City Council Minutes | November 15, 2021

City Council
Council Chambers
Monday
November 15, 2021 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, November 1, 2021. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwickerath at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro and Fisher. Also in attendance were Casey Mai, Tammy Robinson, Kalista Daly, Bob Fenske, Dennis Eike and several NHHS government class student and City Attorney Todd Prichard.

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

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Boos; That the minutes of the regular council meeting of November 1, 2021, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by Denner, seconded by Perkins; That the claims in the amount of $81,326.74 be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Fisher; That the Ordinance change entitled AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHOOL LOADING ZONES, receive its second consideration. Ayes – McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro, Fisher. Nays – None. Absent – None. The ordinance request will be placed on the December 6th Council meeting agenda for its third and final consideration.

City Clerk Karen Clemens presented the Annual Financial Report for the FY 2020/2021. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Diiro; That the Annual Financial Report for FY2021, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

As a result of the completed 2020 Census, the precinct boundaries needed to be updated and changed. One of the requirements of changing the boundaries was to have less than a 10% variance of residents in each precinct. The proposed changes include ‘moving’ seven city blocks into a different precinct. The new population for New Hampton is 3,494, breaking this amount into 4 precincts calculates to approximately 874 per precinct. The proposed population for each ward is: Ward 1 – 877, Ward 2 – 878, Ward 3 – 873 and Ward 4 – 866. Moved by McDonald, seconded by Denner; That RESOLUTION NO. 6491 SETTING DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 6, 2021 FOR AN ORDINANCE ADJUSTING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PRECINCTS OF THE CITY, be approved. Ayes – McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro, Fisher. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Fisher; That AN ORDINANCE ADJUSTING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE PRECINCTS OF THE CITY, receive its first consideration. Ayes – McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro, Fisher. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion approved. The ordinance request will be placed on the December 6th Council meeting agenda for its second consideration.

Moved by Fisher, seconded by Perkins; That the request of the New Horizons/Chamber to block off one block of North and South Walnut & and one block of North and South Chestnut from Main Street be closed for the New Horizons/Chamber Live Windows event from 5:00 pm through 7:30 pm on Thursday December 2, 2021, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Public Works Director Casey Mai presented a summary of bids received for an RFP for emergency repairs costs. The three bidders were Blazek Construction, Gage P & H and Speicher Excavating. Each bidder submitted cost of materials/ equipment and labor for thirteen categories. Mai then projected the labor and materials/equipment needed for an average water main break repair. Based on the bids, the following is the average cost by bidder:

Blazek Corporation – $ 1,707.50
Speicher Excavating, Inc. – $1,930.00
Mick Gage Plumbing & Heating – $3,335.00

The council discussed several options to avoid the appearance of favoritism and to make a fair decision along with keeping expenses low. Moved by Denner; seconded by Perkins; That Resolution No. 6492 ACCEPTING THE BID PRICES OF BLAZEK CORPORATION FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS OF WATER AND SEWER LINES, be approved. Ayes – Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro, Fisher. Nays – McDonald. None. Absent – None. Resolution approved. For every emergency water and sewer main repair for the next year, the Council directed Mai to first contact Blazek Corporation, if they are unavailable to do the emergency repair, and then contact Speicher Excavating and lastly Mick Gage P & H. The council will reevaluate this process in the Fall of 2022.
Moved by Perkins; seconded by Boos; That Resolution No. 6493 APPROVING THE CONTRACT WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INC DBA IOWA CODIFICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,500, be approved. Ayes – McDonald, Perkins, Boos, Denner, Diiro, Fisher. Nays – None. Absent – None. Resolution approved.

City Clerk Karen Clemens reported that the Board of Adjustment meeting for the variance request of Kirk Britt, property owner at 314 West Hamilton. Mr. Britt was requesting a side and rear yard variance to install a 10’x12’ shed. The Board denied the request.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Fisher: That the liquor license for Pocketful of Posies, License #WBN000647 and JLEB, LLC dba Bowl Away Lanes & Lounge, License #LC0043934, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

001 GENERAL $640,238.61 $118,311.21
110 ROAD USE TAX $39,012.89 $31,284.68
112 SPECIAL REV/EMPLOYEE BEN $164,600.24 $40,305.35
121 LOCAL OPTION TAX $41,766.25 $0.00
122 HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX $0.00 $10,500.00
123 HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX CAP RES $0.00 $0.00
125 TIF- INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL $78,594.82 $0.00
180 SPECIAL REVENUE- GRANTS $51.00 $0.00
200 DEBT SERVICE $69,908.39 $19,857.75
301 LIBRARY SPECIAL PROJECTS $113.15 $335.07
312 COMM CENTER RENOVATION $0.00 $20.16
330 ROADS CAPITAL PROJECTS $8,491.90 $30.29
340 STORMWATER CAP. PROJECTS $4,883.65 $15.14
390 CAPITAL PROJECTS $7,267.59 $2,267.15
600 WATER UTILITY $48,834.79 $31,610.31
610 SEWER UTILITY $50,395.20 $41,873.22
620 WASTEWATER PROJECT $8,281.80 $6,702.60
670 SOLID WASTE $10,506.08 $21,711.42
751 CAPITAL PROJECTS-WATER $4,179.95 $15.14
752 CAPITAL PROJECTS-SEWER $4,200.99 $15.14
753 CAP. PROJECTS-SANITARY SR $0.00 $0.00
790 CUSTOMER DEPOSITS $2,904.00 $1,583.00
950 TRUST & AGENCY $41.00 $0.00
TOTAL $1,184,272.30 $326,437.63

Moved by seconded by ; That the Finance Reports for October 2021, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

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

Fire Department Minutes 11-1-2021
Department Head Minutes 11-2-2021
Park & Rec Minutes of 11-3-2021
Black Hills Energy Settlement in Rate Review Request 11–2021

PWD Mai requested to have messages on utility bills reminding residents to not throw snow into the street and to shovel their sidewalks.

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Diiro; that the meeting adjourn at 7:57 p.m. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: Karen Clemens, City Clerk

Robert Schwickerath, Mayor