PROCEEDINGS
OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, JANUARY 9,
2006, 7:00 PM
The regular meeting
of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Reuben Wenndt.
Council members present on roll call: Conrad, Decker, Kroemer, Olsen.
Absent: Gottschalk. Visitors: Josh Chappell, Matt Chappell, and Gene Hamdorf.
M/S Kroemer, Decker to approve the minutes of the 12-05-05 meeting.
Ayes: All.
M/S Conrad, Decker to approve payment of the bills as presented. Ayes: All.
M/S Decker, Conrad to approve payment of the CDBG Bills-Draw #3, Gardner Architects-$2993.00
and ECIA-Inv.#3724-$107.73. Ayes: All.
Josh Chappell was present to inform the council, as part of a Boy Scout project,
he would like to paint crosswalks at some of the major intersections in Lowden.
These crosswalks could eliminate the roll-out stop signs at Washington and
8th Street and McKinley and 7th Street. M/S Decker, Olsen to approve Chappell’s
project. Ayes: All. Josh will get requirements from the IDOT and keep the council
informed about the project.
M/S Conrad, Kroemer to open the Public Hearing on the zoning change at 105
4th Street for Chad Hintz. Ayes: All.
There being no oral or written objections, M/S Decker, Olsen to close the Public
Hearing and open the council meeting. Ayes: All.
M/S Conrad, Decker to waive the first and second readings, have the third reading
and pass Ordinance #769 changing the zoning at 105 4th Street from Residential
1 to Commercial 1 to allow for a storage shed unit. Ayes: All.
A petition from Lowden residents calling for a special election to fill the
council seat vacated by Dan Hamdorf in November was presented to the council.
Bob Kroemer was appointed by the council in December to fill the unexpired
term. M/S Olsen, Decker to call for a special election on March 14, 2006, to
fill the unexpired term of Dan Hamdorf. Ayes: Conrad, Decker, Olsen. Abstain:
Kroemer. Nomination papers for the council seat can be obtained at City Hall
and are due by January 26, 2005, 5:00 PM, to City Hall.
Council approved a 33% water and sewer rate increase at the December meeting.
Clerk will prepare some water bill examples showing the increase and present
the information at the City’s budget meeting later in January.
Council decided to not make any additions to the Iowa State law regarding
the residences of sex offenders. They cannot live within 2000’feet
of a school or registered day care facility.
Correspondence from LEDCO indicated they would like to withdraw membership
with the Cedar County Economic Development Commission. M/S Conrad, Kroemer
to withdraw membership with CEDCO effective 7/1/06. Ayes: All.
Mayor Wenndt made the committee appointments for 2006.
Council discussed a zoning change for property at 309 Washington Avenue as
presented by Lisa Decker. Decker and Anita Kruckenberg would like to purchase
the house and want to turn it into a retail gift shop. Zoning would have to
change from Residential 1 to Commercial 1. M/S Kroemer, Conrad to turn the
issue over to the Lowden Zoning Board for consideration of a zoning change.
Ayes: All.
M/S Decker, Kroemer to approve the monthly financial report. Ayes: All.
Mayor reported the vote on the 1% local option tax is January 17. It is important
for Lowden residents to vote since Lowden would receive 3.7% of the option
tax, an amount of $35,000-40,000 a year if the vote passes in our town. This
money could be used for improvements to the City’s water tower, water
lines, sewer lines and streets.
Mayor presented a written police report from the Sheriff’s office.
Clerk will contact Wes Fox about a leak in the City Hall roof.
Council set January 30, 7:00 PM, for a FY07 budget meeting.
M/S Conrad, Decker to adjourn at 8:15 PM. Ayes: All.
