PROCEEDINGS
OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, APRIL 4,
2005, 7:00 PM
The
regular meeting of the Lowden City Council was called to order by
Mayor Reuben Wenndt. Councilpersons present on roll call: Conrad,
Gottschalk, Hamdorf, Decker, Kroemer. Visitors: Gene Hamdorf, Pat
Kroemer, Jan Olsen, Jason Miller, Jim Rice, Kent Stout, Amanda Becker,
Scott Morrison, Betty Jaeger,
Larry Nagle, Tim Drewelow, Bill Norton.
M/S Kroemer, Hamdorf to approve the minutes of the 3-7-05 and 3-23-05 meetings.
Ayes: All.
M/S Conrad, Decker to approve payment of the bills as presented. Ayes: All.
Kent Stout and Amanda Becker, representing Little Home Day Care Center, presented
for discussion the operating budget for the new day care center as submitted
by USDA. Also, Larry Nagle, ECIA, informed the council ECIA will be administering
the CDBG grant for the new day care center at a cost of $15000. M/S Hamdorf,
Decker to approve Resolution #05-05 approving the contract for 2005 CDBG grant
administration to ECIA for the new day care facility. Ayes: All.
Council discussed the project for remodeling the sidewalk and steps/ramp in front
of City Hall. Jim Rice said he could oversee the project and would volunteer
his time. Town maintenance men will do old sidewalk removal and prep work.
Council discussed the culvert on 4th Street in front of Marge Doser’s building.
Council said the City will jet out the culvert but not install a new one.
Scott Morrison and Betty Jaeger were present to ask the council to consider speed
bumps on Park Avenue to slow traffic by the school. They said there is a lot
of speeding in that area as well as on McKinley Ave. and 8th Street. They said,
for the safety of the children, there needs to be a stop sign or speed bumps
in that area to slow down the traffic. Gene Hamdorf was instructed by the Council
to check out regulations for the placement of speed bumps on a City streets and
present the information at the next meeting.
Jason Miller, MSA, was present to ask if the City wished to proceed with the
water tower project without grant funding, and secure a 20-year, 3%, $600,000
loan from the DNR. Miller feels the CDBG grant was denied because the City’s
water rates are too low. Required environmental clearances could be done in the
next few months by MSA at an estimated cost of $2000 if the City decides to receive
DNR funding. Council will consider the project and decide at the May meeting
whether to proceed with a DNR loan for the whole project or wait to apply for
another CDBG grant which would be awarded in March 2006.
Council decided to appoint a Park Committee to help oversee and prioritize Park
projects. They decided on a three-person committee with one being a councilmember
and the members would serve a 2-year term. M/S Decker, Conrad to appoint Tim
Drewelow, Jan Olsen, and Dan Hamdorf to the Park Committee for a 2-year term.
Ayes: All.
M/S Conrad, Kroemer
to approve the Preliminary Plat for the Pruess Third Addition. Ayes:
All. Clerk will inform Harlan Pruess that his engineer may now prepare
the Final Plat for the addition with the recommendations made by
the City’s Engineer, Shoemaker & Haaland.
M/S Hamdorf, Decker to donate $1500 from the City’s Beautification Fund
to the Lowden Garden Club for the cement walking path at Lowden Memorial Park.
Ayes: All.
M/S Hamdorf, Decker to have the first reading of Ordinance #763 establishing
parallel parking on both sides of McKinley Avenue from Main Street to 10th
Street. Ayes: All.
M/S Hamdorf, Decker to put additional lighting in the City Hall meeting room
Ayes: All. This will aid in better lighting for voters in elections. Clerk
will contact an electrician to do the work.
Gene Hamdorf reported they will be putting in separate water shutoffs at the
Good Times and Main Street Style. He also reported they are putting the sand
in the water filters, will flush hydrants next week, and then the rust problem
in town should be greatly improved. Gene asked the council if they want to
continue adding fluoride to the City’s water as it is not required. Mayor
Wenndt said he will check with other towns to see if they add fluoride to the
water.
Council discussed the drainage at Sam Tika’s property. He was sent a
letter on 2/10/05 to hook his sump pump and eavespouts onto the City tile in
the alley by 3/15/05. At this date, he has not done so. City Clerk will contact
the City Attorney and ask for assistance in the enforcement of this.
M/S Decker, Hamdorf to approve the following building permits: Jason Conrad-house,
and Chris Boedeker-shed. Ayes: All.
Council discussed the tree removal project and ditch cleanout on the corner
of Grant Ave. and 4th Street. JJJ Enterprises started the project for the City
several months ago and have not completed the project and have left the area
looking poorly. JJJ has been contacted by the City Hall several times asking
for the completion of this project. Councilman Hamdorf will contact JJJ to
finish the project.
M/S Hamdorf, Decker to amend the agenda to add: “Appoint Library Board
Members”and then approve the appointment of Kyle Proesch and Laurie Millam
as Library Board members. Ayes: All.
M/S Conrad, Decker to adjourn at 9:03 PM. Ayes: All. Next regular meeting is
May 2, 2005, 7:00 PM.
