REGULAR MEETING
January 11, 2023
ACKLEY CITY COUNCIL met in regular session January 11, 2023 in the Ackley Council Chambers with Mayor Michael Nuss presiding. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm. Council members present: Judy Crawford, Dan Scallon, Chuy Flores, Joe Wessels, and Mike Abbas. Quorum present.
Scallon moved, Flores seconded to approve the January 11, 2023 agenda, as listed. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Abbas moved, Scallon seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda by one motion: a) December 14, 2022 Regular Minutes, as written. b) Bills approval, as listed. c) Place Reports on file: December 2022 Clerk Bank Reconciliation/Cash Report/Treasurer; December 2022 Clerk Budget; December 2022 Deputy Clerk Utility Billing Reconciliation; December 2022 Ambulance; December 2022 Fire; November 2022 PeopleService; December 2022 Ackley Development Commission; 4th Quarter 2022 Investment; 4th Quarter 2022 Ackley Public Library Investment; 4th Quarter 2022 Deputy Clerk Ambulance Write Off; and 4th Quarter 2022 Prairie Bridges/Park Fest. Ayes-all. Motion carried. Clerk Dennis informed council no quarterly report was given from the Airport Board of Trustees.
Clerk Dennis informed council the City may request up to a 90-day deposit on rental properties where the tenant is responsible for the utilities which could potentially protect the landlord, per our code of ordinances. Dennis further explained due to not shutting off services for nonpayment for just about 90 days, that deposit would cover the account but only if deposit was still on file. Crawford inquired as to when a person gets their deposit back and would that still be the same as current procedures. All deposits are applied to account after 12 months of prompt payments, per current billing processes. Per the Iowa Code, we can collect from landlords following the proper collection efforts and statues in the code, which the deputy clerk does. Flores would like for the City to continue doing the current procedures of billing and collecting.
Dennis educated council what the fire wall does for the City’s protection on cyber threats and that the current firewall for City Hall will no longer have updates after January 23, 2023. The firewall will continue to work unless the firewall goes down and would need an update to reboot. Council would like to see clerk budget for the replacement in FY24 budget.
Mayor Nuss informed council on the purposes for the 2020A GO Bond. Dennis had reached out to Dorsey and Whitney and they informed Dennis that the City could use the Ambulance Bond money for the 3 suggested options, a new ambulance facility, updating current ambulance building, or purchase a different building and doing some updates to that. John Danos informed Dennis, that the City would not need to do a new public hearing notice.
J. Frazier, AVAS President, addressed council on proposed merger with Eldora EMS. Maile Carter, Eldora EMS Director, informed council that the Eldora council had suggested having an advisory board versus a governing board for the merger. Wessels inquired as to whom any issues be addressed with, Carter responded to Wessels and informed him, issues would go to Carter as the Director once the merger happens. Flores shared concern about merging with Eldora as Iowa Falls EMS has been supportive of our services and the City has been working with Iowa Falls for a while. Crawford would like to see the city continue with the current plan of merging with Eldora and trying to keep a facility in town. Abbas shared that if the City did not do anything, the City would more than likely lose our service completely or be in the same situation, without enough volunteers. Mileage to Eldora and Iowa Falls was discussed. Council will have a special joint meeting with Eldora Council at the EMS building in Eldora on January 25, 2023 at 6:30 pm.
Wessels moved, Crawford seconded to approve mayor letters sent to the City of Eldora and Sheriff McDaniel’s regarding the AVAS/Eldora EMS and changing the Primary Advance Life Support provider to Eldora effective 2/1/2023. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Discussion regarding property tax valuations for the FY24 budget. Dennis informed council that council will need to tighten up the budget as the levied funds to the general fund is less than last year due to the decrease commercial/industrial rollback as well as to the rollback on property classifications. Scallon moved, Crawford seconded to set public hearing for the proposed max levy for FY24 to January 31, 2023 at 6:00 pm in the Ackley Council Chambers. Ayes-all. Motion carried. Dennis is hoping that she will have all the budget numbers inputted so following the public hearing, council can do the budget workshop.
