Regular City Council Meeting
City Hall, Cherokee, Iowa
March 10, 2009 – 7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting was called to order on this date by
Mayor Pierce. Present: Council Members Mallory,
Burkhart, Stieneke, Administrator Eikmeier, Clerk-Treasurer Taylor. Absent:
Council Members Peck and Leach.
Public Hearing on 2009-10 Budget
At 7:01 p.m., Mayor Pierce
opened the public hearing on the 2009-10 budget. Frank Escue, 215 E. Main,
questioned
the telephone expense was more expensive for the cemetery than the park. He
also noted that the police department
budget shows an increase $29,000 over the current year. Mr. Escue said that the
total police budget breaks down to
$225 for every person in Cherokee. (The Clerk’s figures indicate this number to
be $125/person). Compared to the
County’s budget for the sheriff, jail and communication center which, according
to Mr. Escue, is $859/person. He
also expressed concern over the police officers being overprotective by issuing
tickets to people coming into town on
Hwy. 59 south. He feels the parks do a good job of bringing people to town so
the police shouldn’t deter people from
doing business in Cherokee. Mayor Pierce said that she is in charge of the
police department and is well aware of
the traffic in the south part of town. She feels that traffic needs to be
slowed down. People need to be aware of
speed limits. Mr. Escue also feels that officers should be scheduled better and
doesn’t feel it is necessary for the city
to trade police cars every year. In talking with a local vehicle dealer, it
would only cost about $3,000 more to trade
every other year. He also feels that if council pay were increased they would
take more time to go through the budgets.
Council Member Stieneke is still concerned that if we don’t receive grant
funding there will be no money to finish the
community center projects. Also, we are the only city our size that still has
full-time firemen and he feels this needs
to be looked at. The council needs to do some serious cutting this year. Mr.
Escue said that if we drop the full-time
firemen his insurance rates would increase. Stieneke said that the city’s
insurance company said that was not true. ISO
ratings are based on water main capacity and equipment as well as staffing.
Administrator Eikmeier and Mayor Pierce
agreed that the council has to continue to work on the budget throughout the
year. We are coming to the end of
reserves in the general fund and must continue to cut out what the council feels
they can. He also noted that he hopes
to utilize the full-time firemen for other responsibilities. As there were no
further oral comments and no written
comments, Mayor Pierce closed the public hearing at 7:16 p.m.
A motion by Burkhart, seconded
by Mallory, adopted the 2009-10 budget as presented and authorized certifying
the taxes.
Motion carried.
Resolution for Federal Highway Stimulus Project
A motion by Stieneke, seconded
by Burkhart, adopted Resolution No. 09-01, approving an agreement for a Federal
Highway Stimulus Project for resurfacing a part of River Road. Roll call was:
AYES: All. NAYS: None.
Consent Business
On a motion by Stieneke, seconded by Mallory, the council unanimously approved the following under “Consent Business”.
City council minutes of February 24th.
Bills totaling
Review of Library Board minutes of February 6th.
Renewal of class “C” liquor
license for Cherokee Country Club.
Presentation of 2007-08 Annual Audit
Arvin Druvenga, Winther, Stave &
Co., Spencer, was present to review the 2007-08 annual audit. Receipts totaled
$5,885,668, an increase of .3% from FY07; disbursements totaling $6,347,715, a
3% increase from FY07. The council
was encouraged to review the audit at their convenience and bring any questions
to the City Administrator.
Wastewater Ultraviolet Project
The council reviewed a letter
from Fox Engineering regarding bids received at the last meeting for the
wastewater
ultraviolet project. In working with low bidder, Grundman-Hicks, the engineer
has recommended that the following
items be removed for cost savings: duplicate control floats-$110; delete laptop
computer for remote operation and
control of plants-$7,190; newer version PLC-$1,960; hoist and lift for removing
unit-$18,200 for a total savings of
$27,460. The engineer does not recommend replacing the aluminum steps with
wood, as this is a safety issue.
Administrator Eikmeier said that this project is mandated by the State and the
city has been putting money aside for
several years to cover the cost. A motion by Stieneke, seconded by Burkhart,
awarded the bid to Grundman-Hicks for
$443,000, with the understanding that a change order will be brought back for
approval to eliminate the above items
from the contract. Motion carried.
Execute Deed to Accept Property – 105 S. Sioux
Administrator Eikmeier reported
that the owner of the property at 105 S. Sioux has agreed to deed the property
to
the city. The city is negotiating with the adjoining property owner to remove
the dilapidated structures from the
property and then in turn, the city would deed the property to them. A motion
by Mallory, seconded by Stieneke,
authorized the Mayor and City Attorney to execute a deed accepting the property
at 105 S. Sioux Street. Motion carried.
Reports
The council reviewed the following reports:
1. February Clerk-Treasurer’s report and receipts as follows: General-$97,707.87; Police
Forfeiture-$1,853.55; County Library-$.80; Road Use-$48,196.57; Employee Benefits-
$8,525.47; Emergency-$239.18; Local Option Sales Tax-$35,886.89; Tax Increment
Financing-$857.73; Revolving Loan-$237.74; Library Memorial-$5,924.32; Park & Rec.
Capital Improvement-$12.98; Debt Service-$3,565.14; Road Use Equipment-$.65;
Cherokee Signs-$60; Cherokee Housing Grant-$3.01; Emergency Set-Aside-$3.93;
Community Center Project-$6.18; Fire Rescue Truck-$.35; Oak Hill Perpetual Care-$99.05;
Water Utility-City-$50,423.80; Water Utility-Industrial-$16,066.87; Water Bd./Int.-
$15,910.15; Water Improvement-$5,010.46; Water Reserve-$41.31; Water Tower Maint.-
$5.43; Water System Maint.-$9,038.51; Sewer Utility-City-$62,267.32; Sewer Utility-
Industrial-$42,883.68; Sewer Bd./Int.-$32,002.16; Sewer Improvement-$5,500.45; Aviation
Authority-$132.86; Solid Waste-$21,035.81; Landfill-$11,469.47; Storm Water Utility-
$6,712.24; Self Insurance-$21.87; Aquatic Center Bond Acct.-$120.03.
2. February General Fund revenue/expense report.
3. February Police report.
4. Administrator’s report.
Adjournment
A motion by Stieneke, seconded by Burkhart, adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Motion carried.
News media – Paul Struck, Chronicle Times; Nikki Thunder, KCHE.
_________________________________
Pam Pierce – Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
City Clerk-Treasurer