Regular City Council Meeting
City Hall, Cherokee, Iowa
November 24, 2009 – 7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting was called to order on this date by Mayor Pro-Tem Leach. Present: Council Member Peck, Mallory, Burkhart, Stieneke, Administrator Eikmeier, Clerk-Treasurer Taylor. Absent: Mayor Murphy.
Administrator Eikmeier reported
that he talked with Street Supt. Jim Agnitsch regarding the undeveloped alley
east of 611 Clark
Street and Jim is in favor of vacating the alley. Don also talked with Kyle
Stoneking, 721 Park, who had expressed an interest in
building a garage on the rear of his property that abuts the alley and may need
access to it from this undeveloped alley. After
the situation was explained, he didn’t have a problem. He will have the
opportunity to bid on the property once it is vacated.
On a motion by Stieneke, seconded by Peck, the council adopted Resolution No.
09-23, vacating the alley.
Roll call was: AYES: All. NAYS: None.
A motion by Burkhart, seconded
by Stieneke, approved the first presentation of an ordinance vacating the alley
east of 611 Clark
Street. Roll call was: AYES: All. NAYS: None.
Neal Kuehl, Kuehl & Payer, Ltd.,
was present to review a sewer rate study. He explained that the Sewer Fund is
operating with
minimum cash reserves and there is a need to upgrade lift stations in the near
future. Using historical financial information, Neal
projected figures through 2014. Without some type of rate increase, the fund
will continue to operate in arrears. In order to
support future projects, an additional $100,000/year in revenues is needed. One
option is to increase the base monthly charge as
well as the per cubic foot commodity cost for about a 12% increase. In review
of a chart showing sewer rates of surrounding
communities, a 12% increase would put Cherokee at the top. Council Member
Stieneke feels the city needs to show the residents
that they are trying to cut expenses before implementing a rate increase and
asked whether the sewer department employees
could come up with five things to could cut from their budget. He also asked
whether a flat fee could be implemented for a set
period of time for improvements, similar to the water system maintenance fee for
the water towers. Council Member Burkhart
is concerned about how much higher our rates will be than other communities.
She would like to see how much revenue would
be generated by a larger increase in the base charge and less in the commodity
cost. Neal explained that when comparing rates
of other communities the council has to keep in mind that Cherokee has completed
major improvements needed to meet water
quality standards, whereas some communities have yet to install the disinfection
system. Also, Storm Lake and LeMars have strong
industrial support of their sewer plants. Administrator Eikmeier indicated that
although the lift station projects didn’t qualify at
this time for stimulus funds, it is something to continue to pursue along with
possible grants. Over the next several weeks, the
Administrator and Neal will take into account the council’s concerns and put
together additional options. These options will be
brought back to the council at one of the meetings in December.
On a motion by Burkhart, seconded by Stieneke, the council unanimously approved the following under “Consent Business”.
City council minutes of November 10th.
Renewal of class “C” liquor license – Monterrey Mexican Restaurant.
Jim Adamson, representing the
Cherokee Arts Council, explained their request for a tourism loan for the 2010
Jazz Festival. The
$5,000 loan would cover the cost of advertising in area newspaper and radio and
to contribute to the contract fee for a big-name
headliner (Kevin Mahogany). On a recommendation of the Tourism Advisory Board,
a motion by Stieneke, seconded by Peck,
approved the $5,000 loan to the Cherokee Arts Council.
Roll call was: AYES: Stieneke, Peck, Mallory. ABSTAIN: Burkhart (a member of
the Cherokee Arts Council Board).
The council reviewed a request
from the Chamber of Commerce for a $550 tourism grant. The grant will be used
to advertise
the annual rodeo in the Western Iowa Tourism Regional Brochure. 500,000 copies
of the brochure are distributed throughout
Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Missouri. On the recommendation of
the Tourism Advisory Board, a motion by
Stieneke, seconded by Burkhart, unanimously approved a $550 tourism grant for
the Chamber of Commerce.
Kent Wenck, Cherokee Aviation Authority board member, was
present to request the burning of tree brush at the north end
of the airport. Kent explained that because of the trees at the north end of
the airport, the FAA doesn’t allow planes to
approach from the north when landing at night. The County and Mid American
Energy have removed 30 huge cottonwood trees.
The County and City park employees will remove the remaining smaller trees. A
lumber mill and pallet manufacturer from Sioux
City will take all of the major logs and the balance will be cut into 10-20 foot
lengths for individuals to cut up for firewood.
Kent is requesting to burn the remaining brush and debris on site. They had
initially thought they would haul the brush to the
landfill, but after reviewing the site and talking to the neighboring property
owners, all are willing to allow a series of burns on
site. This will avoid days of truck hauling to the landfill by the city and
county. Council Member Burkhart is concerned about how the smoke would affect
surrounding neighbors. She would like the property owners to be notified prior
to each burn. Dan Morrow,
council member elect, said that boxes used for Tyson Foods products are stored
in the Schoon Warehouse, located north of the
airport, and asked whether the smoke would affect them. Someone should check
with LeRoy Schoon regarding this question.
A motion by Mallory, seconded by Peck, authorized the tree burn subject to
notification of neighboring properties before each burn. Motion carried.
Administrator Eikmeier reported
that Cherokee State Bank has donated funds to replace the Christmas lights for
the tree in Gillette
Park. Haselhoff Construction helped install them. There will be a re-lighting
ceremony on Thanksgiving evening.
On a motion by Stieneke,
seconded by Peck, the council went into closed at 8:05 p.m. to discuss labor
negotiations as per Iowa
Code 21.5(c) and 20.17(3). Roll call was: AYES: All. NAYES: None.
A motion by Stieneke, seconded
by Burkhart, returned the council to regular session at 8:45 p.m.
Roll call was: AYES: All. NAYS: None.
No action was taken in closed session.
On a motion by Stieneke, seconded by Burkhart, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Motion carried.
News media – Paul Struck, Chronicle Times.
Bob Leach – Mayor Pro-Tem
ATTEST:
Debra Taylor, ICMC
City Clerk-Treasurer