Wilton City Council Meeting Minutes for 3/08/2010

Regular Meeting

March 8, 2010

The Council for the City of Wilton, Iowa met in regular session in the Council Chambers at City Hall on Monday March 8, 2010. Mayor Ira Bowman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The Mayor then led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Council Members present at this meeting: Richard Garrison, Robert Barrett, Steve Owens, Matt Fowler and Keith Stanley. Absent: none. Also present at this meeting: City Administrator Mark Anderson, City Attorney Gerald Denning, Police Chief Tim Leathers, Advocate News Correspondent Connie Brown, Jackie Barten, Carla Thurston, Mary Bender, Andrew Marsh, Amanda Fowler and Dwayne Lenker.

The agenda was approved as presented for this meeting.

Minutes for the regular meeting held February 22, 2010 were presented for approval. A motion was made by Member Barrett seconded by Member Fowler that these minutes be approved as read. The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

At this time the Mayor announced that this was the time (7:02PM) and date set for a Public Hearing on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2010/2011. The Council found that the notice of time and place of the hearing according to law had been published February 25, 2010 in The Advocate News and that the affidavits of publication were on file. The Mayor asked for any oral or written objections. No oral or written objections were received. Member Barrett asked the City Administrator about last year's actual being more that what has been budgeted for the upcoming year even though the tax levy was raised. The levy from the last budget was 12.51857 and this year it is 13.82672. Explanation by the City Administrator for the difference was that there were expenses for the water tower and the LCC that made the difference in the actual for last year. It was then moved by Member Garrison seconded by Member Fowler that at this time (7:05PM) the public hearing be closed. The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

A Resolution entitled "A Resolution Adopting the Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2011" was presented to Council for discussion. After due consideration it was moved by Member Stanley seconded by Member Barrett that same be adopted. The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

Thereupon the Mayor then declared Resolution No. 030810 adopted.

CONSULTANTS:

Andrew Marsh of HR Green Company presented an agreement contract for the preparation of a wastewater facility plan that meets the Iowa DNR's requirements. HR Green proposes to complete the following services: contact Iowa DNR & request assignment of a project manager, conduct a project initiation meeting with the City & the Iowa DNR, review & evaluate the existing flow & loading data provided by the City and submit a request for a Wasteload Allocation (WLA). For the facility plan they will review the existing sanitary sewer map, the most recent sanitary collection system improvements and evaluate the three existing lift stations in the system. A list of pros and cons for each treatment alternative listed and will develop a recommendation for the improvements. The facility plan also outlined lift station stand by power and IFA application. The final report will be sealed by an engineer licensed to do work in the State of Iowa. As are a lot of cities in Iowa, Wilton is operating on an expired discharge permit and it was HR Green's recommendation to proceed with this plan as soon as possible. Andrew explained that almost 95% of the plan is due to DNR requirements and he is looking forward to addressing the issues at the plant. When all findings are compiled recommendations will be brought back to the Council for their review. It was then moved by Member Fowler seconded by Member Owens that this facility plan presented by HR Green be approved in the amount of $38,000 (this includes project planning, wastewater facility plan, lift station standby power and IFA application) . The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

Andrew then presented an agreement for the elimination of the dry well and conversion of the pump station wet well with the use of submersible pumps at the Gerdau lift station. Standby power will be addressed for each of the lift stations in the collection system as part of the Facility plan. The engineer will provide design review plans and specifications at 95% completion. A list of key activities and anticipated plan sheets during the service were presented. This lift station was constructed in 1974 and consists of a wet well and dry well configuration. This plan will eliminate the dry well portion of the lift station to avoid the confined space entry requirements of maintaining pumps in the dry well. An IDNR construction permit for the modifications will be needed. Discussion was held on the proposed fee of $4920 for this project. Andrew assured the Council that this was the best price for the scope of work for this agreement. It was then moved by Member Barrett seconded by Member Stanley that this service agreement with HR Green be approved. The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

LEGAL ITEMS:

A proposed Ordinance entitled "An Ordinance Amending Title 10 of the Wilton Municipal Code Entitled "Vehicles & Traffic" Regarding Parking Limits in the City Limits of Wilton, Iowa" was presented before the Council for discussion. This Ordinance would change the parking limit of 72 hours to 48 hours. Council feels that this is the right direction for the City to move to help alleviate some of the parking problems. After consideration, it was moved by Member Fowler seconded by Member Owens that said Ordinance be passed on first consideration. The question being upon the foregoing motion, the roll was called and recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

POLICE ITEMS:

Chief Leathers stated that the department has received 28 applications for the officer position. Out of those applications, 4 were certified officers. Testing will be done this Saturday. Weather permitting it will be held at the High School track. The YMCA in Muscatine has ok'd the department to use their indoor track in case the weather is bad. A public safety meeting was held prior to this meeting to look at some of the applications. Ads were placed in The Advocate News, the Quad City Times and on line on a police network.

MAYOR ITEMS:

Mayor Bowman said that the LCC committee has been meeting and will continue to work on items pertaining to the new center. Jackie Barten said that the committee is going to start meeting twice a month. She has been getting a few calls regarding information of the center. She would like to get a lot of the details worked out and have them in writing. The building process for the new LCC is moving along quite well.

COUNCIL ITEMS:

The Jct Lounge liquor permit was submitted for renewal. All paperwork has been approved and submitted on line. It was moved by Member Stanley seconded by Member Fowler that this permit be approved for renewal. The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

The Wilton Express Beer permit was submitted for renewal. All paperwork has been approved and submitted on line. It was moved by Member Barrett seconded by Member Garrison that this permit be approved for renewal. The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

An allocation request in the amount of $10,000 was submitted by the Wilton Swimming Pool. It was moved by Member Garrison seconded by Member Owens that this request be approved. The roll was called and the vote recorded as follows:

Ayes: Garrison, Barrett, Owens, Fowler and Stanley

Nays: None Motion Carried.

Member Barrett said he has been doing some checking on the use and repair of skid steer tires. He talked with someone that owned one for over a year with usage everyday and said that they have not had to upgrade their tires during that time. Member Stanley reported that he had also checked with a skid steer user and they did not think that replacing the tires within six months was unusual. City employee Ritchie Creamer has submitted a report to the Council showing the use and replacement on the tires of the skid steer. Taking in all of the information received, Council Members asked the City Administrator to have the employees be more cautious as to the wear and tear of the vehicles.

Member Fowler said there are many sections of the streets that are buckling and have become crumpled. The City Administrator said that the crews will be working on the streets within the next week.

Member Stanley asked that now that it is the first week of March is the section of torn up street in front of City Hall being repaired. City Administrator said that the area was being worked on today.

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:

A review of the audit report from the State Auditors office was held at this time. The auditor has suggested some policies be written and the ordinance committee will work on these and present them to the Council when ready.

No further business, the Mayor adjourned this meeting.

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Mayor Ira Bowman

Attest:

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City Clerk Lori A. Brown