City Council Minutes | March 16, 2020

City Council
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday
March 16, 2020 7:00 pm

 

The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session in the Council Chambers on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwickerath at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Perkins, Denner, Diiro, Kuhn and McDonald. Boos was absent. Zachary Nosbisch, Jr Mai, Tammy Robinson, Tim Angell, Rick Kramer, Jerry Heying, Tom Rassmussen of Bennett Pharmacy and City Attorney Kevin Kennedy were also present.

Mayor Schwickerath announced that the compost curb side pickups are for scheduled for Friday, April 17 and Friday, May 15th.

Mayor Schwickerath requested that the agenda be amended to add an agenda item. As of 10:00 am on Monday, March 16th , Tom Rasmussen with Bennett Pharmacy requested to be on the agenda to implement a drive up service for pharmacy customers. Given the nature of the COVID19 virus, this was considered an emergency which is allowed by Iowa Code Section 21.4. Moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald; The agenda be approved as amended by adding the Bennett Pharmacy request to block off several parking spots for a vehicle drive up lane. Ayes-Five. Nays-None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Denner; That the minutes of the March 2, 2020 regular Council meeting minutes be approved. Ayes-Five. Nays-None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by McDonald; That claims in the amount of $127,419.27 be approved. Ayes-Five. Nays-None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

Mayor Schwickerath announced now is the time and place fixed for the public hearing on the proposed City Budget Estimate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021. 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 3rd day of March 2020 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 Perkins, seconded by Diiro; That Resolution No. 6422 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, be approved. Ayes – Perkins, Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald. Nays-None. Absent – Boos. Resolution approved.

At the January 20, 2020 council meeting, the Council approved the request to take bids to have the west water tower painted. The bids were due by 5:00 pm on March 16, 2020. The bids were opened as follows:

Bidder Amount
Pittsburg Tank & Tower Co, Inc $99,280.00
Central Tank Coatings, Inc. $52,000.00
Viking Painting LLC $84,800.00
K&W Coatings, LLC $62,500.00
Maguire Iron Inc. $84,000.00

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Perkins; That the bid from Central Tank Coatings, Inc. in the amount of $52,000.00, for the west water tower painting project, be approved. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald; That Resolution no. 6423 RESOLUTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT NO. 2 TO CROELL INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,179.08 FOR THE TRIBE TRAIL PHASE II PROJECT, be approved. Ayes – Perkins, Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald. Nays – None. Absent – Boos. Resolution approved.

At the November 4, 2019 council meeting, the Chamber of Commerce discussed possible changes to the existing ordinance that allows three foot area for displaying merchandise, signs, chairs, etc. Mayor Schwickerath explained that the Chamber is requesting that the allowable space be increased to 6 feet. Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Denner; That an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MERCHANDISE DISPLAY ON BUSINESS DISTRICT SIDEWALKS“, receive its first consideration. Ayes – Perkins, Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald. Nays-None. Absent-Boos. Motion carried.

Mayor Schwickerath ordered the ordinance change request be placed on the agenda for the next regular council meeting for its second consideration.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald; That the resignation letter of Steve Stalder, police officer, be accepted and placed on file. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

Police Chief Zachary Nosbisch asked for permission to hire a police officer due to the recent resignation. He is not planning on hiring a sergeant but would rather have current officers go through an interview process to determine the sergeant position. Moved by McDonald, seconded by Kuhn; That Police Chief Zachary Nosbisch commence with the hiring process to hire a police officer. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Perkins; That the resignation letter of Dee Boeding from the Board of Adjustment be accepted and placed on file. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

Moved by Denner, seconded by Perkins; That the liquor License application for Blue Iris, BW0095820, be approved. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

 

Fund Received Disbursed
GENERAL $34,314.55 $117,034.61
ROAD USE TAX $44,055.84 $27,562.67
SPECIAL REV/EMPLOYEE BEN $4,426.50 $22,005.61
LOCAL OPTION TAX $28,143.32 $0.00
HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX $0.00 $6,420.00
TIF- INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL $207.80 $0.00
TIF COMM PROJECT $0.00 $6,000.00
SPECIAL REV / GRANTS $9,742.80 $0.00
DEBT SERVICE $685.65 $0.00
LIBRARY SPECIAL PROJECTS $107.00 $1,024.95
SWIMMING POOL RENOVATION $0.00 $0.00
COMM CENTER RENOVATION $0.00 $701.96
CAPITAL PROJECTS $33,836.18 $189.65
WATER UTILITY $17,955.02 $26,146.14
SEWER UTILITY $43,571.43 $43,089.01
SOLID WASTE $9,078.44 $27.44
CAPITAL PROJECTS-SEWER $60,000.00 $0.00
CAPITAL PROJECTS-SANITARY SR $0.00 $0.00
CUSTOMER DEPOSITS $1,380.00 $1,355.00
TRUST & AGENCY $260.68 $0.00
TOTAL $287,765.21 $251,557.04

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

Tom Rasmussen, Pharmacist with Bennett Pharmacy is requesting to temporarily block off 4 parking spots on the north side of North Chestnut, between Main Street and the alley. He would like to offer his customers a drive-up service to allow persons with health complications a healthier alternative to avoid contact during this state and national emergency. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Denner; That Bennett Pharmacy be allowed to block off 4 parking spots to allow a drive-up pick up lane for pharmacy customers. This will be allowed until June 1, 2020 and will be addressed at the June 1, 2020 council meeting. Ayes – Five. Nays – None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

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

  1. Upper Wapsipinicon WMA Minutes of February 25, 2020
  2. Upper Wapsipinicon WMA Implementation Update of the Iowa Watershed Approach Project
  3. Fire Department Minutes of March 2, 2020
  4. Department Head Meeting Minutes of March 3. 2020
  5. Airport Commission Minutes of December 23, 2019
  6. Park and Recreation Minutes of March 4, 2020

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

City Clerk Clemens informed the council about several items regarding the COVID19 virus and how it is impacting the City of New Hampton:

  1. Economic Development is working with local industries about precautions and unemployment pay issues
  2. Park & Rec has cancelled all programs for 4 weeks (following the NHCSD plan)
  3. Fire Department is addressing their planned response if needed with ‘lift assists’
  4. Conference call on 3/17/2020 with the Iowa Economic Development Authority

Clemens also shared with the council that several departments received grants from the Chickasaw Community Foundation.

Clemens has talked to Windstream representatives regarding the condition of their utility poles in New Hampton. Windstream is working on repairing/replacing the poles and will continue to share the progress with the City.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Diiro; That the meeting adjourn at 7:38 p.m. Ayes- Five. Nays-None. Absent – Boos. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: KAREN CLEMENS, CMC, City Clerk

ROBERT SCHWICKERATH, Mayor