Regular Council Meeting
June 21, 2021 – 6:00 P.M.
Community Media Center
Mayor Brian Wolken called the meeting to order. Council present: Dave Goedken, Candy Langerman and Chris Lux were in person and Scott Brighton joined electronically. Council members Tom Yeoman and Brenda Hanken were absent. Also present were City Administrator Russell Farnum, City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen, Police Chief Britt Smith, Public Works Director Nick Kahler, Water/ Wastewater Superintendent Jim Tjaden, Park & Rec Director Jacob Oswald and Library Director Michelle Turnis. The public was invited to attend the meeting in person, with limited seating or to participate in the meeting electronically via “Zoom Meetings” and were encouraged to communicate from Zoom Meeting via chat, due to the heightened public health risks of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). The meeting did have public attendance, both in-person and via Zoom.
Lux moved to approve the agenda, Langerman seconded, roll call unanimous.
Lux moved to approve the consent agenda, Langerman seconded. Goedken stated he was not going to vote in favor of the consent agenda, as he is not on board with the Park Department hiring of part time staff for programming and paying the staff member out of swimming pool. Hinrichsen advised if Goedken votes no, the bills would not be paid until next meeting. Goedken moved to amend the motion to approve the consent agenda with removal of payroll list to be discussed separately. Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous. Lux moved to approve the consent agenda, as amended with the removal of the June 17, 2021 payroll list. Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Goedken voiced his concerns on the Park Department hiring of part time staff for programming and paying the staff member out of swimming pool. Oswald explained the reason the staff was being paid from pool and effective July 1st they will be paid from Berndes Center. Goedken also voiced concerns on Oswald helping the Public Works Department and felt he should be working on programming for the Rec Department. Brighton stated he likes having Oswald out working and interacting the public and not sitting in his office all day. Wolken stated he likes that all departments work together to get jobs done. Lux moved to approve the June 17, 2021 payroll list. Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Mayor Wolken opened the public hearing on the proposed Development Agreement between the City of Monticello and McMATT Properties. Staff received no written comments and there were no oral comments. Mayor Wolken closed the hearing on the proposed Development Agreement between the City of Monticello and McMATT Properties. Goedken moved to approve Resolution #2021-68 approving McMATT Properties Development Agreement. Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Mayor Wolken opened the public hearing on the proposed Amendments to Monticello Urban Renewal Plan to include McMATT Properties Project. Staff received no written comments and there were no oral comments. Mayor Wolken closed the hearing on the proposed Amendments to Monticello Urban Renewal Plan to include McMATT Properties Project. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2021-69 Approving Proposed Amendments to Monticello Urban Renewal Plan to include McMATT Properties Project. Lux seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Farnum reported a streetlight is attached to a wooden pole on the SW corner at the intersection of East Second Street and North Sycamore Street. Directly across the street is a new light pole that was up in with the North Sycamore Street reconstruction project. City pays Alliant rent on the light that is attached to the pole. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2021-71 Street Lighting. Lux seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Farnum advised Cemetery Improvement fund has funds that would cover the costs of the Cemetery roadway. If the Council decides to proceed with the entire cemetery roadway project, next year’s budget will need to be amended. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2021-72 to approve Cemetery Paving Project. Goedken seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Farnum advised Council held a hearing and approved in April, however the Jones County Recorder is requesting the name of the property owner the land is transferred to be in the resolution. Langerman moved to approve Resolution #2021-73 Vacating Roadway Right-of-Way and transferring same to BR3 Development LLC, adjacent property owners. Lux seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Turnis reported the Library Board has decided to reinstate the third full-time staff position and will move the current part-time employee to full-time position. Prior to the COVID pandemic, they had 3 full-time and 1 part-time staff at the library. The FY 2022 budget includes the wages for the 3 full-time staff. When questioned if that included the benefits, Turnis advised the benefits have never come out of their budget. Hinrichsen will check the Employee Benefit budget to see if it was budgeted. Langerman moved to reinstate the third full-time staff member. Brighton seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Farnum reported at May 3rd meeting, Council tabled action on a request to purchase a new replacement lawn mower for the waste water treatment plant, with direction to consider hiring a private mowing service instead. At the May 17th meeting, Council hired Steve and Lisa Monk to mow areas that the new mower would be used, so it is no longer needed. Langerman moved to take the action on a request to purchase a new replacement lawn mower for the waste water treatment plant, off the table. Goedken seconded. Roll call unanimous. Goedken moved to reject the purchase of the mower, Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Wolken reported the Monticello Golf Club would like to install an irrigation well, as their pumps keep failing. Nick Miller, representative of the Golf Club, advised their plans are to pump water from the river to the pond or directly into the irrigation system. Wolken advised they will need to get DNR approval prior to the installation. Miller advised they contacted the DNR and were told to get City’s approval prior to requesting DNR approval. Goedken moved to approve construction of an irrigation well at the Monticello Golf Club. Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous.
