City of Russell
Council Meeting
April 1, 2019
Present: Mayor: Duane Bedford, Council members: Chris
Feehan, Casey DeHoedt, Terry Newcomb, Jay Pierschbacher, Fire Chief: Brian
Beaty, City Maintenance Supervisor: Jim Larrington and City Clerk: Cindy Smith
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 by Mayor Duane
Bedford.
Minutes from previous council meetings dated March 4th,
March 19th and March 25th were reviewed and motioned for
approval by Chris Feehan and this motion was seconded by Terry Newcomb.
Ayes – All Approved
Nay’s - None
Expenses and revenue were reviewed and motioned for approval
by Chris Feehan and this motion was seconded by Casey DeHoedt.
Ayes – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Fire Chief Brian Beaty reported that the fire department has
received a grant and will be purchasing additional breathing air packs. The fire department also purchased from the
Chariton Fire department an air compressor to fill air tanks. This was purchased with the fire department
monies raised from various events. The fire department will also be helping the
Historical Society with the Easter Egg Hunt.
There is also a drain at the fire station drive entrance
that with all the snow that we had and with the rains, it will need to be
repaired as the soil under the firetruck entrance is starting to move and could
create a sink hole. This will cause
damage to fire trucks so we will need to get this repaired. Jim Larrington is going to see what needs to
be done to correct it.
Council member/fireman Chris Feehan has been looking into
the siren to get it repaired. The repair
is scheduled to be completed. With this
repair, the siren will only be used at every fire meeting which is the last
Monday of the month, so the siren will sound between 6:00 – 7:00 on these
Monday nights. The only other time the
siren will be used will be for a tornado warning. The siren will no longer be sounded at noon daily.
Reminder that the Fire Department will be having a ham
supper on the 13th or April at the Russell Community Building. All are welcome to come and you may purchase
a raffle ticket for 100 lbs of pork.
Jim Larrington reported on the waste water and that the
lagoon is still running 200 gallons per minute with the snow melt and
rains. There is a repair that needs to
be done down by the lagoon that Mayor Bedford will discuss with the engineering
company to see if it was in their plans on the work that will be completed on
the city sewer system and will the discuss with the USDA where we have a grant
in place to see if this repair can proceed the letting of contract bids.
Jim Larrington then reported on the streets; one culvert has
been replaced at the corner or Ames and Main streets which turned into a larger
project then anticipated, but the work has been complete and the road has been
reopened. Jim also reported that Stanton
Street north of town had to be closed for a time due to being flooded. It has since been reopened. This road will also need to be reshaped and
ditches dug in, this will require working with the county as well as this road
is part city and part county. There
are 2 other locations that the culverts will be replaced as weather allows.
We have purchased the new road grader and there are several
roads that need to be reworked. These
will be done as weather allows. They
will be graded to hopefully help with the drying of the roads than they will be
reshaped and worked and then rocked; this will be a work in progress project.
Old Business: The
council will decide after pricing has been negotiated on putting in a new light
up stop sign heading north on Prairie Street or placing red flags on the
current sign and adding a “stop ahead” sign on Prairie Street heading north as
this seems to be the sign where some people don’t stop.
The council has decided to possibly purchase a city cell
phone for Jim as he currently uses his personal phone for city business.
Chris Feehan stated that there have been complaints of
animal odors within the city. Duane
stated that he had spoken to one resident about cleaning up one area of
complaint.
The council is going to review animal borders as we have had
numerous complaints of livestock and these borders may change.
Jake braking is also still a complaint, especially on the
south side of town. The council will create an ordinance and see if there are any
legal aspects and get signage completed.
There are also several vacant properties within the city
limits that the council is going to consider condemning. Duane will discuss this process with the city
attorney.
New Business: We have
had an inquiry about purchasing city alleys.
There was a unanimous vote that no alley ways will be sold.
Chris Feehan motioned to extend the meeting past 9:00, this
was seconded by Casey DeHoedt. At this time Jim Larrington left the meeting.
Council discussed Jim’s pay rate increase.
Resolution to purchase the road grader was finalized and
vote for Resolution 2019-01 was voted as follows: Chris Feehan – Aye, Casey DeHoedt – Aye,
Terry Newcomb – Aye and Jay Pierschbacher – Aye. There were no nay’s.
Casey DeHoedt motioned for meeting adjournment at 9:20 and
Jay Pierschbacher seconded.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s - none
______________________________
Approved by
Duane Bedford, Mayor
______________________________
Attest:
Cindy A Smith
