LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2007, 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, Madden. Absent: Decker. Visitors: Tim Burmeister, Gene Hamdorf, Pat Kroemer, Jeff Kaufmann, Don Licht.

M/S Ryan, Conrad to approve the minutes of the 7-2-07 meeting. Ayes: All.

M/S Conrad, Olsen to approve payment of the bills as presented. Ayes: All. The bill from QC Networks for the Lowden Welcome banner at a cost of $475 will be partially reimbursed from the Lowden Commercial Club and LEDCO.

Don Licht was present and thanked the City for a well-done Sesquicentennial celebration. He also wanted more information on the 155th St. bridge replacement project north of the Lincolnway Flower Farm property. Council told him to contact the Cedar County Engineer for spec. information on the bridge project.

Jeff Kaufmann, IA State Representative, was present to update the Council on current issues.

M/S Ryan, Olsen to waive the second reading, have the third reading, and adopt Ordinance #779 whereby rollout stop signs will be placed on 8th Street north of the Little Home Learning Center from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Ayes: All. City will furnish the signs and the day care will be responsible for making the rollout signs.

USDA made a recommendation for widening the street north of the new day care center. They thought curb and gutter could be installed west of the day care to the creek and also on the north side of the street with a turn around area before the bridge. This would allow for better drop off and pick up of children at the center. According to figures Gene Hamdorf had obtained, the whole project could cost $20,000. Council agreed to look at the area at 6:45 p.m. before the next council meeting on September 10.

Mayor Wenndt said the day care has been watering sod from the fire hydrant without the water being metered. Gene Hamdorf said it would be hard to put a meter on the hydrant with all the connections for watering. Some council thought the water should be metered and others thought it didn’t need to be.
M/S Ryan, Olsen to allow the day care center to water their sod at no charge, with no metering of water used. Ayes: Ryan, Olsen. Nays: Conrad, Madden. Motion not passed. Clerk suggested charging a flat fee for the water use. M/S Conrad, Madden to have the City install a meter on the hydrant and meter the water used for watering sod at the day care center. Ayes: Conrad, Madden. Nays: Ryan, Olsen. Motion not passed.

Council discussed the creek area east of Wayne Behne between Hall Avenue and Grant Avenue. Behne said the creek is eroding away and the City never provided him with planks and posts, as promised several years ago, to shore it up. Maintenance men said they had the materials but Behne never picked them up. Mayor said he will contact the County Engineer and see if there are used planks and posts available and maintenance men will be in contact with Behne.

Council discussed purchasing a leaf collector for the fall season since there is no longer burning allowed in Lowden. Chuck Ryan collected information on leaf collectors with prices ranging from $15,000 to $6000 for used and new units. M/S Conrad, Ryan to purchase an X-treme Vac for leaf collection at a cost of $7250 from ODM Company. Ayes: All. The unit will be pulled by the City’s large dump truck Cost includes delivery.

Council discussed the southeast curb area at the corner of Washington Avenue and 5th Street. Council said that curb radius can be redone if new sidewalks at that residence are installed.

M/s Ryan, Madden to approve the 28E agreement between the City and Cedar County
for bridge replacement on 155th St. Ayes: All.

Mayor Wenndt and Council discussed issues with the maintenance men’s work performance. Council told maintenance men to stay on task.

M/S Olsen, Ryan to approve the monthly financial report. Ayes: All.

M/s Ryan, Madden to approve the following permits: Lowden Fast Stop-Liquor License, Everett Kroemer-building permit for fence, and Pam Jensen-building permit for deck at 301 Hall Avenue. Ayes: All.

Mayor Wenndt will speak to the Cedar County Sheriff about problems with skateboarders.

A new air conditioner unit will be ordered from Olsen’s for the Clerk’s office.

A letter of resignation was read from Joe Wenndt as a member of Lowden Rescue for nearly 30 years.

A letter was received from Kelli Hamilton objecting to the letter they received from the City of Lowden reminding 15 residents along the Sesquicentennial Parade route to made sure their properties were tidy for the parade on August 4. Councilmen Conrad and Madden said the letters should not have been sent from the City.

Next regular meeting will be September 10, 2007, 7:00 PM. Council will gather at 6:45 PM at Little Home Learning Center to look at 8th Street in that location.
M/S Madden, Ryan to adjourn @ 9:10 PM. Ayes: All.

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