ELY CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

FEBRUARY 13, 2006

 

Mayor Dale Stanek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Council members present:  Mark Banowetz, Kevin Meskimen, John Smith, Kris Tharp and Tom Winkowski. Guests included:  Jim Miller, Marie Miller, Dan Schmidt, Ron Andreatta and Dennis Carmer.  Deputy Ron Abel of the Linn County Sheriff’s Department also attended.

 

Banowetz, second Meskimen, moved to approve the agenda.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Tharp, second by Smith, moved to approve the minutes of the following City Council meetings: January 9, 2006 regular meeting, January 4 and January 23, 2006 workshop meetings, as presented.  Motion carried - 5 to 0.

 

Banowetz, second by Meskimen, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the periods ended December 31, 2005 and January 31, 2006.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Treasurer’s Report (summary) for the January 1 through 31, 2006

 

Receipts

Disbursements

Ending Balance

General

16,134.32

41,737.75

151,257.41

Road Use

7,122.32

10,065.93

-8,331.58

TIF Fund

1,203.69

 

328,758.72

Debt Service

312.72

 

9,366.30

Other Projects

 

 

150,311.39

Library Project

 

 

3,169.70

Water Utility

12,294.00

7,325.18

67,937.67

Water/Sewer Reserve

 

 

25,000.00

Sewer Utility

15,616.86

21,178.68

115,852.46

Sanitary Utility

6,067.38

401.40

86,845.21

PR Clearing

4,493.71

4,125.27

2,248.32

 

63,245.00

84,834.21

905,415.60

 

Meskimen, second by Winkowski, moved to approve payment of bills listed for February 2006, except the bill for architectural services from David Dicken pending review of the contract and clarification of fees due. Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Communications:

The City Council received the following communications:

Minutes of the January 18, 2006 Plan and Zoning Commission meeting.

 

Citizen Requests.  Jim Miller asked when the senior meals program would return to the Ely Community Center.  Mayor Stanek stated the building would be ready for them to return as soon as the kitchen passed inspection by the Linn County Health Department.

 

Storm Sewer Ordinance/Connection of Garage Floor Drains to City Storm Sewer Mains.  The City Council reviewed information regarding the practice of connecting a floor drain in a residential garage to a City storm sewer main.  Meskimen, second by Banowetz, moved that floor drains are not to be connected to sanitary sewer mains or storm sewer mains in the City of Ely.  Motion carried – 5 to 0. 

 

Discuss Connection Fees and Other User Fees.  The City Council reviewed information regarding the cost of constructing infrastructure capacity for water and sanitary sewer, and directed the Clerk/Administrator to research what other cities in the area charge for similar access, trunk and connection fees.

 

Ely City Park.  The City Council discussed whether to continue allowing the Ely City Park to be used for crop production, or if the City should plant grass seed and other groundcover to facilitate the park’s use and development.  Meskimen, second by Tharp, moved to plant grass seed at Ely City Park, and barricade Hillcrest to prevent vehicles from entering the property.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Schedule Public Hearing re: Request for Annexation and Zoning, Duane and Connie Kunkel.  Meskimen, second by Smith, moved to schedule a public hearing regarding a request from Duane and Connie Kunkel to annex a roughly 21.98 acre parcel of land and designate it as an R-2 Zoning District for 7:00 p.m., Monday March 13, 2006.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Schedule Public Hearing re: Request to Vacate Portions of Right-of-Way – Meadowbrook Subdivision, Residential Solutions LLC/Jack & Paul Stewart.  Clerk/Administrator Anderson reported Paul and Jack Stewart, of Residential Solutions LLC, have requested the City vacate previously unidentified right of way along the former alignment of Rogers Creek Road, and a portion of right of way on the east side of Jappa Road, and have requested a public hearing be scheduled regarding that request pursuant to State Code.  The City Council discussed this matter, including the need to make sure the request accurately describes the land in question, and the importance of making sure the City does not vacate right of way that is needed, or expected to be needed, in the future.  The Council directed Anderson to have the survey information verified by the City’s engineer/surveyor and report at the March meeting.

