City Council Minutes | December 2, 2019

City Council
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday
December 2, 2019 7:00 pm

 

The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session in the Council Chambers on Monday, December 2, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larsen at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Perkins, Carey, Denner, Diiro and Kuhn. McDonald was absent. Zachary Nosbisch, Jr Mai, Tammy Robinson, Jerry Heying, Cory Hauer with LTD Broadband, Bob Boos, Jay Jurrens, NHCSD Superintendent, Jamie Ohrt and Brandon Hemann with the New Hampton Running Club, Bobby Schwickerath, Brian Quirk and Janine Babcock, representing the NH Telecom Utility, Bob Fenske, several high school students and City Attorney Kevin Kennedy were also present.

Moved by Carey, seconded by Perkins; The agenda be approved as presented. Ayes-Five. Nays-None. Absent – McDonald. Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro; That the minutes of the November 18, 2019 regular Council meeting minutes be approved. Ayes-Five. Nays-None. Absent – McDonald. Motion carried.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Carey; That claims in the amount of $194,740.93 be approved. Ayes-Four. Nays-None. Absent – McDonald. Abstain – Perkins. Motion carried.

7:00 pm Public Hearing
Mayor Larsen announced now is the time and place fixed for the purpose of conducting a public hearing between the City of New Hampton and Five Star Cooperative, in connection with the building a new mill and warehouse, which provides for certain property tax incentives in the form of annual appropriation, incremental property tax payments in a total amount not exceeding $1,192,000, as authorized by Section 403.9 of the Code of Iowa. The Council investigated and found that the notice of hearing had been published according to law and as directed by the Council on the 26th day of November, 2019 in New Hampton in the County of Chickasaw. Mayor Larsen asked for oral comments. There were none. She then asked for written comments. There were none.

There being no further objections or comments, Mayor Larsen declared the hearing closed.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Diiro; That Resolution No. 6416 entitled “A RESOLUTION APPROVING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH FIVE STAR COOPERATIVE, AUTHORIZING ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF TAX INCREMENT PAYMENTS AND PLEDGING CERTAIN TAX INCREMENT REVENUES TO THE PAYMENT OF THE AGREEMENT, be approved. Ayes – Perkins, Carey, Denner, Diiro, Kuhn. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Resolution adopted.

Police Chief Zachary Nosbisch requested that the Council allow additional signage at the crosswalk at the high school. Jay Jurrens, NHCSD Superintendent, also requested additional signage for the safety of students crossing from the north side of Main Street to the school property. Jurrens will purchase a portable sign that will be placed in crosswalk each morning and removed at the end of the school day. A long term solution includes an automated system that will be initiated by a pedestrian by pushing a button to signal vehicle traffic to yield. Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Diiro; To authorize New Hampton Community School District to post a yield sign at the intersection of West Main Street and crosswalk to St. John’s school of religion. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Motion Carried.

Jamie Ohrt, organizer of the New Hampton Running Club has requested approval of her ‘Jingle Jog n’roll’ bike and running route on December 14, 2019 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Moved by Denner, seconded by Carey; That the run and bike route request for the Jingle Jog n’Roll event on December 14, 2019 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm, be approved. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Motion carried.

Cory Hauer with LTD Broadband made a request to the council to install antennas on the top of the city’s water towers to provide wireless internet service for area residents. Cory assured the Council that they would maintain all their equipment, replace all equipment if damaged and would be a cooperative tenant with the City to minimize any damage to the existing city assets. In exchange for the antenna placement, LTD would offer free wireless internet to all city departments (50m/50m) or pay $1200.00 annual rent. New Hampton Municipal Light Plant General Manager Brian Quirk was concerned about the reliability of the wireless service as well as possible damage to the tower structure. Quirk also reminded the council that the Telecom utility is moving forward with its fiber to the home project and plan to be providing service in 10-12 months. Moved by Denner, seconded by Carey; The Council direct City Attorney Kennedy review a draft of the proposed 5 year agreement with LTD Broadband and report back to the Council at the next regular council meeting. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Motion Carried.

Moved by Carey, seconded by Diiro; that the wages for the New Hampton Fire Department for December 2018 through November 2019, be approved. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Motion carried.

The City of New Hampton received a settlement proposal from the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors regarding the funding for the Chickasaw Ambulance Service. Moved by Perkins, Seconded by Carey; That the council go into a closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c), which provides: To discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation. Ayes – Perkins, Carey, Denner, Diiro, Kuhn. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Motion carried.

The Council entered closed session at 7:52 p.m.

The Council resumed open session at 8:13 p.m.

After resuming open session, the Council is not responding to the Chickasaw County Supervisors lawsuit proposal until the City of New Hampton completes its budget process in January/February, 2020.

Moved by Carey, seconded by Perkins; That the Application for Tax Exemption under the City of New Hampton Urban Revitalization Plan for Robert Boos and Chris Jirak, be approved and forwarded to the Chickasaw County Assessor. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Motion Carried.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Carey; That the following be accepted and placed on file:

  1. Annual DNR Water Supply Survey Results dated November 19, 2019
  2. DNR Wastewater Treatment Facility Inspection dated November 20, 2019

Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – McDonald. Motion carried.

Mayor Larsen reminded the Council that presidential candidate Joe Biden will be in New Hampton on Thursday, December 5th, 2019.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Carey; That the meeting adjourn at 8:19 p.m. Ayes- Five. Nays-None. Absent – McDonald. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: KAREN CLEMENS, CMC, City Clerk

DEBRA LARSEN, Mayor