residences at 1825 & 1845 State St. regarding this issue.

 

Linn County Deputy Sheriff presented Sheriff’s Log for January.  Deputy stated that the Sheriff’s office had spent 1314 hours in 2004 versus the 1044 hours required by the contract.  Deputy stated that the City continues to have a low crime rate in response to a question from the Council.

 

Resolution To Engage Linn County To Provide Construction Inspection Services For The City Of Ely

Council discussed the proposed 28E agreement with Linn County to provide inspection services.  Building Official Steve Van Note answered several questions from the Council regarding scope and cost to the City for the inspections.  The City will continue to review housing plans and issue the building permits.  It was reiterated that the inspections will be for new dwellings only.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 05-0214-02:  Resolved by Sturgeon, seconded by Tharp, to approve a 28E Agreement with Linn County for new dwelling construction inspection services.

 

AYE:  Sturgeon, Banowetz, Meskimen, Tharp, Smith

NAY:  none

ABSENT:  none

Resolution adopted. 

 

Amendment To Dwelling Construction Code Ordinance-First Reading

Discussion was held regarding the need to update the City’s residential construction code ordinance.  The present code dates back to 1997 and is no longer available.

 

Motion by Sturgeon, seconded by Meskimen, to place Ordinance No. 178 on first reading by title only and to place on next month’s agenda.  Motion carried.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 178:  AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TITLE VI PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT TO THE REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE FOR ONE AND TWO FAMILY DWELLINGS, 2003 EDITION.  

 

Request By Meadowland Park Owner’s Association To Connect Water Drainage Pipe To The Existing Storm Sewer Pipe Located On Northgate Drive

Donn and Marie Haase representing the Meadowland Park Owner’s Association requested that the Association be allowed to connect a drainage pipe to an existing intake on Northgate Dr. to allow for drainage of land along Comisky Court .  The Ely City Engineer has indicated that the method of connecting the pipe to the existing intake is acceptable.

 

Motion by Tharp, seconded by Sturgeon, to allow Meadowland Park Owner’s Association to connect a water drainage pipe to the existing storm sewer pipe along Northgate Dr.  Motion carried. 

 

Water Retention Ordinance-Second Reading

 

Motion by Sturgeon, seconded by Meskimen, to waive second and third readings of Ordinance No. 177 and to adopt Ordinance No. 177.  Motion carried.

 

AYE:  Sturgeon, Banowetz, Meskimen, Tharp, Smith

NAY:  none

ABSENT:  none

Ordinance No. 177 adopted. 

 

ORDINANCE NO. 177:  AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FOR ALL NEW SUBDIVISIONS AND RE-SUBDIVISIONS OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS LARGER THAT 3 ACRES IN SIZE AND FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS LARGER THAN 3 ACRES IN SIZE.  

 

Board Of Adjustment Appointment-Matt Sedrel

 

Motion by Sturgeon, seconded by Tharp, to appoint Matt Sedrel to the Board of Adjustment.  Motion carried.

 

Resolution To Assess Property Taxes On Property At 1370 North Drive In Ely

Council discussed assessing the property owner for the costs of installing a sidewalk and the associated dirt work at 1370 North Dr .

 

RESOLUTION NO. 05-0214-03:  Resolved by Meskimen, seconded by Sturgeon, to file an assessment of all costs with the Linn County Treasurer associated with the installation of a sidewalk at 1370 North Drive in Ely , Iowa .

 

AYE:  Sturgeon, Banowetz, Meskimen, Tharp, Smith

NAY:  none

ABSENT:  none

Resolution adopted. 

 

Repairs To Sewer Main On Community Center Grounds

Council discussed the problems with the backup of the sewer that runs underneath Rowley St. and the Community Center.  Gary Whittom said there is a possible break in the sewer and it needs dug up to determine where the problem is. 

 

Motion by Smith, seconded by Sturgeon, to dig up the Community Center sewer main and repair the problems found.  Motion carried.

 

Motion To Set Date On Public Hearing For FY05/06 Budget

Council agreed to have a budget meeting on Monday February 21, 2005 at 5:30 pm .

 

Motion by Sturgeon, seconded by Banowetz, to set public hearing on FY05/06 budget at the next regular City Council meeting on March 14, 2005 .  Motion carried.

 

Jim Miller asked that City vacate portions of alleys located next to property owned by him and others along Dows and Poplar Streets.  A legal description of this land will need to be found before the City can vacate.  The City Clerk will attempt to locate a legal description but the property may need to be surveyed.

 

 Kris Tharp said that she has water in her basement.  She said that the rock dams placed along the drainage ditch in the new City Park are causing the water to pool and run onto her property.

 

Motion by Tharp, seconded by Sturgeon, to adjourn.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned 8:15 pm .

                    

                                                                        __________________________________

                                                                        Dale Stanek, Mayor

 

ATTEST: ___________________________ 

                S. D. Kurtz, City Clerk

 

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