LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, SPECIAL MEETING, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2006, 7:00 PM

The special meeting of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Reuben Wenndt. Councilmembers present on roll call: Conrad, Olsen, Decker, Kroemer. Absent: Gottschalk. Visitors: Karen Hart, Tessa Holst, Gene Hamdorf, Pat Kroemer, Joe Wenndt, Clint Henning.

A written resignation from Roger Gottschalk from the Lowden City Council was presented and accepted. Council will consider an appointment to the council seat at the Feb. 6 meeting.

M/S Kroemer, Decker to approve the following Day Care Center Project bills:
CDBG –Gardner Architecture-$3,800, Shoemaker & Haaland-$929, and Local-
Gardner Architecture #1-$630, #2-$2,677, #3-$4,200, Shoemaker & Haaland-$1,026. Ayes: All.

Council discussed the situation whereby the residents at 207 Main Street removed the water meter from their water pipes and the water was not being metered. Maintenance man Tim Burmeister discovered the removed meter when he went into the home to check why there had been no water usage showing on the outside reader. Mayor Wenndt said that is tampering with City property and the residents should be charged with a misdemeanor or criminal mischief. Councilman Conrad questioned whether the meter had been removed at other times. After discussion, M/S Conrad, Olsen to impose a $100.00 fine upon Jeff and Lisa Decker for tampering with a water meter. Ayes: All

Library board members, Karen Hart and Tessa Holst, presented the library’s budget request for FY07, $28,184. showing an increase of $1,300 from the previous year.

Joe Wenndt and Clint Henning, Lowden Fire Dept., presented their budget request of $26,000, up $1940 from FY06. Joe Wenndt said the Rescue was asking the same amount as last year, $5,925.

M/S Decker, Olsen to approve the Lowden Library, Lowden Rescue, and Lowden Fire Department budget requests for FY07. Ayes: All.

Council discussed pay increases for the maintenance men and City Clerk.

M/S Kroemer, Conrad to increase Gene Hamdorf’s wage from $13.73/hr. to $14.25/hr., and Tim Burmeister’s wage from $12.45/hr. to $12.90/hr, and a $200/yr. increase in their $3,600/year stipend for insurance. Ayes: Conrad, Decker, Kroemer. Nays: Olsen.

M/S Conrad, Decker to raise the City Clerk’s salary by 4% to $13,375/yr. and increase her insurance stipend by $75 to $200/month. Ayes: All.

Councilman Kroemer exited the meeting.

M/S Olsen, Decker to increase the wage of Lucille Horman, City Hall cleaning lady from $8.40/hr. to $10.00/hr. Ayes: All.

Council will also budget $3,0000 for a water main replacement project on Hall Avenue and $6,000 for a cardboard baler. Police protection from Cedar County will increase from $28,584 to $29,156 from Cedar County.

Gene Hamdorf asked the council to consider budgeting for a radio read program to read water meters. There would be an initial startup cost of $10,000 for the software and the cost for meters would be $116/each. Approximately 400 meters would be needed for Lowden. Council said they would discuss this further when addressing the frequency of water billing.

A public hearing on the FY07 budget will be held March 6, 2006, 7:00 PM.

M/S Conrad, Decker to adjourn at 9:26 PM. Ayes: All.

Next regular meeting is February 6, 2006, 7:00 PM.

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