Regular City Council Meeting
City Hall, Cherokee, Iowa
August 28, 2007 – 7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting was called to order on this date by
Mayor Henrich. Present:
Councilman Varce, Mallory, Stieneke, Leach, Peck, City Attorney Miller,
Clerk-Treasurer Taylor.
Mayor Henrich added item #6.10
to the agenda – discussion on storm drainage near Tyson Foods
water tower.
Duane Mummert reported that Greg
Kooker is working on specs for the community center
improvements. The council set
Wednesday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. to meet with Mr. Kooker
at the community center for a walk-through.
M/S/P Varce, Leach, approved the
following under “Consent Business”.
City council minutes of August 14th.
Reviewed Planning & Zoning Commission minutes of August 13th.
Reviewed Board of Adjustment minutes of August 21st.
Renewal of class “C” liquor license – The Gasthaus Bar & Grille and renewal of class “E” liquor/class “C” beer/class “B” wine license – Hy-Vee Food Store.
New class “B” native wine
permit – Cherokee General Store.
John Cook reported that construction of the playground
equipment has been rescheduled for September 5-8. The engineer is looking at doing some minor things to improve
drainage in the park, such as extending some of the retaining walls, to direct
the water to a center intake. More
sod has been placed and more will be done in the next few weeks.
They are also looking at some different ground cover rather than sod in
areas where it would be difficult to mow. Grundman-Hicks
is working on the final punch list. John
said that the pool would remain open on evenings and weekends through Labor Day
and the school is using the pool for P.E. classes.
Rich Cook, City Manager search
committee member, was present to update the council on the
search process. He said the
committee meets weekly and has mapped out an advertising campaign.
They have received 12 applications to date and have 3 so far that they
want to pursue further,
however, no interviews have been scheduled.
When asked by Councilman Mallory if council
members could have copies of the applications, Rich said the councilmen were
welcome to come
to his office and review the applications.
This is an extremely delicate process and they want to
keep things confidential at this time. The committee plans to narrow the applicants to 4 and
then present them to the council.
M/S/P Peck, Stieneke, approved
the contract with Schoon Construction for the Ament Addition
Storm Sewer Project.
The council reviewed a proposed
Safety Manual, taken from the Iowa Municipal Worker’s
Compensation Association (IMWCA) website. The
Clerk questioned the section regarding
outside contractors having to submit proof of their safety programs and
successful safety training.
Who will monitor this? Is it
the city’s responsibility to be sure outside contractors are property
trained? Councilman Stieneke
indicated that the IMWCA representative suggested that if an
outside contractor isn’t following proper safety procedures, the city should
ask them to stop,
especially when working in confined spaces.
Councilman Peck doesn’t feel the city should have
to watch over contractors. The
council and City Attorney will review the manual further and
bring it back to the next meeting.
Councilman Stieneke feels the
council should be notified when city equipment has been sold.
Councilman Leach asked if he had a dollar figure in mind?
Does he want a report on each small
item sold, such as some of the items sold at the recent city auction?
Duane Mummert indicated
that this apparently became an issue when he put a couple pieces of lawn
equipment on an auction
held by Builder’s Sharpening last spring.
He explained that the equipment sells better at this
auction and the city doesn’t have the expense of advertising.
He said in the past they have sold
equipment for a loss after figuring the cost of advertising. Large pieces of equipment, vehicles
and property are brought to the council before they are offered for sale.
No changes were made
in the process of selling equipment.
Councilman Stieneke suggested
that each department should take inventory of their equipment.
He would like anything with a value of $150 or more to be listed and the
inventory should be
completed by April 1. Duane Mummert
said that their equipment is documented at the place of
purchase. Stieneke feels that there
should be a master list that can be tracked when equipment
is added or removed. A motion was
made by Councilman Stieneke to have each department
inventory all equipment over $150 in value by April 1, 2008.
The motion died for lack of a second.
Councilman Varce commented that
most businesses have some type of inventory and feels the
city should also. Councilman Leach
asked how far they would go, every piece of equipment?
Councilman Stieneke said they need a list of serial numbers in case something is
lost or stolen.
Councilman Varce agreed they need some type of inventory, but tags or
stickers on equipment
weren’t necessary. Maybe some of
the equipment could be engraved. M/S/P
Stieneke, Leach,
directed each department to inventory all equipment valued at $150 or more and
have it
completed by April 1, 2008.
