Regular City Council Meeting
City Hall, Cherokee, Iowa
January 26, 2010 – 7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting was called to order on this date by
Mayor Murphy. Present: Council Member Peck, Morrow, Mallory,
Burkhart, Stieneke, Administrator Eikmeier, City Attorney Miller,
Clerk-Treasurer Taylor.
At 7:01 p.m., Mayor Murphy opened the public hearing on
the proposed authorization of a loan agreement and the issuance
of not to exceed $2,830,000 General Obligation Refunding Capital Loan Notes.
These notes will provide refinancing of
the 2000C, 2004A and 2004B notes and will save $145,000-$170,000 in interest
over the life of the notes. As there
were no oral or written comments, Mayor Murphy closed the hearing at 7:02 p.m.
On a motion by Stieneke,
seconded by Burkhart, the council adopted Resolution No. 10-03, instituting
proceedings to take
additional action for the authorization of a loan agreement and the issuance of
not to exceed $2,830,000 General Obligation
Refunding Capital Loan Notes. Roll call was: AYES: All. NAYS: None.
A motion by Burkhart, seconded
by Peck, adopted Resolution No. 10-04, approving the preliminary official
statement for
$2,830,000 General Obligation Refunding Capital Loan Notes. Roll call was:
AYES: All. NAYS: None.
A motion by Burkhart, seconded by Peck, approved the
third presentation of Ordinance No. 548 increasing the base sewer
rate to $8.00/month (a $1.63/month increase) and the commodity charge to
$3.75/100 cu. ft. (a $.28/cu. ft. increase),
and ordered its publication. In discussion, Stieneke said he would still like
to look at ways to cut expenses. He indicated
that the current budget takes $9,600 more from the sewer budget that used to be
General Fund expenses, such as legal costs. Burkhart feels they have been
tightening their belts, offering the same benefits/programs with less people and
that
department heads are doing a great job. Peck said it is the DNR regulations
that keep coming. Mallory said the city has
conformed to everything that has been asked and hopefully there are no more big
issues coming up. He would, however, like
to see a smaller increase in rates. The vote on the motion was: AYES:
Burkhart, Peck, Morrow. NAYS: Stieneke, Mallory.
Motion passed.
A motion by Burkhart, seconded by Mallory, unanimously approved the following under “Consent Business”.
City council minutes of January 12th.
Renewal of class “B” native wine
permit – Hy-Vee Food Store; renewal of class “C” liquor license – The Other
Place; renewal
of class “C” beer permit – Casey’s General Store.
In response to Gov. Culver’s
proposal to take part of the road use taxes from cities and counties and using
it to fund the State
Patrol resulting in a loss of approximately $22,872 to the City of Cherokee, a
motion by Stieneke, seconded by Morrow,
unanimously authorized sending letters to the State Senate opposing this
proposal.
LeRoy Schoon is requesting a second extension to the
development of his two remaining lots in the Doherty Addition. He is in
negotiations on the sale of Lot 6 and also has Lot 10 available. A motion by
Burkhart, seconded by Peck, authorized an
extension to 12/31/10. Motion carried.
A motion by Burkhart, seconded
by Stieneke, authorized closing portions of Pine, W. Willow and W. Main Streets
on Tuesday,
February 16 from 5:20 p.m.-5:45 p.m. for the Annual Pancake Race. Motion
carried.
The following reports were reviewed.
1. Administrator’s report.
2. Department reports.
Administrator Eikmeier is
scheduling budget workshops as follows: Feb. 2 and Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. where
Department Heads will
be present to briefly review their budget with council. The council will then
meet for further review on Feb. 9, Feb. 11, and
Feb. 15 at 5 p.m.
On a motion by Stieneke, seconded by Burkhart, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Motion carried.
News media – Paul Struck, Chronicle Times; Nikki Thunder, KCHE.
Mark Murphy – Mayor
ATTEST:
Debra Taylor, ICMC
City Clerk-Treasurer