City Council Minutes | February 21, 2022

City Council
Council Chambers
Monday
February 21, 2022 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, February 21, 2022. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwickerath at 7:02 p.m. Council members present were Fisher, Humpal, McDonald, Boos, Daly, Denner. Also in attendance were Casey Mai, Tammy Robinson, Bob Fenske, City Attorney Todd Prichard, Chad Humpal, Eric Kuehn, several high school students and Jeremy McGrath.

Moved by Daly, seconded by Fisher; That the agenda be approved as presented. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Denner; That the minutes of the regular council meeting of February 7, 2022, be approved. Ayes – Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Boos, seconded by McDonald; That the claims in the amount of $38,308.25 be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

7:00 PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAX LEVY RESOLUTION
Mayor Schwickerath announced now is the time and place fixed for the public hearing on the proposed Maximum Property Tax Dollars Levy proposed for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023. The Council investigated and found that the time and the place of the hearing had in accordance with the law and as directed by the City Council been published in the New Hampton Tribune on the 10th day of February 2022 in New Hampton in the County of Chickasaw. Mayor Schwickerath asked for oral comments. There were none. Mayor Schwickerath asked for written comments. There were none.

Mayor Schwickerath declared the hearing closed.

Moved by McDonald seconded by Fisher; That Resolution No. 6499 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MAXIMUM TAX DOLLARS FROM CERTAIN LEVIES FOR THE CITY’S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 BUDGET, be approved.
Ayes – Fisher, Humpal, McDonald, Boos, Daly, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.

City Clerk Karen Clemens requested the council to set a public hearing for the Fiscal Year Budget for 2022/2023. This is the second of two public hearings for the 22/23 budget. Moved by Denner, seconded by Daly; That Resolution No. 6500 A RESOLUTION SETTING DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 7, 2022 FOR THE FY2022-2023 BUDGET, be approved. Ayes – Fisher, Humpal, McDonald, Boos, Daly, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.

Public Works Director Mai is requesting to solicit bids for a new truck for the street department. The 2008 Ford transmission went out in the truck and reverse no longer works. Moved by Boos, seconded by McDonald; That the Street Department solicit bids for a new truck, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Chickasaw County Sheriff Deputy, Jordan Gansen is requesting a home occupation permit for a Federal Firearms License. The Zoning Ordinance requires City Council approval before a permit is issued. A notification letter was mailed to the property owners who reside within 200’ of Gansen’s home. Moved by Denner, seconded by Boos; That the Home Occupation Permit for Jordan Gansen at 914 East Spring Street, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

The organization ‘Their Fight is our Fight’ is requesting to host on 5K route on Friday April 29th at from 6:00 – 7:15 pm. Moved by Denner, seconded by Fisher; That the organization ‘Their Fight is our Fight’ 5k route on April 29th, 2022, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Public Works Director Casey Mai shared with the Council that Eric Kuehn, current Street Department Superintendent, is in the process of taking his wastewater operators test(s). Eric has already passed his Grade I and is working on his Grade II. Upon completion of his Grade II, he will then work under Chris Even for two years before coming eligible to take his Grade III and IV test. Mai believes he is warranted a pay raise after completion of each “Grade”. This crossover position of doing both Street Superintendent and Wastewater Operations is a hybrid position until Eric would transition into a full-time Wastewater Superintendent role upon certification of Grade IV Operators license. Moved by McDonald, seconded by Boos; To schedule a Finance Committee meeting to discuss wage increases for Eric Kuehn for his completed wastewater certifications for March 7, 2022 at 6:00 pm. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Denner, seconded by Fisher; That the Liquor Licenses for Locker Room, LLC #LC0046904, Rancho Viejo Mexican Restaurant LC0040761, New Josies, LLC #LC0041464, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

CODE FUND RECEIVED DISBURSED

001 GENERAL $47,606.35 $126,325.66
110 ROAD USE TAX $40,128.85 $31,809.59
112 SPECIAL REV/EMPLOYEE BEN $3,523.16 $43,901.41
121 LOCAL OPTION TAX $43,531.07 $0.00
125 TIF- INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL $1,591.53 $0.00
180 SPECIAL REVENUE- GRANTS $55.00 $0.00
200 DEBT SERVICE $1,169.24 $0.00
301 LIBRARY SPECIAL PROJECTS $145.50 $0.00
330 ROADS CAPITAL PROJECTS $8,197.49 $15.00
340 STORMWATER CAPITAL PROJECTS $4,797.82 $7.50
390 CAPITAL PROJECTS $27,210.89 $37,031.43
600 WATER UTILITY $57,456.62 $25,076.34
610 SEWER UTILITY $61,602.22 $59,227.75
620 WASTEWATER PROJECT $1,965.00 $0.00
670 SOLID WASTE $11,022.59 $23,180.15
751 CAPITAL PROJECTS-WATER $4,035.37 $7.50
752 CAPITAL PROJECTS-SEWER $4,046.48 $7.50
790 CUSTOMER DEPOSITS $437.00 $2,154.00
950 TRUST & AGENCY $44.00 $0.00
TOTAL $318,566.18 $348,743.83

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Daly; That the Finance reports for January 2022 be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Mayor Bobby Schwickerath updated the council with an ambulance update. SafeTech Solutions, the company conducting the feasibility study for the Chickasaw Ambulance Council, is conducting interviews March 21 & 22nd in New Hampton. The ambulance council will hopefully receive the results of the study before August 2022. Chickasaw Ambulance Service owner, Jeremy McGrath, shared his thoughts on the future of ambulance service in Chickasaw County and the financing options that could be implemented.

Moved by Denner, seconded by Daly; That the following minutes and correspondence be accepted and place on file. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Department head Meeting Minutes February 8, 2022
Library Minutes of February 1, 2022
Committee As A Whole of February 7, 2022

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Fisher; that the meeting adjourn at 7:42 p.m. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: Karen Clemens, City Clerk

Robert Schwickerath, Mayor