REGULAR MEETING
March 13, 2024
ACKLEY CITY COUNCIL met in regular session March 13, 2024 in the Ackley Council Chambers with Mayor Michael Nuss presiding. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm. Council members present: Chuy Flores, Maliah Roelfs, Dan Scallon. Absent: Mike Abbas and Judy Crawford. Quorum present.
Flores moved, Scallon seconded to approve the March 13, 2024 agenda. Ayes-3. Absent-2. Motion carried.
Scallon moved, Roelfs seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda by one motion: a) February 14, 2024 Regular Minutes and February 27, 2024 Special Minutes, as written. b) Bills approval, as listed. c) Place Reports on file: February 2024 Clerk Bank Reconciliation/Cash Report/Treasurer; February 2024 Clerk Budget; February 2024 Deputy Clerk Utility Billing Reconciliation; February 2024 Ambulance; February 2024 Fire, January 2024 PeopleService; and February 2024 Ackley Development. Ayes-3. Absent-2. Motion carried.
Roelfs moved, Flores seconded to open the public hearing for plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of cost for Hardin Street Storm Sewer at 6:01 pm. Ayes-3. Absent-2. Motion carried.
No comments or concerns were made or received.
Scallon moved, Flores seconded to close the public hearing for plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of cost for Hardin Street Storm Sewer at 6:02 pm. Ayes-3. Absent-2. Motion carried.
Councilwoman Judy Crawford arrived at 6:02 pm.
James Sweeney, CGA Consultants, presented the bid tab form for the bids. 9 bids were received with 2 irregular bids. There was a base bid and an alternate bid. The base bid included RCP, a stronger pipe and the alternate bid included polypropylene pipe. Both bid types included an addition of geo grid. Flores moved, Crawford seconded to approve the bid in the amount of $157,908 to Petersen – Hudson for the Hardin Street Storm Sewer Project pending review of additional documents within 48 hours. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried. This bid is the base bid with the additional geogrid.
Flores moved, Scallon seconded to open the public hearing for the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 523 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Granting Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Company a Natural Gas Franchise at 6:10 pm. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried.
Mike Wright, Black Hills Energy, presented to Council. Ackley has been one of the best partnerships Wright has had since being regional manager.
Scallon moved, Flores seconded to close the public hearing for the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 523 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Granting Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Company a Natural Gas Franchise at 6:12 pm. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried.
Roelfs moved, Scallon seconded to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 523 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Granting Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Company a Natural Gas Franchise. Roll call vote: Ayes- Roelfs, Crawford, Scallon, Flores. Absent- Abbas. Motion carried.
Flores moved, Scallon seconded to waive the second and third reading of the proposed Ordinance No. 523 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Granting Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Company a Natural Gas Franchise. Roll call vote: Roll call vote: Ayes-Crawford, Scallon, Flores, Roelfs. Absent- Abbas. Motion carried.
Scallon moved, Roelfs seconded to adopt Ordinance No. 523 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Granting Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Company a Natural Gas Franchise. Roll call vote: Roll call vote: Ayes-Scallon, Flores, Roelfs, Crawford. Absent- Abbas. Motion carried.
Crawford moved, Flores seconded to pass Resolution 24-08 Dispensing with the Special Election Requirement on the Matter of Granting a Gas Franchise to Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Co with the removal of the first listed “Resolved Further” from the bottom of page 1 that was presented. Roll call vote: Ayes--Scallon, Flores, Roelfs, Crawford. Absent- Abbas. Motion carried.
Scallon moved, Flores seconded to open the public hearing for the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 524 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Repealing Chapter 115 at 6:18 pm. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried.
No comments made or received.
Roelfs moved, Scallon seconded to close the public hearing for the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 524 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Repealing Chapter 115 at 6:18 pm. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried.
Scallon moved, Roelfs seconded to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 524 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Repealing Chapter 115. Roll call vote: Ayes-Scallon, Flores, Roelfs, Crawford. Absent- Abbas. Motion carried.