 

Authorize Soliciting Proposals to Conduct Financial Audit for FY 05-06.  Kevin Meskimen discussed his request that the City have a financial audit performed at the end of fiscal year 2005-06 with the City Council.  Meskimen, second by Tharp, moved to solicit proposals to conduct a financial audit for all of fiscal year 2005-06.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Revision of Animal Control Ordinance regarding Pit-Bull Dogs and other Dangerous Breeds of Dog.  The City Council reviewed and discussed provisions related to pit-bull dogs and other dangerous breeds of dog in Ely’s animal control ordinance.  Items discussed include concern that the ordinance is too breed specific, and that the ordinance does not include provisions for dealing with dogs that exhibit menacing behavior.  The Council directed the Clerk/Administrator to research this matter further and report at the March meeting.

 

Resolution No. 06-0213-02, Establishing Procedures for Expenditures of the City of Ely.  Resolution No. 06-0213-02 would establish policies for approval of purchases by city employees and volunteers, require purchase orders and similar procedures.  The City Council discussed the policy set out in the proposed resolution, including the dollar amount at which prior City Council approval would be required and provisions for emergency situations.  Tharp, second by Meskimen, moved to table Resolution No. 06-0213-02 until the April 10, 2006 meeting.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Schedule Public Hearing re: Proposed FY 06-07 Budget and Property Tax Levy.  Tharp, second by Smith, moved to schedule a public hearing regarding the proposed 20067-07 budget and property tax levy for 7:00 p.m., Monday March 13, 2006.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Payment Request No. 6, Septagon Construction – Community Center/City Hall Remodeling Project.  Smith, second by Banowetz, moved to approve Payment Request Number 6 in the amount of $35,516.00 00 under the City’s contract with Septagon Construction for the Community Center/City Hall Remodeling Project.  Motion carried – 3 to 2; Banowetz, Smith and Winkowski in favor, Meskimen and Tharp opposed.

 

Schedule Public Hearing re: Proposed Amendments to the Text of the Ely Zoning Ordinance.  Clerk/Administrator Anderson reported the Plan and Zoning Commission has forwarded an ordinance containing revisions to the Ely Zoning Ordinance regarding Mobile Home Parks and standards for granting a variance for consideration by the City Council.  Tharp, second by Winkowski, moved to schedule a public hearing regarding a proposed ordinance to revise the text of the Zoning Ordinance for 7:00 p.m., Monday March 13, 2006.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Resolution No. 06-0213-03, Declaring An Official Intent Under Treasury Regulation 1.150-2 to Issue Debt to Reimburse the City for Certain Original Expenditures Paid In Connection with Specified Projects.  This resolution would allow the City to recover current cash payments made for capital projects by including the amount in any bond or debt issued to pay the total cost of the project.  Meskimen, second by Smith, moved to approve Resolution No. 06-0213-03.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Resolution No. 06-0213-04, Authorizing Application to Iowa Finance Authority for No Interest Loan for Predevelopment Costs for Wastewater Treatment Plant Project.  This resolution would authorize an application to the Iowa Finance Authority for a no-interest loan to pay engineering and other pre-construction costs for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade/ Construction project.  Meskimen, second by Smith, moved to approve Resolution No. 06-0213-04.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Resolution No. 06-0213-05, Approving Revised Contract for Engineering Services for the State Street Bridge Project – Shive-Hattery Engineering.  This resolution would approve revised contracts for engineering services for the State Street Bridge project as needed to comply with IDOT standards, with no change to the total cost for the services to be provided.  Tharp, second by Winkowski, moved to approve Resolution No. 06-0213-05.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Resignation from Board of Adjustment – Tom Winkowski.  Clerk/Administrator Anderson reported Tom Winkowski had resigned from the Board of Adjustment due to being elected to the City Council.  Tharp, second by Banowetz, moved to accept Tom Winkowski’s resignation from the Board of Adjustment.  Motion carried – 4 to 0, Winkowski not voting.

 

Appointments to City Boards and Commissions.  Meskimen, second by Tharp, moved to approve the following appointments:

Don Sturgeon – Board of Adjustment

Ganu Suresh – Park Board.

Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Approve Performance Review – Aaron Anderson, Clerk/Administrator.  Mayor Stanek and the City Council discussed the six-month review of the performance of Clerk/Administrator Aaron Anderson.  Tharp, second by Meskimen, moved to approve the six-month performance review of Clerk/Administrator Aaron Anderson, and approving salary of $40,500.00 per year.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.

 

Discussion Items.  None

 

Tharp, second by Winkowski, moved to adjourn.  Motion carried – 5 to 0.  The meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                            

                                                          Dale Stanek, Mayor

 

Attest:

 

 

                                               

Aaron Anderson, Clerk/Administrator