City of Russell
Council Meeting
November 6, 2017, 7
p.m.
Present: Duane
Bedford, Terry Newcomb, Chris Feehan, Corey Paige, Jay Pierschbacher, Jeff
Johnson, Jim Larrington, Brian Beaty, and Charles Musick. Casey
DeHoedt did not attend.
Duane Bedford called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Minutes were read and approved; Chris Feehan made the motion
to approve as read and Corey Paige seconded the motion. Minutes were approved unanimously 5-0.
Chris motioned to approve the Income and Expense reports; Terry
seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously 5-0.
Larry Templeton was on the agenda to discuss property line fencing,
but did not attend.
Charles Musick addressed the Council regarding property that
he was planning to purchase and had questions regarding surrounding rundown and
abandoned properties. The mayor said
that owners still had time to pay up property taxes on said properties before those
parties who paid the back taxes would receive title.
Jeff reported for the Police Dept. Jeff
talked about Chariton’s policy on nuisance properties and stated that Chariton
has a code enforcement person who takes care of nuisance properties through
civil means instead of criminally. Duane
will formalize a procedure through our attorney and have a draft by next
Council meeting in December. Jeff will
ask Chariton’s code enforcement person to attend our meeting also.
Brian reported for the Fire Dept. Brian said the fire department has made some
improvements to the fire station for storage purposes.
Duane handed out a proposed ordinance from Jim Mefferd,
Attorney, for assessing penalties for illegal dumping in the City brush
dump. The League of Cities suggested an
ordinance instead of a resolution, which the Council approved last month. The Council discussed the ordinance which
would apply to all City property, not just the brush dump. Jay made a motion to approve the ordinance as
read and Terry seconded the motion. The
votes will serve as the first reading of the ordinance and the second reading will
be at the December 4, 2017 Council meeting.
The Resolution 2017-07 written for illegal dumping will be rescinded
when the ordinance is adopted.
Aye votes: Terry,
Chris, Corey, Jay
Nay votes: None
Duane handed out a proposed ordinance amendment from Jim
Mefferd, Attorney, for
8-1.0112 covering culvert installation on City right-of-ways. The Council discussed who would be
responsible for costs and labor and agreed the responsibility would remain with
the property owner. Terry made a motion
to approve the amendment to the ordinance and Chris seconded the motion. The votes will serve as the first reading of
the ordinance and the second reading will be at the December 4, 2017 Council
meeting.
Aye votes: Terry,
Chris, Corey, Jay
Nay votes: None
Duane wanted to discuss Ordinance 135 dealing with livestock
prohibition maps. The Council discussed
the ordinance but made no changes.
Chris made a motion to approve Ordinance 145 to amend City
of Russell Floodplain sections of Chapter 414 Code of Iowa to update floodplain
maps for Lucas County and incorporated areas; Terry seconded the motion. The votes will serve as the first reading of
the ordinance and the second reading will be at the December 4, 2017 Council
meeting.
Aye votes: Terry,
Chris, Corey, Jay
Nay votes: None
Jim reported on Water/wastewater. He stated that he put in a couple new curb
boxes on Chapman Street. Jim stated he
ran into trouble with water coming in on him in the hole before he got
everything hooked up. He stated that a
smaller transfer pump would be nice to have and some trench shoring equipment.
Jim let the Council know that he needed to put more meter
pits in on properties that could be using water that is unmetered.
Jim reported that the new meters are still not available
from Metering and Technology Solutions.
Dan Sinclair, the company representative, told Jim that the company
could not get good cell phone coverage in Russell. Dan told Jim that another option could be to
install an antenna (on Russell’s tower).
There would be a different cost breakdown for this type of meter
reading. Jim has talked to another
company regarding a drive-by meter reading system. The Council discussed and would like to look
into other options.
Jim reported on Streets.
Jim and Duane have been cutting brush on Crocker St. He reported that the shelter construction is
completed. Duane will give a report to
organizations who gave grant money for the shelter project.
Terry made a motion to approve the 2017 Annual Financial
Report and Chris seconded the motion.
Aye votes: Terry,
Chris, Corey, Jay
Nay votes: None
Brian Beaty asked about the amount of insurance the City
wanted to put on the bank building and the new shelter. The Council decided on $150,000 coverage on
the bank building and $25,000 on the shelter.
Chris suggested the Council set up a work day at the bank
building to remove wallpaper and other clean-up.
The Council discussed the final draft of the periodic
exam/audit report.
Casey had drafted a letter for Council to look at regarding
kids damaging city park property while waiting for the school bus. The Council suggested that the school send
letters to the parents of the kids who use the location for bus pickup and drop
off.
The Council discussed the sidewalk ordinance. It was suggested that the City try to obtain
grant money as Chariton did to replace sidewalks.
The sealed bids were opened for the Ford tractor and the
Council accepted the bid of $5500 from Colfax Tractor. Terry motioned to accept the bid of $5500
from Colfax Tractor and Corey seconded the motion.
Aye votes: Terry,
Chris, Corey, Jay
Nay votes: None
Firemen got an emergency call at approx. 8:50 p.m. and Chris
and Corey left the meeting. The Council
meeting adjourned because of the emergency and lack of quorum.
The mayor called the meeting back to order at 9:14 p.m. Council members remaining were Terry Newcomb,
Corey Paige, and Chris Feehan.
Terry made a motion to approve the Resolution fixing the
hearing date of December 4, 2017 for authorization of a loan agreement and the
issuance of Sewer Revenue Capital Loan Notes in the amount of not to exceed
$432,000; Chris seconded the motion.
Aye votes: Terry,
Chris, Corey
Nay votes: None
Council discussed Kris Wilkins attending a budget training this
month and approved filling her car with fuel for travel purposes.
Chris motioned to adjourn the meeting. Corey seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously 3-0.
___________________________
__________________________
Mayor Duane Bedford Clerk,
Kris Wilkins
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