Special City Council Meeting
                                                              January 31, 2007 – 6:00 P.M.

A special meeting was called to order on this date by Mayor Henrich.  Present:  Councilman Varce, Mallory, 
Stieneke, Peck, Leach (arrived at 6:15), City Attorney Miller, Clerk-Treasurer Taylor.

Mayor Henrich added a closed session to the agenda for labor negotiations.

Closed Session

On a motion by Councilman Stieneke, seconded by Peck, the council went into closed session at 6:04 p.m. for 
labor negotiations as per Iowa Code Chapters 21.5(c) and 20.17(3).  Roll call was:
AYES:  Stieneke, Peck, Varce, Mallory
NAYS:  None

(Councilman Leach arrived at 6:15 p.m.)

On a motion by Councilman Varce, seconded by Stieneke, the council returned to regular session at 6:25 p.m.  
Roll call was:
AYES:  Varce, Mallory, Stieneke, Leach, Peck
NAYS:  None

On a motion by Councilman Peck, seconded by Leach, the council accepted the proposal to settle the contract for 2007-08 with the I.U.O.E. union, as follows:  1-year contract, $.47/hr. wage increase, global settlement of the ˝ hour paid lunch litigation, and no change in medical insurance.  Roll call was:
AYES:  Peck, Mallory, Leach
NAYS:  Varce, Stieneke

2007-08

Steve Casey, Water Supt., was present to review his 2007-08 budgets with the council.  Steve reported that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would require the city to disinfect the effluent from the municipal wastewater plant to the Little Sioux River by 2008 or 2009.  The city’s discharge permit will need to be renewed in April 2008 and will include this new requirement.  Steve said there are different systems to accomplish this, but feels the ultraviolet system is the best way to go.  Although it is more expensive initially, it is less expensive to operate and much safer than using chlorine.  The chlorine method would require the use of ton cylinders, which are dangerous and hard to handle.  Steve estimates a cost of $250,000 to complete the project.  The same action would have to be taken at the industrial wastewater plant at approximately the same cost.  Steve requested $11,630 to build a large room inside an existing pole shed at the municipal plant so there is a heated room for the sewer jet unit and a pickup, and $12,000 for the purchase and installation of 3 dissolved oxygen meters for the aeration tanks.  In discussion, the council felt the $12,000 would be well spent for the DO meters, but didn’t feel the heated room was necessary. 

Roger Frisbie was present to review the fire department budget.  The budget includes the salary of $6,000 for the part-time chief, wages for part-time employees filling in for full-time employees on vacation and sick leave, funding to send 9 firemen to fire school, ISO testing on the trucks and aerial tower, certification of ladders, and a set of bunker gear.  Roger reported that they have increased revenue through charges for fire and accident calls.  He would like to increase the maximum charge that is now set at $250.  A majority of the calls exceed that amount.  The full-time employees have begun making inspections of businesses and establishments that hold beer and liquor licenses.  There is no charge for this service.  Roger said they have applied for a grant through the Cherokee Legacy Foundation to replace their pagers.  The current pagers can no longer be repaired.  The cost to replace all the pagers is $9,800. 

Mary Jo Ruppert and Jeff Hayes were present to review the Library budget.  Mary Jo explained that library boards are set up by State Code.  The city decides how much to allocate to the library, but the board can spend it as they see fit.  They have the power to hire and fire library staff.  Mary Jo said that her board has cooperated with the city as much as possible, and although the board can set salaries outside what the council does, they have for the most part followed what the council has done.  Mary Jo makes recommendations to the Library Board budget committee, and then it is approved by the full board.  Mary Jo said that both the boilers have been replaced and a water softening system has been installed.  Both projects were paid for through the Library Foundation, which is monitored by a separate board.  Cherokee County contributes funds to all libraries in the county based on population.  Cherokee’s contribution will be $11,600.  Mary Jo has also requested funding from the County of $700/yr. for a Value Line subscription, a stock rating system.  Through the State’s Enrich Iowa Program funding is provided to improve and enhance library services, allows partial reimbursement to libraries that provide materials to patrons outside the city limits, and partially reimburses libraries that provide inter-library loans of materials.  This funding can’t be used to replace city funding.  The Friends of the Library also holds fundraisers and donates funds or equipment to the library.  They recently purchased a copier.  The Cherokee Archives, who use space in the library, have also donated materials to the library.  Mary Jo said a website, cherokee.lib.ia.us, has been created through a Gates Foundation grant.  The Foundation provided templates and training, which was attended by Judy Grienke-Miller and Mary Jo.  Mary Jo explained that it is important to keep their library accreditation, which they are required to reapply for every 3 years.  Cherokee’s library is in the 5,000-10,000 population range with one of the requirements being that they must be open a minimum number of hours a week.  If they were in the next lower population range, it would be easier to meet the open hours requirement. 

On a motion by Councilman Peck, seconded by Leach, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.  Motion carried.

Dennis Henrich – Mayor

ATTEST:

Debra Taylor, CMC
City Clerk-Treasurer