LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, JULY 10, 2006, 7:00 PM

The regular meeting of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Reuben Wenndt. Council members present on roll call: Conrad, Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Madden. Visitors: Gene Hamdorf, Pat Kroemer, Bill Norton, Clint Henning, Joey Wenndt, Craig Power, Jess Heileman, Angela Wadsworth, Ann Terlisner, Marilyn Lafrenz, Bob Kroemer, Donna Sander, Rob Hunter, Roger Huffman, Pearl Huffman, Julie Goodell, Terry Ruchotzke, Evan Ruchotzke, David Boettcher.

M/S Olsen, Decker to approve the minutes of the 6/5/06 meeting with the deletion of “Jim Leeper will do the curb and gutter work on Washington Avenue”.
Ayes: All.

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

Visitors Ann Terlisner and Angela Wadsworth expressed concern to the City Council about the City’s ordinance on dog bites. Their children were bitten on July 4 by a dog running at large. Since the owner of the dog has not produced a rabies immunization record for the dog, they are anticipating their children will have to undergo rabies shots. Wadsworth asked the council if the City should have a tougher ordinance to address dog bites. Bill Norton said the State statutes should be in force regarding dog bites. Mayor Wenndt said the City’s law enforcement agency, the Cedar County Sheriff, has been working on the issue and said the incident has been unfortunate. Councilman Olsen agreed to call Phil LaRue, Cedar County Public Health, on Tuesday morning. Council will also review its ordinances relative to dogs.

Craig Power, Power Enterprises, was present to inform the council the roof on the City Hall has wood shake shingles under the top shingles. They did not know this when they put in a bid to remove the top layer of shingles and put on a new roof. He said they could go over the wood shakes or remove the wood shakes and add decking at an extra cost for labor with materials supplied by the City. Power said the additional cost would be $1425. Councilman Olsen said the City would meet them halfway on the cost. Councilman Conrad said Power’s original bid said they would remove the shingles and did not indicate how many layers there were so the bid should not be changed. M/S Decker, Olsen to approve the addendum to the original bid for the new roof on the north side of City Hall by Power Enterprises, $1425. Ayes: Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Madden. Nays: Conrad.

Evan Ruchotzke told the Council he wants to do an Eagle Scout project for the town and would like suggestions. It was suggested to do 911 house numbers on all houses in Lowden or on the curb or front steps. M/S Ryan, Olsen to have Evan Ruchotzke do an Eagle Scout project in Lowden whereby 911 house numbers will be placed on all houses/businesses. Ayes: All. City will supply the paint and stencils, if necessary.

M/S Olsen, Decker to close the meeting and open the Public Hearing on the zoning change from Residential 1 to Commerical 1 at 702 Main St. Ayes: All.

Discussion followed involving neighbors in the 702 Main Street area, Huffman’s and Marilyn Lafrenz. They wanted to make sure the property would not turn into a junkyard or something of that nature. Council assured them that would not be allowed.

M/S Decker, Madden to close the Public Hearing and open the meeting. Ayes: All.

M/S Madden, Ryan to rezone the property at 702 Main Street from Residential 1 to Commercial 1. Ayes: All. The City Zoning Board has already approved this change.

Gene Hamdorf reported he has already worked on the drainage problem by Gary Oster’s and hopes the problem is corrected.

Joe Wenndt, told the council the Fire Department would like to start at Junior Firefighter program. The youth would have to be 15-17 years old. They would be helpers but would not be directly involved in fighting a fire. Council approved the program and told Joe to report back to the Council in the next few months how the program is progressing.

After discussion, M/S Ryan, Conrad to have the people interested in a skateboard park come back to the council with a plan for equipment, rules, etc. for skateboarding. Ayes: All. Council said City will not pay for equipment but will consider the tennis court area at the Park for skateboarding. Rob Hunter said he will relay the information to Randy Millam.

M/S Ryan, Decker to have the first reading of Ordinance #775 limiting the number of pets per household to 4. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Madden to waive the second reading of Ordinance #774, have the third reading and adopt Ordinance #774 establishing a ban on burning within the City limits of Lowden. Ayes: All.

M/S Decker, Ryan to have the first reading of an ordinance to eliminate the use of jake brakes on semi trucks entering Lowden from the north, at the Aug. 7
City Council meeting. Ayes: Conrad, Ryan, Olsen, Decker. Nays: Madden.

M/S Decker, Ryan to approve Resolution #09-06 establishing salaries for City employees for FY07. Ayes: All.

M/S Olsen, Decker to approve Resolution #06-06 setting a public hearing date on August 7, 2006, 7:00 PM, for a revenue loan agreement not to exceed $395,000 for the Little Home Day Care project. Ayes: All.

M/S Madden, Ryan to approve Resolution #07-06 setting a public hearing date on August 7, 2006, 7:00 PM, to approve a Ground Lease with North Cedar Community School District for the Little Home Day Care project. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Decker to approve Resolution #08-06 setting a public hearing date on August 7, 2006, 7:00 PM, on proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the Little Home Day Care project and the taking of bids. Ayes: All.

Bill Norton presented information on a revised handicap entrance on the east side of the Lowden Medical and Dental Clinic. He would like the council to look at the sidewalk area and have the subject placed on the August meeting agenda to discuss.

Gene Hamdorf reported they had bladed and graveled the alley behind Kim Steinke between Jefferson Avenue and Hall Avenue. They will also be doing the alley behind Charlene Bixler between Jefferson Avenue and Hall Avenue.

Gene reported it would cost approximately $3000 to install a culvert along the north side of 1st Street east of Roosevelt Avenue. Instead of that, Council told Gene to mow the weeds and grass along 1st Street with a sickle mower.

Gene said Dean Dettbarn will now be doing the mowing for the City and will also help with garbage pickup when he or Tim are gone.

M/S Ryan, Conrad to approve the following permits: Good Times LLC-cigarette permit, Lowden Legion-transfer liquor license to Lowden Memorial Park on 8-6-06, pending all paperwork is received at City Hall, David Holst-deck, Chad Hintz-storage units, pending zoning change at 310 Grant Avenue, Penny Morrison-garage addition, pending proper distance specifications are met, Paul Wisor-deck, Two Friends Gift & Flower Shop-deck. Ayes: All.

Mayor Wenndt asked the Council to come to a NIMS training meeting ½ hour before the August 7 City Council meeting with Joey Wenndt being the trainer.

Councilman Olsen reported he had spoken to Sam Tika about semi-trucks parking at his business along Highway 30. Tika said that would be fine if they parked along the far west side of his property. An ordinance will be prepared for the August meeting whereby semi-truck parking in Lowden will not be permitted.

M/S Decker, Ryan to amend the agenda to add “sewer jetter”. Ayes: All.

Mayor Wenndt said the seven Cities that own the sewer jetter have agreed some additional money is needed to help keep the jetter fund solvent. A $.50/per capita fee is recommended.

M/S Olsen, Madden to send $397.00 to the sewer jetter fund. Ayes: All.

M/S Conrad, Ryan to adjourn at 9:15 PM. Ayes: All.

Next regular meeting is August 7, 2006, 7:00 PM.

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