The council reviewed the annual
dues of $2,732 to join SIMPCO. Although
this is not a budgeted
expense, the council felt they should probably join.
A motion by Councilman Stieneke, seconded
by Peck, unanimously authorized inviting SIMPCO members to a future meeting to
discuss their
services.
Mayor Henrich said he talked
with Kent Wenck regarding Ron Strickland’s building on S. Lake Street.
His building permit was issued 5/6/05, so it has expired.
Once a permit is issued there is a
two-year period to complete the project. Before sending him a bill to renew the permit, giving
him another 2 years to work on it, the council asked the City Attorney to review
their options.
Can they extend the current permit?
If so, what is their recourse if the project isn’t completed
at the end of the extension? This
will be brought back to the next meeting.
M/S/P Leach, Stieneke,
authorized the Police Chief to hire a new officer to fill the vacancy left by
Mike McGee, who is resigning effective 9/3/07.
The council also authorized hiring a part-time officer
to fill in while 2 full-time officers attend the academy.
The city received notice from
the I.U.O.E. that they are ready to begin labor negotiations for the
2008-09 contract. Mayor Henrich,
City Attorney Miller, Councilmen Peck and Councilman Leach will
be the city’s negotiators.
Mayor Henrich reported that
storm drainage near the Tyson Foods water tower is draining on
property owned by Tom Jenness, causing areas of erosion.
Tyson Foods presented a quote from
Lundell Construction for $8,632.10 to install 200’ of drain tile and fill the
gullies west of the tower.
M/S/P Stieneke, Peck, authorized Tyson Foods to proceed with this project
to be paid from the
Tyson Water Utility Fund.
Mayor Henrich passed out copies
of a proposed landscape ordinance that the Planning & Zoning
Commission has been working on. Commission
members have asked whether the council wants
to proceed with this draft, make changes or drop it completely.
Councilman Varce said it doesn’t
appear to be too strict and that P & Z has put a lot of work into it.
The ordinance was modeled
after several other communities. The
ordinance will be brought back for its first presentation at
the next meeting.
M/S/P Peck, Leach, the meeting
was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
News media – Ken Ross, Chronicle
Times.
Dennis Henrich – Mayor
ATTEST:
Debra Taylor, CMC
City Clerk-Treasurer
Regular City Council Meeting
City
Hall, Cherokee, Iowa
August
28, 2007 – 7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting was called to order on this date by Mayor Henrich. Present: Councilman Varce, Mallory, Stieneke, Leach, Peck, City Attorney Miller, Clerk-Treasurer Taylor.
Mayor Henrich added item #6.10 to the agenda – discussion on storm drainage near Tyson Foods water tower.
Duane Mummert reported that Greg Kooker is working on specs for the community center improvements. The council set Wednesday, September 12 at 5:30 p.m. to meet with Mr. Kooker at the community center for a walk-through.
M/S/P Varce, Leach, approved the following under “Consent Business”.
City council minutes of August 14th.
Reviewed Planning & Zoning Commission minutes of August 13th.
Reviewed Board of Adjustment minutes of August 21st.
Renewal of class “C” liquor license – The Gasthaus Bar & Grille and renewal of class “E” liquor/class “C” beer/class “B” wine license – Hy-Vee Food Store.
New class “B” native wine permit – Cherokee General Store.
John Cook reported that construction of the playground equipment has been rescheduled for September 5-8. The engineer is looking at doing some minor things to improve drainage in the park, such as extending some of the retaining walls, to direct the water to a center intake. More
sod has been placed and more will be done in the next few weeks. They are also looking at some different ground cover rather than sod in areas where it would be difficult to mow. Grundman-Hicks is working on the final punch list. John said that the pool would remain open on evenings and weekends through Labor Day and the school is using the pool for P.E. classes.
Rich Cook, City Manager search committee member, was present to update the council on the search process. He said the committee meets weekly and has mapped out an advertising campaign. They have received 12 applications to date and have 3 so far that they want to pursue further, however, no interviews have been scheduled. When asked by Councilman Mallory if council members could have copies of the applications, Rich said the councilmen were welcome to come to his office and review the applications. This is an extremely delicate process and they want to keep things confidential at this time. The committee plans to narrow the applicants to 4 and then present them to the council.
