LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER. 11, 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, Madden. Absent: Decker. Visitors: Brian Stark, Roger Stoakes, Pat Kroemer, Eben Conner, Jane Drewelow, Tim Drewelow, Jay Weiland, Bill Norton, Kent Stout, Nic Kauffman, Rob Hunter, Gene Hamdorf, Dick Mensing, Joann Mensing, Mark Fox, Rose Boedeker, Michael Gray, Ruben Gonzalez, Dave Lindaman, Jim Rice, Joyce Rice, Barb McCreight, Everett Kruckenberg, Jan Olsen.

M/S Olsen, Ryan to approve the minutes of the 8-7-06 council meeting. Ayes: All.

M/S Conrad, Madden to pay the bills as presented. Ayes: All.

Brian Stark, Gardner Architects, presented information on the award bid for construction of the new day care center. Lowden Plumbing and Heating’s bid was $586,069 with the alternate bid of $50,080 equaling a total bid of $636,149.

M/S Ryan, Conrad to award the bid for construction of the new day care center to Lowden Plumbing and Heating, $636,149. Ayes: All.

M/S Olsen, Madden to amend the agenda to add: Legal Service Agreement for Bond Counsel for the Day Care Center Project. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Olsen to amend the agenda to add: Amendment to the Letter of Conditions of the Rural Development Grant for the Day Care Center Project Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Conrad to approve the legal service agreement with Dorsey and Whitney as bond counsel for the day care center project. Ayes: All.

M/S Olsen, Madden to approve the amendment to the letter of conditions to include a $80,850 Rural Development grant for the day care center project. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Madden to amend the management agreement for the day care center project. Ayes: All.

At the request of Bill Norton, discussion on the Medical Clinic ramp was tabled until the October meeting.

M/S Madden, Ryan to close the meeting and open the Public Hearing on the rezoning of 310 Grant Avenue from Residential 1 to Commercial 1. Ayes: All.

Chad Hintz wants to build multiple storage units on his property at 310 Grant Ave. and 105 4th Street. Concerns were voiced from Rose Boedeker who owns the house at 104 Main Street. Her house shares the alley behind the proposed area to be rezoned. She felt there would be more trash and more traffic in that area and when she bought the house, it was a residential area. Joann Mensing and Everett Kruckenberg, other neighbors, were concerned about a muddy alley with ruts and how people would access the garages. Everett also said the sewer connection on those two lots where mobile homes were removed, needs to be disconnected. Gene Hamdorf will contact Chad Hintz regarding this. Councilperson Ryan said the lot at 105 4th Street was already rezoned from R-1 to C-1 in January 2006 to allow for these storage garages. Council said the alley would be graveled and maintained.

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

M/S Conrad, Ryan to rezone 310 Grant Avenue from Residential 1 to Commercial 1 to allow for multiple storage units to be built by Chad Hintz. Ayes: All.

Mayor Wenndt reported Evan Ruchotzke will be painting house numbers on curbs as part of his Eagle Scout project. City will provide the paint.

Tim Drewelow asked the council why the Park Board wasn’t contacted about their opinion on considering a skateboard park on the tennis courts at Lowden Memorial Park. He questioned the liability issue, a fence for the area, who would supervise, age limits, equipment, etc. Jan Olsen, Barb McCreight, and Joyce Rice stated they are concerned about the lack of respect for equipment and plantings by skateboarders. The City’s ordinance states there will be no skateboarding on the sidewalks or streets on Washington Avenue and Main Street. Mark Fox, when mowing at Lowden Memorial Park, has seen skateboarders in the open shelter using picnic tables for jumping. Drewelow said he wasn’t against a skateboard park, but the place for one is not in Lowden Memorial Park. Rob Hunter presented some plans for a skateboard park and said they would try to raise the money for the project. Nic Kauffman said they want a place to skateboard instead of the streets. After discussion, M/S Ryan, Olsen to table the issue until the October meeting to see if there is an alternate site that would be appropriate for a skateboard park. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Olsen to have the first reading of Ordinance #776 making it unlawful for semi-trucks to use jake brakes within the City limits of Lowden. Ayes: All.

M/S Olsen, Ryan to have the first reading of Ordinance #777 concerning inoperable abandoned vehicles whereby the City can post the vehicle with a 48-hour notice and proceed with a notice of abatement to remove the vehicle within 10 days. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Olsen to have the first reading of Ordinance #778 prohibiting vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 13,500 pounds or more (semi-trucks, dump trucks, etc.) from parking on the streets in the City limits of Lowden Ayes: All.

Clerk will look into the IDOT “Sidewalks to School Program”. Concerns have been raised about no sidewalks in Lowden east of Roosevelt Avenue to the 3-30 Club and beyond.

Mayor Wenndt has checked with City Carton Co. about a cardboard baler for cardboard. A reconditioned vertical baler would cost $6225. City Carton would allow $800-$1200 for a trade-in on the current baler the City owns. Council told Mayor to ask City Carton if the city could purchase the baler for $5000 including the trade-in. Mayor Wenndt will report back at the October meeting.

M/S Olsen, Mayor to give $100 to David DeWine for the Fire Department’s use of his lift to clean the eavespouts at City Hall. Ayes: All. Chuck Ryan will check with some companies to see if the City can get bigger eavespouts on City Hall.

M/S Olsen, Ryan to approve the FY06 Road Use Report. Ayes: All.

M/S Conrad, Olsen to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for housing rehabilitation through ECIA with the City supplying a local match of $7500. Ayes: All.

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

Gene Hamdorf will talk to Bill Norton about a water main extension and hydrant 400 feet west on 8th Street past the elementary school where the new day care center will be built.

Mayor Wenndt informed the council the solid waste assessment in Cedar County will raise from $10.50/cubic yd. to $12.00/cubic yd in FY08.
P.3 September 11, 2006

Mayor Wenndt told Gene Hamdorf to trim trees in town this month.

M/S Ryan, Conrad to approve the following building permits: Marilyn Lafrenz-deck, porch landing, Jim Rice-portable carport shed, Dean Behrens-deck. Ayes: All.

Clerk will get estimates on one or two trees that need to be removed near 403 Hall Avenue and have them removed per the Mayor’s approval.

Council directed Clerk to send letters to JJJ Enterprises to clean up their property west of the library, and to Rex Feed to level out the dirt at the old elevator site.

M/S Ryan, Madden to adjourn at 9:45 PM. Ayes: All.

Next regular meeting will be October 2, 2006, 7:00 PM.

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