Scallon moved, Flores seconded to waive the second and third reading of the proposed Ordinance No. 524 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Repealing Chapter 115. Roll call vote: Roll call vote: Ayes-Flores, Roelfs, Crawford, Scallon. Absent- Abbas. Motion carried.
Scallon moved, Roelfs seconded to adopt Ordinance No. 524 Amending the Code of Ordinance of the City of Ackley by Repealing Chapter 115. Roll call vote: Ayes-Roelfs, Crawford, Scallon, Flores. Absent- Abbas. Motion carried.
No discussion regarding Prairie Bridges 28E Agreement.
Per Mayor Nuss, the Ambulance Building upgrades have been put on hold until further talks with the City of Eldora.
Nuss reported the city has not received numbers from the City of Eldora regarding the revenue/expenses of the merger. There is a gap in revenue streams as insurance revenue comes in later than expense being paid out. Since July 1, 2023, there has been an increase in call volume of 127 calls and 126 of those were from Ackley. Once Eldora has presented the requested information, Nuss will set up a meeting to discuss those. Nuss did inform Council that a discussion was had with the team members about marketing the merged services, such as long-distance transfers as well as talks about an Essential Services for Hardin County.
Dennis presented the FY25 Proposed Budget. An increase in library services and fire equipment, along with postage and supplies. Codification was budgeted due to the ordinance changes along with legislature changes that pertain to the City’s ordinance book. A new mower for streets and the pool painting are budgeted to come from Capital Project-LOST funds. Capital Projects/Purchases budgeted are Hardin Street Storm Sewer, Garbage truck, and Franklin St north of the railroad tracks – all coming from funds that are in cash lines so there will be no new debts. Due to the unknown of the 25/75 possible split on the merged ambulance, Dennis budgeted a contractual payment of $25,000 for the service to be on the safe side of the expenditures. Crawford inquired as to the budgeting of the police department and code enforcement. Crawford inquired as to the training expenses of a few departments. Dennis informed Council of the training that was previously budgeted and put a budget note in for next fiscal year for Mayor and Council members to attend MLA, after the next election. Dennis gave an explanation to council and the gallery regarding the percent change from the Proposed Property Levy notice. No further discussion.
Help wanted ad was approved by Building/Parks Council Committee. Permission given for Clerk to post help wanted ad for pool manager/lifeguards. Posting places: City hall, library, Facebook, and school. Roelfs offered to post one at Charish Life.
Follow up on the demolition ordinance. Dennis presented 2 examples: option one being simpler and option two being more complex. Flores moved, Roelf seconded to develop option one for the demolition of buildings ordinance. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried. Dennis will work on this ordinance for review next month for council approval.
Crawford moved, Flores seconded to approve payment agreement of 4 installments in the amount of $6,477.12 with waiver of late/shut off fees as long as current billing is paid timely for account #484506001. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried.
Dennis informed council there was a misunderstanding between the bidder of the Axon cameras and Dennis. The actual bid was for $1,000 rather than the list price of $2,800 for the Axon cameras. Dennis informed Council that the cameras have been listed since before Chief Frick left and the City has gotten one inquiry. The City has purchased other cameras from Wolfcom and the Axon cameras would cost $5,000 to activate each one. Flores moved, Roelfs seconded to denied bid of $1,000 from Albia Police Department. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried.
Three bids were requested for the Maintenance Shed sidewalk repair. Two bids were received. Roelf moved, Crawford seconded to approve bid of $3,756 from Lozano Concrete for sidewalk repair. Ayes-3. Abstain-Flores. Absent-1. Motion carried.
