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, January 6, 2025. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Geerts at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Fisher, Humpal, Larsen, Porath, Speltz and Denner. Also in attendance were Conrad Rosendahl, Casey Mai, Tammy Robinson, Kyle Anderson and several NHHS students.
Approve meeting agenda
Approve City Council Minutes of December 16, 2024.
Approve City Claims of $ 236,328.64
Committee as a Whole Minutes December16, 2024
Library Board Minutes of December 11, 2024
Airport Board Minutes December 9, 2024
Park & Rec Minutes of January 2, 2025
Class B Retail License: Dollar General #2397 (Linn Ave) 3-1-2025-Including ownership updates
Appoint Jacob Hackman to the Planning & Zoning Commission – term expiring 7-1-29.
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Speltz; that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Resolution setting guidelines for Council meetings
Moved by Porath, seconded by Speltz; That Resolution No. 6697 A RESOLUTION SETTING GUIDELINES FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS (as follows), be approved:
All regular Council meetings shall be held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. as set by City Code, and if such day shall fall on a legal holiday, identified as Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding day at the same time unless a different day or time is determined by the council. The conduct of all regular and special meetings of the Council shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order and the City of New Hampton Code of Conduct. Special meetings of the City Council may be called by the Mayor of the City at any time, as stated in the City Code, with notice in compliance with the open meetings law, and said special meeting shall take up, consider, and act upon any such business as the Mayor shall place on the agenda subject to Council approval. Any business to be transacted at any regular Council meeting shall be in the hands of the City Clerk by 4:30 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the Council meeting. The Mayor sets up the agenda for the City Clerk to prepare and post to the City of New Hampton website on the Friday prior to the meeting. Emergency items shall be in the hands of the City Clerk by Friday at 10:00 a.m. Ayes – Fisher, Humpal, Larsen, Porath, Speltz, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Setting order for roll call
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Humpal; That the order for roll call vote shall be as follows: the first meeting shall be alphabetical and thereafter each meeting the roll call vote shall be rotated so that the first vote becomes the last and the rest remain alphabetical. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Approving City Attorney
Mayor Geerts would like to appoint Todd Prichard as City Attorney for a term of two (2) years. Moved by Porath, seconded by Fisher; That Resolution No. 6698 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING TODD PRICHARD AS CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF NEW HAMPTON WITH A MONTHLY SALARY OF $3,318.00, be approved. Ayes – Fisher, Humpal, Larsen, Porath, Speltz, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Voting procedures and abstaining votes
City Attorney Todd Prichard reminded the council of the importance of being mindful of a possible quorum in social settings, either in person or by electronic means; supported the Code of Conduct policy for elected officials and also explained a conflict of interest as it relates to a councilmember.
Appointment of Mayor Pro-tem
Mayor appointed Larsen as Mayor Pro-tem and asked for council approval. Moved by Denner, seconded by Speltz; That Mayor Geerts appointment of Larsen as Mayor Pro-tem be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Appointment of Standing Committees
Mayor Geerts appointed the following Standing Committees and asked for Council approval:
CommitteeChairCommittee Members
Finance Humpal Porath Larsen
Street and Sanitation Denner Speltz Larsen
Wastewater Denner Fisher Porath
Water Fisher Denner Speltz
Safety Larsen Police Chief, Casey Mai, Fire Chief
Hotel/Motel Humpal
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Humpal; That the Mayor’s appointments to the Standing Committees be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Designating Signatures for Community Development Block Grants and Economic Development Grants
Moved by Speltz, seconded by Porath; That Resolution No. 6699 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SIGNATURES FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION GRANTS (Steve Geerts, Mayor, and in his absence, Larsen Mayor Pro-tem), be approved. Ayes – Fisher, Humpal, Larsen, Porath, Speltz, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
Mayor’s Appointments
Mayor Geerts made the following appointments and asked for Council approval:
City Clerk – Karen Clemens
Chief of Police – Conrad Rosendahl
Public Works Director – Casey Mai
Zoning Administrators – Casey Mai and Karen Clemens
Moved by Denner, seconded by Larsen; That the Mayor’s appointments be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Mayor’s appointments to Community Boards
Mayor Geerts made the following appointments and asked for Council approval:
Floyd-Mitchell-Chickasaw Solid Waste Agency – Mayor Geerts, Clemens -alternate
Economic Development Advisory Board–Mayor Geerts, Humpal, Clemens alter.
Communication Commission – Mayor Geerts, Police Chief Rosendahl
E-911 Board – Mayor Geerts, Police Chief Rosendahl
Emergency Management Board – Mayor Geerts, Police Chief Conrad Rosendahl
INRCOG Voting Officials:
Regional Transit Commission (Buses) – Mayor or Council
Regional Transit Authority Technical Board (Streets, Road, Trails Bridges) – Mayor or Council
Regional Transit Authority Policy Board – Mayor or Council
Housing Council – Tammy Robinson
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Speltz; that the Mayor’s appointments be approved.
Moved by Porath, seconded by Speltz; That the New Hampton Tribune be named the official newspaper for the publication of Council proceedings and notices. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Appointment of City Engineer
Moved by Larsen, seconded by Speltz; To appoint SEH Engineering and Strand Associates as the engineering firms for City Subdivision review and storm water management review and all other City engineering business will be done on a project by project basis. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.
Setting Mileage Reimbursement Rate
Moved by Fisher, seconded by Denner; that Resolution No. 6700 A RESOLUTION SETTING THE MILEAGE RATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR 2025 AT $0.70 be approved. Ayes – Fisher, Humpal, Larsen, Porath, Speltz, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
As a result of the meeting of the Committee as a Whole held at 5:30 pm January 6, 2025, the Council is recommending city staff to contact finance and legal representation to issue debt for a municipal corporate purpose. Moved by Speltz, seconded by Porath; That Resolution #6701 A RESOLUTION TO DIRECT CITY STAFF TO INITIATE THE PROCEEDINGS WITH FINANCIAL & LEGAL COUNCIL TO ISSUE DEBT FOR A MUNICIPAL CORPORATE PURPOSE. Ayes – Fisher, Humpal, Larsen, Porath, Speltz, Denner. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.
PWD Casey Mai discussed a request he received regarding the possible purchase of city property. This will be discussed in more detail at the next city council meeting.
Councilmember Humpal requested to continue to the discussion of pedestrian safety and the organization of a committee to review, plan and implement possible changes. Mayor Geerts will organize a committee.
Moved by Porath, seconded by Larsen; that the meeting adjourn at 7:29 pm. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.