LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008, 7:00 PM, CITY HALL

The regular meeting of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Dan Hamdorf. Council members present on roll call: Conrad, Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Tucker. Visitors: Pat Kroemer, Gene Hamdorf, Rob Hunter, Dave Lindaman, Jan Olsen, Kent Stout, Dave Dewell, Larre Petersen, Joe Goodlove, Kirk Hein, Joyce Turner, Rick Turner.

M/S Conrad, Decker to approve the minutes of the 3/3/08 and 3/27/08 meetings. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Olsen to approve payment of the bills as presented. Ayes: All.

Kent Stout and Dave Lindaman, representing Little Home Day Care, were present to discuss the curb and gutter that will be installed soon at the center. They will be using some of the remaining USDA funds for the project. Last fall the City agreed to pay for ½ of the curb and gutter at a cost to the City of approximately $800-$1000. The Street Committee will meet with day care representatives to ensure the curb and gutter is installed correctly.

Joe Goodlove, Lowden Historical Society, informed the council they will be taking pictures of all the houses in Lowden for their records. He also told the council members the Lincoln Highway Association will be traveling through Lowden on August 8 and a refreshment stand will be available for the visitors.

M/S Conrad, Ryan to transfer a building permit approved on 12/3/07 for Larre Petersen, steel pole building, for placement at the old Rex Feed property on Main Street instead of south of the bins on south Yankee Avenue. Ayes: All. Petersen said the building would be 150' from the railroad tracks.

Council discussed the purchase of a radio read water meter system in Lowden. Olsen asked Gene Hamdorf if the new water meters would generate more revenue for the town. Gene said more accurate readings could increase revenues and he said some of the old meters need to be replaced anyway. Council was hesitant to approve the $70,000 to implement this radio read system and Councilman Ryan suggested the issue be tabled until more information about the system is available. Mayor Dan Hamdorf said he would check further and contact other towns who have the radio read meter system.

The Street Committee will be looking at streets in the new few weeks to list work that needs to be done. Base work will be done soon on north McKinley Avenue and a section of Jefferson Avenue. Council indicated they want MSI to do summer street work in mid-June.

M/S Ryan, Conrad to hire Allison Deppe and Lisa Decker for food stand manager at the Lowden Memorial Park, their bid being $1250. Ayes: Conrad, Ryan, Olsen, Tucker. Abstain: Decker. One other bid was received after the bid submittal deadline from Robert Tucker, $1890.

M/S Conrad, Ryan to hire Allison Deppe and Lisa Decker for cleaning at Lowden Memorial Park at $10.00/hr. Ayes: Conrad, Ryan, Olsen, Tucker. Abstain: Decker. Mary Kofron, Stanwood, also applied for that position.

Council accepted Tim Drewelow's resignation from the Park Board.

M/S Olsen, Decker to add Larry Wiebel as a member of the Lowden Memorial Park Board. Ayes: All.

Mayor Hamdorf reported he will appoint a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning Team
in the next few days.

M/S Ryan, Decker to approve a new 10-year Cedar County Solid Waste Commission 28E agreement. Ayes: All.

City Clerk will get estimates from several tree removal services for estimates on removing three damaged trees in the City's right-of-way at 401 Hall Avenue, 500 Washington Avenue, and 701 Washington Avenue.

Mayor Hamdorf will speak to Tim Wadsworth about the City digging out a culvert on the property at 907 Washington Avenue. Rick and Joyce Turner, owner of a house at 908 Washington Avenue, were present at the meeting and told the council water is not draining through the culvert on the east side of Washington Avenue and causes water problems in that area.

Council directed maintenance men to remove the cement at the old day care center, haul in dirt from Conrad Trucking at $125/load, level and seed the area.

Gene Hamdorf will get a price from Northway Well for replacement of piping in the water treatment plant.

In the next several months, the City will be replacing water curb boxes that are not operable. This will be at the homeowner's expense per City Code.

The Public Hearing for a FY08 budget amendment was set for May 5, 2008, 7:00 PM.

M/S Decker, Tucker to adjourn at 8:33 PM to the next regular meeting on
May 5, 2008, 7:00 PM. Ayes: All.

Dan Hamdorf, Mayor
Peggy Kedley, City Clerk

<< BACK