Crawford moved, Flores seconded to approve Mayoral appointment of Mike Abbas and Dan Scallon, as alternate, to Hardin County Solid Waste Commission. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
Abbas moved, Scallon seconded to pass Resolution No. 23-01 Designating the Ackley World Journal as the official newspaper for the City of Ackley for calendar year 2023. Roll call vote: Ayes-Scallon, Flores, Wessels, Abbas, Crawford. Motion carried.
Crawford moved, Wessels seconded to pass Resolution No. 23-02 Setting vehicle mileage reimbursement rate for calendar year 2023. Roll call vote: Ayes-Flores, Wessels, Abbas, Crawford, Scallon. Motion carried.
Abbas moved, Scallon seconded to pass Resolution No. 23-03 Approving the Washington/Etna/German/Osceola Township Fire Agreement and Contracts. Roll call vote: Ayes- Wessels, Abbas, Crawford, Scallon, Flores. Motion carried.
Crawford moved, Wessels seconded to pass Resolution No. 23-04 Authorizing Mayor entering Maintenance Contract with Mainstay Systems of Iowa, LLC for APD laptops/car equipment. Roll call vote: Ayes-Abbas, Crawford, Scallon, Flores, Wessels. Motion carried.
Wessels moved, Crawford seconded to pass Resolution No. 23-05 Authorizing Mayor entering into Tier Response Agreement and Transport Agreement with Eldora EMS. Roll call vote: Ayes-Crawford, Scallon, Flores, Wessels, Abbas. Motion carried.
Dennis updated council that 3 bid letters were sent out, per last month’s request and the City received no bid quotes back from Iowa Falls Diesel, Alden Diesel, and Rotgers Farm. Scallon moved, Abbas seconded to approve purchase to Ziegler CAT in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for the 5th Avenue Lift Station generator head gasket repair/replacement. Ayes-all. Motion carried. C. Ubben, Peoples Service, informed council of the sanitary sewer issue with property at 502 Mitchell St. Municipal Pipe and Tool did not perform the cutout of the liner installed in June 2019, causing sewer issues for the owner. H. Draeger contacted Municipal Pipe.
D. Moore, CGA, updated council on Sanitary Sewer Phase II project. Moore is working on getting questions answered for Boomerang. A meeting is scheduled on Monday and Wednesday of the following week. W. McAllister from Woodruff Construction presented council with the report from getting the sludge tested from the equalization basin project. Sludge can be land applied. Abbas suggested keeping the sludge onsite until the City can dispose of it. Nuss to contact a local farmer whom showed interest for farm field. Woodruff instructed to place sludge on north side of cell 1. McAllister informed council, he would present them with a cost of moving the sludge. No update on splash pad project. No update on N. Butler St. project.
Chief Frick informed council he would be in Waterloo on Friday, working the sexual abuse case.
K. Meyer, public works, reported the storm sewer between 6th/7th Ave and Mitchell St is fixed. Michel’s came to town and fixed it as well as got it unplugged. The ground wire has been removed from the tile.
Clerk Dennis informed council that W2s and 1099s have been mailed out, as well as electronically filed with the IRS and Iowa Department of Revenue. Dennis continues to work on the budget.
Mayor Nuss reported Tommy Cline has sold his downtown properties. Nuss has attempted to contact the new owner, to no avail. The owner’s wife reported they would be picking up the bricks this weekend and getting costs to stabilize the building. Nuss spoke to Taylor Nederhoff who offered to work with Deb Crosser, Hardin County Economic Development, on grants for the downtown building issues.
No public comments.
Wessels moved, Abbas seconded to adjourn at 8:12 pm. Ayes-all. Motion carried.