M/S/P Peck, Stieneke, approved the contract with Schoon Construction for the Ament Addition Storm Sewer Project.
The council reviewed a proposed Safety Manual, taken from the Iowa Municipal Worker’s Compensation Association (IMWCA) website. The Clerk questioned the section regarding outside contractors having to submit proof of their safety programs and successful safety training. Who will monitor this? Is it the city’s responsibility to be sure outside contractors are property trained? Councilman Stieneke indicated that the IMWCA representative suggested that if an outside contractor isn’t following proper safety procedures, the city should ask them to stop, especially when working in confined spaces. Councilman Peck doesn’t feel the city should have to watch over contractors. The council and City Attorney will review the manual further and bring it back to the next meeting.
Councilman Stieneke feels the council should be notified when city equipment has been sold. Councilman Leach asked if he had a dollar figure in mind? Does he want a report on each small item sold, such as some of the items sold at the recent city auction? Duane Mummert indicated that this apparently became an issue when he put a couple pieces of lawn equipment on an auction held by Builder’s Sharpening last spring. He explained that the equipment sells better at this auction and the city doesn’t have the expense of advertising. He said in the past they have sold equipment for a loss after figuring the cost of advertising. Large pieces of equipment, vehicles and property are brought to the council before they are offered for sale. No changes were made in the process of selling equipment.
Councilman Stieneke suggested that each department should take inventory of their equipment. He would like anything with a value of $150 or more to be listed and the inventory should be completed by April 1. Duane Mummert said that their equipment is documented at the place of purchase. Stieneke feels that there should be a master list that can be tracked when equipment is added or removed. A motion was made by Councilman Stieneke to have each department inventory all equipment over $150 in value by April 1, 2008. The motion died for lack of a second.
Councilman Varce commented that most businesses have some type of inventory and feels the city should also. Councilman Leach asked how far they would go, every piece of equipment? Councilman Stieneke said they need a list of serial numbers in case something is lost or stolen. Councilman Varce agreed they need some type of inventory, but tags or stickers on equipment weren’t necessary. Maybe some of the equipment could be engraved. M/S/P Stieneke, Leach, directed each department to inventory all equipment valued at $150 or more and have it completed by April 1, 2008.
The council reviewed the annual dues of $2,732 to join SIMPCO. Although this is not a budgeted expense, the council felt they should probably join. A motion by Councilman Stieneke, seconded by Peck, unanimously authorized inviting SIMPCO members to a future meeting to discuss their services.
Mayor Henrich said he talked with Kent Wenck regarding Ron Strickland’s building on S. Lake Street. His building permit was issued 5/6/05, so it has expired. Once a permit is issued there is a two-year period to complete the project. Before sending him a bill to renew the permit, giving him another 2 years to work on it, the council asked the City Attorney to review their options. Can they extend the current permit? If so, what is their recourse if the project isn’t completed at the end of the extension? This will be brought back to the next meeting.
M/S/P Leach, Stieneke, authorized the Police Chief to hire a new officer to fill the vacancy left by Mike McGee, who is resigning effective 9/3/07. The council also authorized hiring a part-time officer to fill in while 2 full-time officers attend the academy.
The city received notice from the I.U.O.E. that they are ready to begin labor negotiations for the 2008-09 contract. Mayor Henrich, City Attorney Miller, Councilmen Peck and Councilman Leach will be the city’s negotiators.
Mayor Henrich reported that storm drainage near the Tyson Foods water tower is draining on property owned by Tom Jenness, causing areas of erosion. Tyson Foods presented a quote from Lundell Construction for $8,632.10 to install 200’ of drain tile and fill the gullies west of the tower. M/S/P Stieneke, Peck, authorized Tyson Foods to proceed with this project to be paid from the Tyson Water Utility Fund.
Mayor Henrich passed out copies of a proposed landscape ordinance that the Planning & Zoning Commission has been working on. Commission members have asked whether the council wants to proceed with this draft, make changes or drop it completely. Councilman Varce said it doesn’t appear to be too strict and that P & Z has put a lot of work into it. The ordinance was modeled after several other communities. The ordinance will be brought back for its first presentation at the next meeting.
M/S/P Peck, Leach, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
News media – Ken Ross, Chronicle Times.
Dennis Henrich – Mayor
ATTEST:
Debra Taylor, CMC
City Clerk-Treasurer