Council reviewed the proposed amendment to the sign ordinance to allow the Mission Cup coffee shop to keep their pole sign at 338 South Main Street, as staff was directed to prepare at prior Council meeting. Amendment was written to allow Council to consider each request regarding pole signs on a case-by-case basis. Gary Feldmann, 713 West First Street stated with all the people objecting to the sign ordinance, maybe it is time to scrap the code and admit it was an error. Gaylen Kray, 634 North Sycamore Street, advised he does not see an issue with allowing the pole sign. Lux introduced and moved Ordinance #743 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending Provisions Pertaining to Chapter 180 “Signage Regulations” related to Nonconforming Signs, first reading in title only. Brighton seconded. After further discussion, Lux moved to rescind her motion to introduce and move Ordinance #743 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending Provisions Pertaining to Chapter 180 “Signage Regulations” related to Nonconforming Signs, first reading in title only. Brighton seconded. Roll call unanimous. Lux moved to table Ordinance #743 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monticello, Iowa, by amending Provisions Pertaining to Chapter 180 “Signage Regulations” related to Nonconforming Signs. Langerman seconded. Roll call unanimous. Staff to look into rezoning property from C-2 to allow the sign for the next meeting.
Brighton left the meeting, so the meeting was adjourned due to a lack of a quorum at 7:47 PM. Council continued with staff reports and work session with no action taken.
Hinrichsen reported working with FEMA to update the Flood Plain Code and will bring it to Council for approval in July.
Tjaden reported the air make-up unit and the main blower at the wastewater treatment plant need to be replaced, with the estimated cost of $40,000 to $50,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Turnis reported the summer reading program is going well.
Oswald reported the first fundraiser for the playground at the Aquatic Center raised $1,400, which was golf tournament. On July 10th, the Aquatic Center fundraiser event will take place and the duck drop fudraiser will be held on August 28th. They will be selling ducks at Berndes Center, City Hall, Library and a few other locations in town.
Oswald reported DNR staff wearing green shirts is doing survey of trees on public property and right-of-ways and will provide a report and recommendation for City to put together a tree plan.
When asked, Smith reported City follows the State, so fireworks are allowed from June 1st to July 8th from 9 AM to 10 PM, except July 3rd and July 4th, they are allowed up to 11 PM.
Farnum reported that he gave the draft copy of Employee Handbook to department heads for review and will meet with attorney prior to bringing it to Council for approval.
Farnum has meeting tomorrow on the SRF loan with the wastewater treatment plant and other possible sponsored projects.
Farnum advised the Highway 38 overlay is scheduled to begin next year.
Farnum reported the City was awarded the Catalyst Grant for the Compadres building and will bring contract to next meeting.
Wolken reported Goedken, Yeoman and Audrey Savage helped him pick up the surveys and they collected 188. City needs 500, so City will do another mailing once ECICOG provides the list. If anyone has their survey, they are asked to call City Hall and someone will pick up the survey.
During work session, Farnum updated Council on various major capital projects including 7th Street (Cedar Street to Sycamore Street), Chestnut Street (2nd Street to 3rd Street), North Maple Street, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, 6th Street ditch, coordinating with State the Hwy 38 overlay in 2022 and the annual maintenance and sealcoating program. No action was taken.
Meeting ended at 10:00 PM.
Brian Wolken, Mayor
Sally Hinrichsen, City Clerk