Sweeney, CGA, updated council on the punch list for the EQ basin. Electrical and the sager system for the Sanitary Sewer Phase II project is done. There will be a change order coming for rip rap. Change order 10 was presented which was for an additional retaining wall to the building. Flores inquired as to the pricing, believes it is high. Council requested Sweeney to reach out to Boomerang regarding the change order. Flores moved, Roelf seconded to deny change order #10. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried. Scallon moved, Flores seconded to approve Pay Application 10 in the amount of $109,031.41 to Boomerang Corp for Sanitary Sewer Phase II project. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried. Three bids were requested for the Pocket Wetland Dredging Project. Requests were to HH Construction, Williams Excavation, and McDowell and Sons. McDowell and Sons was the lone bidder. Crawford moved, Flores seconded to accept bid in the amount of $16,000 to McDowell and Sons for the Pocket Wetland Dredging Project. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried. Project to be done and invoiced by June 2024 council meeting for fiscal year end budgeting purposes.
K. Meyer, public works supervisor, gave department report. The splash pad slide is set. Department needed to do some fabrications to the slide to get the slide to fit correctly. Pubic works continues to pick up sticks.
Dennis reported a concern from Doug Lindaman regarding the Hilltop Water main. The State Auditor will be doing the annual exam the 2nd week of April.
Crawford shared a concern from S. Ferris regarding the removal of her sidewalks. Crawford informed resident of the ordinance. Dennis also informed the concerned resident of the ordinance. Flores received a call from the same resident. Flores requested Dennis to send a copy of the ordinance and the 2016 council minutes regarding the removal of sidewalks. Flores voiced concerns with requiring all residents who have removed their sidewalks to put them back in. Dennis informed Council there was no list on who has taken theirs out prior to the re-enforcement of the sidewalk ordinance in 2016.
Public comment from Sweeney informed Council of a “batch/build” type program to where residents who need to get their sidewalks done be on a list and a contractor do them all at once for less money.
Scallon moved, Roelf seconded to adjourn at 7:45 pm. Ayes-4. Absent-1. Motion carried.
_______________________________________
Michael Nuss, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Malena Dennis, City Clerk
ACCESS SYSTEMS | TECHNICAL SUPPORT/BACKUP | 744.26 |
BLACK HILLS/IOWA GAS UTIL | UTILITIES-GAS | 2200.56 |
BOOMERANG CORP | SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT-2 | 109031.41 |
CARDMEMBER SERVICE | MEYER BOOTS/AED BATTERIES SIGNS/POSTA | 878.12 |
CARRICO AQUATIC RESOURCES | GRATE/DRAIN COVERS/SHIPPING | 899.81 |
CENTRAL IOWA DISTRIBUTING | TOILET PAPER/KLEENEX/SHIPPING | 195.00 |
CENTURYLINK | PHONES/FAX | 405.60 |
CGA | SAN SEWR PHASE II/HARDIN ST STORM | 24972.20 |
CLEAR THE CHAOS CLEANING | 3/4/24 CLEANING | 150.00 |
COOKS COUNTRY | MAGAZINE | 38.11 |
DAKOTA SUPPLY GROUP | ENDLOADER EDGES (3)/PLOW BOLTS | 1524.92 |