_______________________________________
Michael Nuss, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Malena Dennis, City Clerk
ACCESS SYSTEMS
TECHNICAL SUPPORT/BACKUP
571.80
BLACK HILLS/IOWA GAS UTIL
UTILITIES-GAS
2967.36
BOUND TREE MEDICAL LLC
G3 BACKPACK/NASO AIRWAYS/GLOVES
590.64
CAPITAL ONE
EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
49.97
CENTURYLINK
PHONES/FAX/INTERNET
377.38
CGA
SANSEWR PHASE II/N BUTLER ST/EQ BAS
13550.10
CLEAR THE CHAOS CLEANING
12/28/22 CLEANING
150.00
CRAWFORD, JUDY
CHRISTMAS WREATH BULBS
30.34
DENNIS, MALENA
MILEAGE PEOPLE'S SAVINGS BANK
7.50
EBS
HEALTH INSURANC
6368.75
EICHMEIER MOTOR
CAR WASH DETERGENT-5 GALLONS
164.00
FEDERAL W/H
FED/FICA TAX
5559.51
HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF
CONTRACT LAW ENFORCEMENT
3144.90
HARDIN COUNTY SOLID WASTE
DECEMBER LANDFILL FEES
1814.45
HARDIN COUNTY TREASURER
LIEN CERT/IOWA RENTAL INVEST
5.00
HARLAND TECHNOLOGY SERVIC
EMAIL ATTACK PROTECTION
5.05
HEART OF IOWA
847-2222 COMMUNICATIONS
61.60
INGRAM LIBRARY SERVICES
BOOKS/SHIPPING
254.85
INNOVATIVE AG SERVICES CO
GAS/DIESEL
2096.45
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFE
ON-LINE WARRANTS AND ARTICLES
600.00
IOWA FALLS EMS
TIER, PARAMEDIC INTERCEPT
1250.00
IOWA PRISON INDUSTRIES
FRICK-JACKET
438.89
IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMEN
4TH QTR UNEMPLOYMENT
50.82
IPERS
IPERS - REGULAR
5465.03
JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL
BOOTS - TRENT/BULBS
259.91
KEN'S REPAIR
FUEL LINE/FUEL FILTER
10.89
MAINSTAY SYSTEMS OF IOWA
IT/CAR LAPTOPS/PRINTERS-6 MOS
480.00
MEDIACOM
PHONE/FAX/INTERNET
167.45
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPAN
ELECTRIC
5686.29
MODERN MARKETING
METH/MARIJUANA TEST KITS
281.75
NAPA AUTO PARTS
BOOSTER PAC
331.93
OTTER CREEK FARMS INC.
AIRPORT LEASE
750.00
PAYROLL CHECKS
TOTAL PAYROLL CHECKS
16888.07
PEOPLESERVICE INC.
WATER/WASTEWATER SERVICE
15437.00
POSTMASTER
UTILITY BILL POSTAGE
300.00
SALES TAX/LOST
SALES TAX PAYMENT
587.93
SANDRY FIRE SUPPLY LLC
K MEYER HELMET
293.94
SHIELD PEST CONTROL
MONTHLY SERVICES
30.00
STATE WITHHOLDING
STATE TAXES
1110.00
TIMES-CITIZEN CO.
12/14/22 AND 12/07/22 MINUTES
187.68
USDA RF
MONTHLY PAYMENT
1151.00
VERIZON
1 CELL/1 JETPACK/INTERNET
284.62
WATER EXCISE TAX
WATER EXCISE TAX PAYMENT
1886.21
CLAIMS TOTAL
91699.06
EXPENSES BY FUND
GENERAL FUND
35275.29
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUND
1019.80
LIBRARY RESERVE FUND
63.93
ROAD USE TAX FUND
14011.55
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND
41.95
CAP PROJ-GO BOND 2020A FUND
3066.60
WATER FUND
12537.15
SEWER FUND
9683.15
CAP SEWER IMPROVEMENTS FUND
9463.70
GARBAGE FUND
6029.21
STORM WATER FUND
506.73
TOTAL
91699.06
REVENUE
GENERAL
85774.06
LIBRARY RESERVE TOTAL
273.75
FIRE TRUCK/EQUIP
6747.47
AMBULANCE RIG/EQUIP RESER TOTA
0.01
ROAD USE TAX
18748.69
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT TOTAL
9735.72
EMERGENCY FUND
763.42
LOST TOTAL
38464.04
LOST - DEBT SERVICE TOTAL
9616.01
TIF
7554.64
DEBT SERVICE TOTAL
15511.36
CAPITAL PROJECTS - LOST TOTAL
9616.01
WATER
37212.21
WATER DEPOSITS
525.00
SEWER TOTAL
51063.87
SEWER - SINKING
16328.34
SEWER - RESERVES
23073.78
GARBAGE
13028.25
STORM SEWER
14715.98
TOTAL
358752.61