LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2005, 4:00 PM

The regular meeting of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Reuben Wenndt. Councilmembers present on roll call: Conrad, Gottschalk, Hamdorf, Decker. Visitors: Gene Hamdorf, Pat Kroemer, Kent Strackbein, Janice Strackbein.

M/S Hamdorf, Decker to approve the minutes of the 1-3-05 and 1-24-05 meetings with the following correction - in the 1-24-05 minutes, Gottschalk was an aye vote on the salary increases, not Conrad. Ayes: Conrad, Gottschalk, Hamdorf, Decker.

M/S Hamdorf, Conrad to approve payment of the bills as presented. Ayes: Conrad, Gottschalk, Hamdorf, Decker.

M/S Hamdorf, Conrad to seat Kroemer at 4:20 PM. Ayes: Conrad, Gottschalk, Hamdorf, Decker.

Kent and Janice Strackbein were present to discuss the problem with water discharging onto their property from their neighbor, Sam Tika. His sump pump and eavespouts drain onto the Strackbein property. Council said that water has also flooded the alley area and Little Home Day Care. Council noted Tika was directed last year to hook up to the City tile in the alley to eliminate this problem, but Tika has not done so. M/S Conrad, Decker to send Sam Tika a letter requesting he hook up his sump pump discharge and eavespout drainage to the City tile in the alley by March 15, 2005. Ayes: All.

M/S Hamdorf, Decker to donate $100 to the Lowden Tree Committee for a windbreak project in Lowden Memorial Park. Ayes: All.

Gene Hamdorf reported he has found the problem with the water treatment filters which has caused rust problems in the water system and there should be improvement in the water in the next couple of weeks. Mayor Wenndt stated the City should consider replacing old water mains a block at a time if the rust problem persists.

M/S Kroemer, Hamdorf to approve Resolution #02-05, whereby the City agrees to provide $1,215 of local in-kind money to meet the 25% local match requirement for funding the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and also approve Resolution #03-05, whereby the City authorizes ECIA to plan and file the grant with IA Homeland Security and Emergency Management for assistance in the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program. Ayes: All.

M/S Hamdorf, Conrad to declare March 7-11, 2005, as American Cancer Society Daffodil Days Week. Ayes: All.

M/S Hamdorf, Decker to approve a new contract with Friends of the Animals to change the amount they charge to pick up an animal from $40 to $50. Ayes: All.

Council discussed changing the parking on the west side of the old Sun-News building from diagonal to parallel. Some of the council felt trucks parking there stick out too far and obstruct vision at the intersection. Others felt with parallel parking there would be fewer spaces available. After discussion, M/S Kroemer, Hamdorf to change all parking on McKinley Avenue north of Main Street to parallel parking. Ayes: Gottschalk, Kroemer, Hamdorf, Decker. Nays: Conrad. City Clerk will prepare an ordinance for the first reading at the March 7, 2005 meeting.

Gene Hamdorf reported the wastewater pumps are repaired now, but if they go out again the City may need to consider different pumps.

M/S Hamdorf, Kroemer to approve the monthly financial report. Ayes: All.

Mayor Wenndt requested Gene and Tim both complete a work log for one month showing what they do hourly.

Mayor Wenndt and Councilperson Conrad will check into what type of paint can be used to paint the exterior of the City Shed and report back at the March council meeting.

Council was asked to bring their ideas to the next meeting regarding new sidewalks and/or ramp for the front of City Hall to comply with ADA guidelines.

M/S Conrad, Kroemer to approving a curb and gutter permit for Howard Fisher and a building permit for a house and garage addition for Dick and JoAnn Mensing. Ayes: All.

City will run another ad requesting bids to reshingle the north Park shelter specifying the shingles should be “25 yr, solid shingles”. Bids are to be returned by March 7, 2005, 12:00 PM.

Council will review the recommendations of Shoemaker and Haaland Engineers regarding the Pruess Third Addition preliminary plat map and discuss the issue at the March meeting.

M/S Hamdorf, Decker to adjourn at 5:28 PM. Ayes: All. Next regular meeting is March 7, 2005, 7:00 PM.

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