PROCEEDINGS
OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, MARCH 6,
2006, 7:00 PM
The regular meeting
of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Reuben Wenndt.
Councilmembers present on roll call: Conrad, Olsen, Kroemer, Decker.
Visitors: Dawn York, Beth Fox, Mark Fox, Austin Lange, Derrick Lange,
Tim Drewelow,
Jan Olsen, Gene Hamdorf, Bill Norton, Steve Lacina.
Mayor Wenndt presented three names of people interested in the council seat vacated
by Roger Gottschalk: Dawn York, Bob Madden, and Rodney Lange.
M/S Kroemer, Conrad to appoint Bob Madden to the vacant seat. Ayes: Conrad, Olsen,
Kroemer. Nays: Decker.
M/S Decker, Olsen to approve the minutes of the 2-6-06 meeting. Ayes: All.
Visitor Austin Lange spoke to the council and wanted to know why his water shutoff
had to be dug up by JJJ Enterprises when the town maintenance men could have
located it with a metal detector. The digging expense of $80 is to be assessed
to Lange. Mayor Wenndt said if Austin had a delinquent bill and the water needed
to be shut off, the shut off needed to be repaired. Council felt possibly the
maintenance men could have looked further for the buried shutoff. Gene Hamdorf
stated they were not sure where the shut off was located.
After discussion, M/S Conrad, Olsen to have the City pay for ½ of the
digging bill, $40, and Austin Lange pay for 1/2 , $40. Ayes: All.
M/S Decker, Olsen to add “Little Home Day Care Center”to the agenda.
Ayes: All.
Bill Norton stated the City Council needed to approve three things to proceed
with the day care project. First, a building permit on behalf of Little Home
Day Care and the City of Lowden needs to be approved. Secondly, approval is needed
for Resolution #1-06 authorizing the City to enter into a contract with a bonding
attorney, and third, Resolution #2-06 stating the City will utilize small businesses,
minorities and women-owned businesses in the letting of bids needs approval.
M/S
Decker, Olsen to approve the building permit for Little Home Day Care Center,
Resolution #1-06 authorizing a contract with a bonding attorney and Resolution
#2-06 whereby the City will use small businesses, minorities and women-owned
businesses in the letting of bids. Ayes: All.
M/S Decker, Conrad to close the meeting and open the Public Hearing on the FY07
budget. Ayes: All. There being no oral or written comments on the budget, Mayor
Wenndt closed the
Public Hearing and opened the meeting. M/S Decker, Olsen to approve the budget
for FY07. Ayes: All.
M/S Kroemer, Olsen to close the meeting and open the Public Hearing on the proposed
zoning change from R-1 to C-1 at 309 Washington Avenue. Ayes: All.
Lisa Decker reported she and Anita Kruckenberg are going to open a gift and flower
shop in that location. Mayor Wenndt closed the Public Hearing and opened the
meeting. M/S Kroemer,
Conrad to have the 1st reading and waive the second and third readings of
Ordinance #770 approving the zoning change from Residential 1 to
Commercial 1 for property at 309 Washington Avenue. Ayes: All.
Lowden Park Board members, Jan Olsen and Tim Drewelow, were present
to inform the council they want to build a 18 x 32 open shelter west of the
softball food stand to allow for seating when people are eating. They are applying
for some grant money and other money has been set aside for the project. Council
asked the Park Board if they would check into having the badly cracked cement
floor in the south enclosed shelter repaired.
Park mowing bids were opened: Allen and Mikki Hamdorf-$2310, Cole Hamilton-$3440,
Randall Millam-$120/weekly, Jeff Goettsch-$2200, and Beth Fox-$2250 or $2275
which included trimming the ditch three times during the season.
M/S Kroemer, Decker to hire Beth Fox to do the summer mowing at Lowden Memorial
Park for $2275. Ayes: All.
One Park food stand manager bid was received: Julie Hoffmeier-$850.
M/S Conrad, Decker to hire Julie Hoffmeier to be the food stand manager at
Lowden Memorial Park for the summer. Ayes: All.
Three people were interested in cleaning the restrooms and opening shelters
at the Park: Pam Fitzgerald, Randall Millam, and Jana Goettsch. The position
will pay $10/hour. M/S Olsen, Conrad to hire Jana Goettsch to clean the Park
restrooms and open and close Park shelters for rentals. Ayes: All.
M/S Decker, Kroemer to approve the monthly financial report. Ayes: All.
Steve Lacina, CEDCO, was present and updated the City Council on their activities.
CEDCO was informed in January the City of Lowden would not be renewing their
membership with them effective July 1, 2006.
M/S Conrad, Kroemer to approve the following permits: curb and gutter-Lisa
Decker, sidewalk-Lisa Decker, Class B native wine permit-“Two Friends”,
liquor license-Good Times LLC, building permits-house-Imogene Rohling, house-Jason
Conrad, and house-Kenneth Dircks. Ayes: All.
M/S Kroemer, Olsen to purchase a new overhead door with two openers for the
town shed from Gritton Garage Doors at a cost of $653.00. Ayes: All. One other
estimate of $695 was presented from Eastern IA Overhead Door Co.
Gene Hamdorf reported they are using the phosphates in the water supply and
have seen an improvement in the rust problem. Gene said he will speak to Lee
Dexter about the tiling that needs to be done behind Gary Oster’s duplex.
Mayor Wenndt reported someone had tampered with the Road Closed sign on the
west edge of the Park and had moved it and driven across the bridge. Council
suggested he call the sheriff’s office and report the incident.
Clerk reported the Zoning Commission will have to meet to approve a 2-lot subdivision,
Conrad’s 1st Addition, since the area is within two miles of the corporate
limits of Lowden. After the Zoning Board’s approval, the final plat will
be presented to the Lowden City Council for approval.
City maintenance
men will check on large broken tree limbs at the Park and clean them
up.
M/S Decker, Olsen to adjourn @ 8:43 PM. Ayes: All
Next regular meeting is April 3, 2006, 7:00 PM.
