City Council Minutes | April 5, 2021

COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday
April 5, 2021 7:00 pm

 

The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session in the Council Chambers at 112 East Spring Street, New Hampton Iowa at 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 5, 2021.The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwickerath at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were, Boos, Denner, Diiro, Fisher, McDonald, Perkins.  Also in attendance were Zach Nosbisch, Casey Mai, Tammy Robinson, Bob Fenske, Matt Kuhn, Rick Kramer, Jason Speltz and City Attorney Kevin Kennedy.

Moved by Boos, seconded by Perkins; that the agenda be approved as presented. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent–None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Fisher; That the minutes of the regular council meeting of March 15, 2021, be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent–None.  Motion carried.

Perkins request to table the payment of $7,295.70, to Chickasaw County, for the ambulance council funding until this issue is discussed later in the meeting.  Moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald; that claims in the amount of $314,474.50, be approved.  Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent–None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Boos; That an ordinance entitled AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEWER AND WATER RATES AND PROVIDING FOR A INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FEE, receive its first consideration.  Ayes – Boos, Denner, Diiro, Fisher, McDonald, Perkins.  Nays – None.  Absent – None.  The proposed ordinance will be on the next regular council meeting agenda for its second consideration.

Casey Mai, Public Works Director, shared with the council that he is in discussions with a potential candidate for the Grade 4 position at the WWTP.  Mai will keep the council updated on the continued discussions.  Tim Angell has informed Mai that his last working day will be May 31, 2021.  Mai is also requesting permission to pursue Iowa Municipal Solutions and/or Peoples Services, Inc. to provide Grade 4 expertise for our WWTP while we are actively looking for a new candidate.  The council encouraged Mai to look for short term solutions/contracts.  Moved by McDonald, seconded by Boos; That Public Works Director Casey Mai contact service companied who specialize in providing staff who are certified in water and wastewater with the State of Iowa and request bids from these companies, be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent–None.  Motion carried.

Mayor Schwickerath updated the council on the most recent Chickasaw Ambulance Council (CAC) action.  The CAC recently agreed to pay Chickasaw Ambulance Service a $15,000 annual fee for rental of garage space owned by Jeremy and Lacey McGrath.  A portion of the $25,000 seed money that each Chickasaw County municipality is contributing to the CAC is going to be used to pay the garage space rental fee.  The CAC is also starting the Request for Proposals (RFP) process.  Perkins questioned that the intent of the $25,000 was to be used for consulting and attorney fees in developing an appropriate RFP. After a lengthy and contentious discussion, it was moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald; To table the payment of $7,295.70 to the Chickasaw County Auditor until the CAC determines how the $25,000 will be spent.  Ayes – Six.  Nays – None.  Absent – None.  Motion carried.

City attorney Kevin Kennedy presented an Amended Recreation Trail Easement with Vern and Jean Laures.  When the survey work for the property on West Milwaukee that Vern and Jean Laures own was completed, it was discovered that the trail in that area was actually located in a slightly different area from that which was described on the original 2005 easement.  Moved by Denner, seconded by Boos; To approve the Amended Recreational Trail easement between Vernon M. Laures Revocable Trust and Jean A. Laures Revocable Trust and the City of New Hampton, be approved.  Ayes – Six. Nays-None.  Absent – None. Motion carried.

City Clerk Clemens presented a FEMA Project Completion and Certification Report which will finalize the funds received from FEMA for the COVID19 disaster.  Moved by Denner, seconded by Diiro; To direct Mayor Bobby Schwickerath to sign the Certification of the FEMA Project Completion and Certification Report for disaster #4483, be approved.  Ayes – Six. Nays-None.  Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Perkins; That the request of the Chamber of Commerce to close North Walnut Ave from Main street, north to the alley, on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, be approved.  Ayes – Six. Nays-None.  Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Boos, seconded by Denner; That the request of the Cotton Market to close North Locust Ave from Main Street, north to the alley, on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, be approved.  Ayes – Six. Nays-None.  Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Denner, seconded by Fisher; To approve the liquor license #LE0003072 and approval of the Board of Directors for Casey’s General Store #1416 at 615 North Linn and liquor license # BW0093169 for Lucky Bamboo Chinese Restaurant at 5 East Main Street, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays-None.  Absent – None. Motion carried.

City Attorney Kevin Kennedy reported on the Board of Adjustment hearing held at 5:30 pm for Eugene Voss.  The board allowed Voss to build a deck on the front of his house to accommodate a handicap ramp and additional space.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by McDonald; that the following minutes and correspondence be accepted and place on file.

Committee as a Whole Minutes of March 15, 2021; Ayes – Six. Nays-None.  Absent – None. Motion carried.

Public Works Director Mai updated that council that he had received notice that the City of New Hampton has been approved for $1,300,000 from the State Revolving (Loan) Fund for the design and planning costs for the WWTP project.  This is a three year, zero percent interest loan.  Mai will continue the discussions with Fox Engineering in developing the plans and specs.

Moved by Denner, seconded by Diiro; that the meeting adjourn at 7:40 p.m. Ayes – Six. Nays-None.  Absent – None. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: KAREN CLEMENS, City Clerk

ROBERT SCHWICKERATH, Mayor