City Council Minutes | March 2, 2020

City Council
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday
March 2, 2020 7:00 pm

 

The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session in the Council Chambers on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwickerath at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro and Kuhn. Zachary Nosbisch, Jr Mai, Courtney Lechtenberg, Tammy Robinson, Tm Angell, Brian Quirk, Rick Kramer, Amanda Webb & Neil Schrader with Hacker Nelson, Bob Fenske, several NHHS students and City Attorney Kevin Kennedy were also present.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro; The agenda be approved as presented. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by McDonald; That the minutes of the February 17, 2020 regular Council meeting minutes be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Perkins; That claims in the amount of $102,376.39 be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

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, 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 18th day of February 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 Diiro, seconded by Boos; That Resolution No. 6421 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE MAXIMUM TAX DOLLARS FROM CERTAIN LEVIES FOR THE CITY’S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 BUDGET, be approved. Ayes – McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro, Kuhn. Nays-None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.

Amanda Webb and Neil Schrader with Hacker, Nelson & Co., PC shared the fiscal year 2018-2019 audit with the council. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Denner; That the FY2018/2019 Audit be approved and filed with the State Auditor. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Brian Quirk, General Manager of the NHMLP requested that the communications utility use approximately 15’ of parking lot space on the north side of 112 East Main, the location of the new communications utility. Moved by McDonald, seconded by Boos; That the New Hampton Communications Utility be allowed 15’ of city parking lot space on the north side of the Communications building at 112 East Main street for placement of a transformer and utility equipment, be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

City Clerk Karen Clemens presented the council with information regarding the solid waste fund. The council requested an analysis of the fund as a result of Jendro Sanitation requesting a cost increase at the CPI rate of 2.3%. The solid waste fund does have the capacity to absorb the rate increase. After discussion, the council allowed the increase to be absorbed by the solid waste fund balance; residents will not have a change in their monthly utility bill.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by McDonald; That the liquor license application of Rancho Viejo Mexican Restaurant #LC0040761 and New Josie’s’ LLC #LC0041464, be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Bids were received to replace the heating and cooling unit the in the Park and Recreation office.

Bidder: Amount:
Geerts Plumbing & Heating $7,371.97
Mick Gage Plumbing & Heating $4,722.00

Rick Kramer, Park & Recreation Director, reviewed the bids.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Perkins; That the bid from Mick Gage Plumbing & Heating in the amount of $4,722.00 for a Fujitsu heating/cooling unit in the Park & Recreation office, be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Wastewater Treatment Superintendent Tim Angell presented the new agreement with Bay Valley Foods. The only change requested is the fats, oil and grease description is changing from lbs/day to milligrams/liter. Angell assured the council that Bay Valley has not been violating its treatment agreement. Moved by Diiro, seconded by Kuhn; To authorize Mayor Schwickerath to sign the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Treatment Agreement Form with Bay Valley Foods, LLC and forward to the State of Iowa, be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Windstream Iowa Communications, LLC has made a request to work in the city right-of-way. The council shared their concern, again, regarding the utility poles owned by Windstream that need repairs or replacement. City Attorney Kevin Kennedy explained the joint use contract between the city of New Hampton and the telephone company. Kennedy suggested it is ‘timely and reasonable’ to make the request for improvements to the utility poles. Brian Quirk, Lt Plant General Manager, informed the council that his staff tag and inspected the NHMLP poles every 7 years. The council tabled the request to work in the City ROW. Clemens will contact Windstream and share the Councils concerns.

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

  1. IDNR – Clean Water Act Compliance Re: E. coli
  2. Fox Engineering – 2019 M & O Factor Calculation

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

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Denner; That the meeting adjourn at 7:33 p.m. Ayes- SIx. Nays-None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: KAREN CLEMENS, CMC, City Clerk

ROBERT SCHWICKERATH, Mayor