City Council Minutes | October 21, 2019

City Council
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday
October 21, 2019 7:00 pm

 

The City Council of the City of New Hampton met in regular session in the Council Chambers on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Larsen at 7:00 p.m. Council members present were Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins and Carey. Zachary Nosbisch, Jr Mai, Courtney Lechtenberg, Tammy Robinson, Tim Angell, Rick Johnson with Butler Bremer Communications, Bob Boos, Bobbi Schwickerath,14 high school 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. Motion carried.

Moved by Carey, seconded by McDonald; That the minutes of the October 7, 2019 regular Council meeting minutes be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Carey; That claims in the amount of $664,913.63 be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Bob Josten, the City of New Hamptons TIF attorney, contacted City Clerk Karen Clemens informing her that he had not followed the appropriate procedures for the urban renewal amendment. Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Denner; That the public hearing for the Urban Renewal Amendment be rescheduled for November 18, 2019, be approved. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Motion carried.

Moved by McDonald, seconded by Carey; That an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING VEHICLES TRAVELING ON SPRING STREET TO YIELD AT SHEAKLEY AVENUE, receive its second consideration. Ayes – Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Carey. Nays- None. Motion carried.

Mayor Larsen ordered the ordinance change request be placed on the agenda for the next regular council meeting for its third and final consideration.

City Clerk Karen Clemens presented the 2018/2019 Urban Renewal Report. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Denner; That the 2018/2019 Urban Renewal Report be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays-None. Absent-None. Motion carried.

Economic Development Director Tammy Robinson shared with the council the grant request from Lavonne Ohm for the purchase of Pool Richards restaurant. The Advisory Board met and approved a $6,000 grant for improvements she is planning on making to the restaurant. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Denner; That an Economic Development Grant of $6,000 be awarded to Poor Richards/Von’s Place LLC for the proposed improvements to the existing restaurant, be approved. Ayes – Six . Nays-None. Absent-None. Motion carried.

Street Superintendent Jr Mai has spoken with the engineers and they are trying to inspect the remaining bridges this year. Jr will continue to keep the council updated on the inspection process.

Mayor Larsen shared a letter from Lisa Pool, the organizer of the Little Light of Mine Project, requesting to install additional lights on Main Street in the shopping district, specifically on the light poles. The Chamber of Commerce is planning on putting up the same decorations that they have put up the last two years, including greenery, lights and the winter banners. Moved by Perkins, seconded by Carey, That the Little Light of Mine Committee be allowed to decorate the light poles on Main Street between Water and Linn Ave for the 2019 Holiday Season, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays-None. Absent-None. Motion carried.

During the recent audit by Hacker-Nelson, it was suggested that the City of New Hampton adopt a Reimbursement Policy and Expense Reimbursement Form for travel expenses for all city employees. The Expense Reimbursement Form will need to be completed for any expenses that an employee is requesting reimbursement for. Moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald, That Resolution No. 6411 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A POLICY REALTED TO TRAVEL EXPENSES, be approved. Ayes – Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Carey. Nays-None. Absent-None. Resolution passed.

Moved by Perkins, seconded by Denner, That Butler–Bremer Communication be allowed in work in the Right-Of-Way along Hwy 18, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays-None. Absent-None. Motion carried.

Moved by Kuhn, seconded by Denner; That the liquor License No. LC0043934 for Bowlaway Lanes and Lounge be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays-None. Absent-None. Motion carried.

Fund Received Disbursed
GENERAL $108,601.67 $179,398.64
ROAD USE TAX $51,307.87 $42,746.12
SPECIAL REV/EMPLOYEE BEN $25,566.23 $32,124.38
LOCAL OPTION TAX $32,551.73 $0.00
HOTEL/ MOTEL TAX $0.00 $3,537.41
TIF- INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL $8,555.11 $0.00
DEBT SERVICE $15,401.45 $0.00
LIBRARY SPECIAL PROJECTS $50.00 $0.00
CAPITAL PROJECTS $206,683.34 $144,502.51
WATER UTILITY $39,376.19 $19,546.13
SEWER UTILITY $200,435.50 $65,345.19
SOLID WASTE $10,407.15 $19,761.17
CAPITAL PROJECTS-WATER $466,885.26 $147,079.27
CAPITAL PROJECTS-SEWER $68,070.14 $298,200.00
CAPITAL PROJECTS- SANITARY SR $19,634.13 $88,200.00
CUSTOMER DEPOSITS $2,187.86 $956.00
TRUST & AGENCY $581.26 $0.00
TOTAL $1,256,294.89 $1,041,396.82

Moved by Perkins, seconded by McDonald; That the Finance Reports for September 2019, be approved. Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Motion carried.

Mayor Larsen informed the City Council that the Chickasaw County Ambulance Council is requesting the City of New Hampton to pay for 1/9th of the legal fees incurred by the Ambulance Council.

Moved by Perkins; seconded by Kuhn; That the council go into a closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5 (1)(c), which provides: To discuss strategy with council in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation, be approved. Ayes – Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Carey. Nays – None. Absent – None. Motion carried.

Entered closed session at 7:20 pm.

Open session resumed at 8:14 pm.

Moved by Carey, seconded by Diiro; To authorize the City of New Hampton to pay 1/9th of the Ambulance Council fees for legal services, be approved. Ayes – Denner, Diiro, Kuhn, McDonald, Perkins, Carey. Nays – None. Motion carried.

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

  1. Park & Rec Minutes of October 9, 2019
  2. Wastewater Committee Minutes of October 7, 2019
  3. Department Head Minutes of October 15, 2019
  4. Advisory Board minutes of October 17, 2019

Ayes – Six. Nays – None. Motion carried.

Mayor Larsen reported that approximately 80% of the trees that needed to be trimmed in the ROW have been complete. The city staff will work with the remaining property owners to trim the trees.

Moved by Diiro, seconded by Kuhn; That the meeting adjourn at 8:23 p.m. Ayes-Six. Nays-None. Motion carried.

 

 

ATTEST: KAREN CLEMENS, CMC, City Clerk

DEBRA LARSEN, Mayor