City Council Minutes | January 6, 2025

Council Chambers
Monday
January 6, 2025 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, 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.

 

  1. Approve meeting agenda
  2. Approve City Council Minutes of December 16, 2024.
  3. Approve City Claims of $ 236,328.64
  4. Committee as a Whole Minutes December16, 2024
  5. Library Board Minutes of December 11, 2024
  6. Airport Board Minutes December 9, 2024
  7. Park & Rec Minutes of January 2, 2025
  8. Class B Retail License: Dollar General #2397 (Linn Ave) 3-1-2025-Including ownership updates
  9. 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:

 

Committee                               Chair                Committee 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.

Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None.  Motion carried.

 

Appointment of official newspaper

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.

 

 

 

ATTEST: Karen Clemens, City Clerk

Steve Geerts, Mayor