City Council Minutes | December 21, 2020

City Council
VIA ZOOM.COM
Monday
December 21, 2020 7:00 pm

 

The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session on Zoom.com at 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 21, 2020. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwickerath at 7:00 p.m. Council members present via Zoom.com were Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, and Boos. Denner was absent. Also in attendance via Zoom.com were Zach Nosbisch, Tim Angell, Jeremy McGrath, Tammy Robinson, Eric Kuehn, Toby Schwickerath, other citizens and City Attorney Kevin Kennedy.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro; the agenda be approved as presented. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos. Nays – None. Absent –Denner. Motion carried.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Diiro; that the minutes of the December 7, 2020 regular Council meeting, December 11th and 18th, 2020 special council meeting minutes, be approved. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos. Nays – None. Absent –Denner. Motion carried.

Denner arrived at 7:05 p.m.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Boos; that claims in the amount of $208,719.40 be approved. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro; That an Ordinance No.878 entitled AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHOOL STOPS, receives its third and final consideration. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried. Mayor Schwickerath ordered Ordinance #878 duly adopted.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by McDonald; That an Ordinance No 879 entitled AN ORDINANCE REDUCING MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF PARK AND REC COMMISSIONERS, receives its third and final consideration. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried. Mayor Schwickerath ordered Ordinance #879 duly adopted.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Perkins; That an Ordinance No. 880 entitled AN ORDINANCE REVISING GOLF CARTS AND UTILITY VEHICLES, receives its third and final consideration. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried. Mayor Schwickerath ordered Ordinance #880 duly adopted.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Tim Angell has previously submitted his resignation to retire effective January 4, 2021. As a result of staffing issues at the WWTP, Tim has offered to delay his resignation until July 1, 2021. The council shared their appreciation to Tim for assisting with this disruption. Moved by McDonald, seconded by Perkins; That the resignation of Tim Angell, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent be delayed until July 1, 2021, be approved. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

As a result of a meeting including Jerry Heying, Tim Angell, Mayor Schwickerath, Bruce Diiro and Mark Hubbard, Union Representative, Jerry Heying is not assuming the WWTP Grade 4 responsibilities. The Council needs to rescind the action taken at the December 7, 2020 city council meeting. Moved by Denner, Seconded by Perkins,; That the action approved at the December 7, 2020 City Council meeting allowing a $2.00 per hour wage increase for Jerry Heying be rescinded immediately, be approved. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

Toby Schwickerath, New Hampton Fire Department Chief, requested approval to take bids and sell the 1982 GMC Tanker, accepting bids through January 15th, 2021. Boos offered to assist in advertising the sale. Schwickerath is also requesting to keep the proceeds from the sale for his current year budget. Moved by Diiro ; seconded by Boos; that Fire Chief Toby Schwickerath be allowed to solicit bids for the sale of the old tanker and apply the proceeds of the sale to his 20/21 budget, be approved. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

The Council needed to discuss the possible termination of membership in the Chickasaw County Ambulance Council 28E Agreement. Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Perkins; 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- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

The Council entered closed session at 7:27 p.m.

The Council resumed open session at 7:55 p.m.

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Kuhn; That the Council approve the Notice of Intent to Terminate Membership in the Chickasaw County Ambulance Council and direct Mayor Schwickerath to sign the notice, be approved. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

Fund Received Disbursed
GENERAL $43,812.90 $134,782.82
ROAD USE TAX $44,469.41 $25,947.96
SPECIAL REV/EMPLOYEE BEN $13,923.56 $21,923.36
LOCAL OPTION TAX $111,443.39 $0.00
HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX $10,826.81 $0.00
HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX CAP RES $3,608.94 $0.00
TIF- INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL $13,524.95 $0.00
DEBT SERVICE $4,079.23 $0.00
LIBRARY SPECIAL PROJECTS $99.57 $242.35
SWIMMING POOL RENOVATION $0.00 $0.00
COMM CENTER RENOVATION $0.00 $380.00
CAPITAL PROJECTS $2,992.50 $14,749.07
WATER UTILITY $23,651.73 $16,047.77
SEWER UTILITY $48,452.36 $51,924.25
SOLID WASTE $9,428.86 $11,727.81
CAPITAL PROJECTS-WATER $13.00 $0.00
CAPITAL PROJECTS-SANITARY SR $13.00 $0.00
CUSTOMER DEPOSITS $3,091.00 $1,961.00
TRUST & AGENCY $52.00 $0.00
TOTAL $333,483.21 $279,686.39

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro ; That the Finance Reports for November, 2020 be approved. Ayes – Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Boos; That the following minutes be accepted and placed on file, Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

  1. Street Committee Minutes of December 7, 2020
  2. Park & Rec Minutes of December 9, 2020
  3. Cemetery Board Minutes of December 1, 2020

Mayor Schwickerath and the council thanked Councilman Matt Kuhn for serving on the City Council and wished him the best as he begins his position as a member of the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors. Kuhn was elected in 2017 and served three years.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Perkins; that the meeting adjourn at 7:59 p.m. Ayes- Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner. Nays – None. Absent –None. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: KAREN CLEMENS, City Clerk

ROBERT SCHWICKERATH, Mayor