LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

PROCEEDINGS OF LOWDEN CITY COUNCIL, REGULAR MEETING, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2007, 5:30 PM

The regular meeting of the Lowden City Council was called to order by Mayor Reuben Wenndt. Council members present on roll call: Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Madden.

M/S Ryan, Olsen to approve the minutes of the 10/1/07 meeting. Ayes: Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Madden.

M/S Olsen, Madden to seat Conrad @ 5:34 PM. Ayes: Ryan, Olsen, Decker, Madden.

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

Rob Hunter, visitor, presented a list to the council of equipment at the Park that need repairs and he wanted a time frame of when the repairs would be done. Mayor said they would look over the list and have the repairs done by spring.

Myra Barrette, presented a permit for a fence and objected to having to do a survey to establish her property lines. She said the fence she is putting in is for her dogs and well within her property lines. M/S Olsen, Decker to approve a fence permit for Myra Barrette. Ayes: All. Gene Hamdorf is to check proper placement of the fence.

M/S Olsen, Decker to approve a fence permit for Tom Schwarz. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Decker to approve a fence for Shawn Van Gundy to replace the existing fence with set back on the south side to be one ft. in from the sidewalk. Ayes: All.

M/S Ryan, Decker to approve a building permit for Pam Jensen –shed. Ayes: All.

Two bids were received for a City-wide audit for FY07. The audit is required due to federal funds received for the day care project. Auditor of State bid - $9825, and Donald Dietz, Elkader, bid - $3850. Bill Norton, day care representative, questioned if the City should pay for part of the audit since an audit of all City books is necessary, not just the day care portion. Since the City is required to have an audit every 4 yrs., and FY07 is only the third year in the sequence, City Clerk will contact the State Auditor’s office to see if another audit will be required for FY08. If not, the City may be able to pay for a portion of the audit. M/S Ryan, Decker to accept the low bid from Donald Dietz, $3850. for an audit of FY07. Ayes: All.

M/S Conrad, Olsen to accept the only bid received for winter snow removal from JJJ Enterprises - $75/ea. per hr. for backhoe and endloader, and $50/hr. for dump truck. Ayes: All.

Council discussed comp. time accumulated by the maintenance men. Mayor Wenndt felt the men aren’t getting jobs done because of the absences when using up their comp. time. Gene Hamdorf said if they did away with comp. time, he would like 5 personal days. After discussion, M/S Ryan, Madden to allow comp. hours up to 40 hrs. a year and overtime pay after 40 hrs. comp. time earned. Ayes: All.

M/S Conrad, Decker to have Del Kruckenberg install 200 amp. electrical service to the City Hall at a cost of $1833.26 with part of the electrical service going to the fire station, historical building, and City Hall. Ayes: All.

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

M/S Ryan, Olsen to have councilman Chuck Ryan check out prices, with the cost not to exceed $500, and go ahead with the purchase of an electric hoist/lift for lifting the street sander and leaf collection box from the dump truck. Ayes: All.

City Clerk will advertise the old cardboard baler in the League of Cities magazine.

City Clerk will check with ECIA about applying for a grant for a new water tower.

Maintenance men were directed to mow two lawns at 104 and 106 Hall Ave. and bill the property owner $100 for each lawn mowed.

Council reviewed a letter from Alice Lopez concerning designation of Lowden as a “Quiet Zone”for train horns.

M/S Olsen, Decker to give a gift certificate of $50 to Chuck Ryan for donating his time and equipment for painting the town shed and fire station. Ayes: Conrad, Olsen, Decker, Madden. Abstain: Ryan.

Mayor Wenndt told Council he and Gene had looked at the property at 806 McKinley Ave. after having a complaint about unsightly junk there. They found no problem with the property.

Council person Decker will negotiate details of a new contract with Friends of Animals, Tipton, about animal pickup in Lowden.

M/S Decker, Olsen to adjourn at 7:15 PM. Ayes: All.

Next regular meeting is December 3, 2007, 5:30 PM.


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