Regular Meeting
February 13 , 2023
The Council for the City of Wilton, Iowa met in regular session in the Council Chambers at City Hall on Monday February 13, 2023 Mayor Keith Stanley called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM and then led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Members present: Sheryl Lenker, Bill Voss, Steve Owens, Wayne Budding & Ted Marolf
The agenda was presented for approval. It was moved by Member Marolf seconded by Member Budding that the agenda be approved as presented. The vote recorded as follows: Ayes: All Nays: None Motion Carried
The consent agenda was presented for approval. Items included were: Minutes from 1/23/2023 meeting, Dollar General Liquor License and Desiree Zeman new hire. It was moved by Member Marolf seconded by Member Owens that the consent agenda be approved as presented. The vote recorded as follows: Ayes: All Nays: None Motion Carried
REPORTS
Wilton Chamber and Development Alliance Director Becky Allgood reported that she is working on her annual report. She is also applying for a Historical Grant like the one that the City used for the downtown area but this one will be residential.
Jeff Horne reported that himself and Robert VanDusen have outlined some of the Summer Sidewalk Project for the NE part of town for 2023. We will break it into two parts; one for the regular sidewalk work, and one for the walking path we are looking to do along Division.
Verizon’s Contractors are here and have been working on the installation of their antenna at our West water tower.
We are looking at our water capital improvement plans and have determined that the old water tower will need to be painted in 2024.
INFORMAL MEETING
Jeff Horne introduced a revised sick leave policy. A few months back we did a small change in the policy requiring a doctor’s note for an absence of more than two days. It became apparent that we needed an overhaul of the sick leave part of the personnel policies. This policy is more detailed in what sick leave is allowed for. This policy would also let retiree’s use banked sick time for Health insurance premiums. This is consistent with the policy of the Municipal Electric. In exchange for this, the number of sick days accumulated per year would drop from 12 to 8 so the city would have a smaller liability on sick leave accumulating over time. After some discussion it was moved by Member Owens seconded by Member Marolf that the sick leave policy be changed as presented. The vote recorded as follows: Ayes: All Nays: None Motion Carried
The Cities current Vactor is in need of replacement. The transmission in particular has been problematic. This is a critical piece of equipment for water main breaks, which we seem to have nearly every month. The public works director and water superintendent view this as a critical piece of equipment. Jeff Horne would like authorization to move forward with MacQueen to purchase a new truck. A four- or five-year payment schedule can be set up which would work best. It would also give us 5-6 years of ownership free and clear. Latta Well and Pump has indicated a desire to buy our current old Vactor as is for $75,000. After some discussion it was moved by Member Voss seconded by Member Marolf that the Vactor truck be replaced and order as presented. The vote recorded as follows: Ayes: All Nays: None Motion Carried
Jeff Horne informed the Council that because of the State’s property tax error our budget process is pushed back a month. He is waiting for the revised property tax numbers so he can complete the general fund and other funds that use property taxes. Garbage is an enterprise fund that we fund solely with fees so we can work on that now. This year’s budget is similar to years past with one exception; we are including some funds for a truck replacement in 2024. We do have most of the funds in the balance of the garbage fund that we need for a new truck. A new truck is approximately $200,000. We need to keep $25,000 in the garbage fund per our agreement with the DNR on the Convenience Center, but we do have about $150,000 we can use towards the truck. If we can set $25,000 aside this year and then $25,000 next year we should be able to get the new truck Summer 2024. The council agreed that this would be a good plan to implement and gave Jeff their approval for proceeding with the needed changes.
MAYOR REPORT
Mayor Stanley reported attending the Legislature Town Hall Meeting that took place on February 4th. Several of the South Town Trailer Court residents attended to express their displeasure and frustration with current owners of the trailer court. They wanted to know if anything could be done about the excessive increased lot rent. Iowa State Representative Bobby Kaufmann said he would contact some people and try to have a meeting with the current owners. In other business he felt that the City was doing a great job and he hasn’t received any complaints.
COUNCIL REPORT
Member Voss reported that he called the Muscatine Housing Authority about the trailer court situation. They said that an increase in rent could trigger an increase in property value increase. This could result in an increase in property taxes. He felt that the increase was excessive compared to the increase in other rental properties. Mayor Stanley suggested waiting for the results of the meeting that Representative Bobby Kaufmann is going to try to arrange.
Member Marolf reported that he is working with the Wilton Chamber Development Corporation on the Founder’s Day celebration. He thinks the changes coming this year will be a good thing.
BILLS
The Financial Statements were accepted and placed on file. It was moved by Member Lenker seconded by Member Voss that the total disbursements of $230,339.65 approved by the Finance Committee, be allowed and instruct the City Clerk to pay the same. The vote recorded as follows: Ayes: All Nays: None Motion Carried
No further business, this meeting was adjourned.
Attest:
____________________ ______________________
City Clerk Kathryn Koele Mayor Keith Stanley