DENNIS, MALENA | MILEAGE-ELDORA EMS MTG | 21.17 |
DEPOSIT REFUNDS | ACAJABON/HENNICK/MCWHERTER/WATERS | 1211.80 |
DEPOSIT REFUNDS | ASHBY | 19.75 |
EBS | HEALTH INSURANC | 5662.58 |
FEDERAL W/H | FED/FICA TAX | 4037.04 |
FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE | MAGAZINE | 35.99 |
GLOBE LIFE LIBERTY NATION | GLOBE PRETAX | 217.82 |
HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF | CONTRACT LAW ENFORCEMENT | 3144.90 |
HARDIN COUNTY SOLID WASTE | FEB LANDFILL FEES/4TH QTR FY23/24 | 14713.40 |
HARDIN COUNTY TREASURER | LIEN CERT FEES-SCHNEIDER/DOLLINS | 10.00 |
HEART OF IOWA | 847-2222 COMMUNICATIONS | 64.50 |
IMFOA | 2023-2024 DUES/DENNIS | 50.00 |
INGRAM LIBRARY SERVICES | BOOKS/SHIPPING | 222.38 |
INNOVATIVE AG SERVICES CO | GAS/DIESEL | 599.68 |
IPERS | IPERS - REGULAR | 3040.22 |
JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL | AIR FILTERS | 28.98 |
MEDIACOM | PHONE/INTERNET/FAX | 346.47 |
MID IOWA AUTO PARTS, LLC | SILICONE/SHOP TOWEL/NUT/SCREW/BOLT | 99.76 |
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY CO | ELECTRIC | 5398.38 |
MID-AMERICAN RESEARCH CHM | CHEMICALS/FREIGHT | 235.65 |
MORT'S WATER COMPANY | WATER MAIN REPAIR/102 HILLTOP | 1856.00 |
MOTHER EARTH LIVING | MAGAZINE | 23.00 |
OFF FIRE LLC | ANNUAL INSPECTION/TAG/MAINTENA | 1769.25 |
P.C.C. | AMBULANCE BILLING FEES | 133.65 |
PAYROLL CHECKS | TOTAL PAYROLL CHECKS | 14708.30 |
PEOPLESERVICE INC. | WATER/WASTEWATER SERVICE | 16533.00 |
POSTMASTER | UTILITY BILL POSTAGE | 363.58 |
REGION 6 PLANNING COMMISS | MEMBERSHIP DUES FY 23/24 | 799.50 |
SALES TAX/LOST | SALES TAX PAYMENT | 833.13 |
SCHUMACHER ELEVATOR COM | ANNUAL SAFETY TEST | 557.00 |
SECRETARY OF STATE | NOTARY PUBLIC MALENA DENNIS | 30.00 |
SHIELD PEST CONTROL | MONTHLY SERVICES | 30.00 |
STATE WITHHOLDING | STATE TAXES | 431.83 |
T & B PROPERTY MAINTENANE | TRIMMING FRANKLIN/MITCHELL/5TH | 400.00 |
TIMES-CITIZEN CO. | ORDINANCE 522 PUBLICATION | 18.72 |
USDA RF | MONTHLY PAYMENT | 1151.00 |
VERIZON | CELL PHONES/JETPACKS/PHONE | 118.32 |
WATER EXCISE TAX | WATER EXCISE TAX PAYMENT | 2220.27 |
WILLIAMS EXCAVATION LLC | WATERMAIN REPAIR-PROSPECT/MAIN | 2462.50 |
| CLAIMS TOTAL | 224639.51 |
EXPENSES BY FUND | ||
| GENERAL FUND | 40580.50 |
| LIBRARY RESERVE FUND | 97.10 |
| ROAD USE TAX FUND | 14885.87 |
| WATER FUND | 18043.09 |
| WATER DEPOSITS FUND | 203.31 |
| SEWER FUND | 10925.98 |
| CAP SEWER IMPROVEMENTS FUND | 126693.61 |
| GARBAGE FUND | 5311.16 |
| STORM WATER FUND | 7898.89 |
TOTAL | 224639.51 | |
REVENUE | ||
GENERAL | 65667.56 | |
LIBRARY RESERVE TOTAL | 75.00 | |
FIRE TRUCK/EQUIP | 0.04 | |
ROAD USE TAX | 16467.05 | |
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT TOTAL | 992.54 | |
EMERGENCY FUND | 75.63 | |
LOST TOTAL | 20456.83 | |
LOST - DEBT SERVICE TOTAL | 5114.20 | |
TIF TOTAL | 103.22 | |
DEBT SERVICE TOTAL | 1514.36 | |
CAPITAL PROJECTS - LOST TOTAL | 5114.21 | |
CAP PROJ - SPLASH PAD TOTAL | 200168.00 | |
CAP PROJ - GO BOND 2020A TOTAL | 5000.00 | |
WATER | 40291.79 | |
WATER DEPOSITS | 1065.00 | |
SEWER TOTAL | 57447.12 | |
SEWER - SINKING | 16345.00 | |
CAP SEWER IMROVEMENTS TOTAL | 250000.00 | |
GARBAGE | 12628.86 | |
STORM SEWER | 14937.63 | |
TOTAL | 713464.04 |