City of Russell
Council Meeting
September 11, 2019
Present: Mayor Duane
Bedford, Council Members: Terry Newcomb, Chris Feehan, and Casey DeHoedt, Jim
Larrington and Cindy Smith. Guests
present Austin Smith from Garden and Associates and Deloris Carroll from
Southside LLC.
Mayor Duane Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm.
Guest Austin Smith updated the council on the sewer project
that needs to be completed. They (Garden
and Associates) are in the final stages of preparing their report and design
specifications to the Rural Development Engineers for approval of the SAGR System
that will be installed at the City of Russell lagoon. Once these plans are approved it will then be
let for bid and once the bid is awarded the monies will be finalized and work
can begin. He is anticipating, with
expected turnaround times on approvals for the work to be completed in a year’s
time. There was general discussion on how the SAGR system will work, spot
repairs that are needed in the sewer lines and general questions answered. Council was satisfied with where we are with
the report and have also been in discussions with the USDA on how this project
will proceed.
Austin will be meeting with the council on a monthly basis
to keep them up to date on where we are at in the line of concessions that will
need to take place, then left the meeting.
Guest Deloris Carroll requested that Southside be allowed to
close Shaw Street between Maple and West Street during the fall festival for
their annual Bags Tournament. The street
will be open for the parade. Chris
Feehan motioned to approve the closure of Shaw Street for the Bags Tournament
and this motion was seconded by Casey DeHoedt.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s - None
Shaw Street will also be closed from Prairie Street to Maple
for most of the day as the cookers will be ongoing thoughout the day.
Ellen (Pete) Werts volunteered to paint the streets,
sidewalk area’s and driveways on Shaw Street and the City greatly appreciates
her help in helping to make the City look nicer for the Fall Festival.
The Historical Society will also be hosting a free will
donation breakfast on Saturday morning from 7:30 to 10:00 am.
Minutes from the August 5, 2019 minutes were reviewed and
motioned for approval by Chris Feehan and seconded by Casey DeHoedt.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Income and expenses were reviewed, Chris Feehan asked about
the amount of money paid to Chariton Ace Hardware, this expense was explained
by Mayor Bedford as being an expense to purchase a chain saw that was needed
with the large trees that had come down during recent storms. One (1) tree that was in the park by the
Community Center and a tree that had came down on abandoned property (208
Highland Street) and also to remove trees on same property that were blocking
views around corners that traffic could no longer see around. The cost to remove these trees will be
expensed to the property owner. Terry
Newcomb motioned for approval of income and expenses. This motion was seconded by Chris Feehan.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Larry Templeton was also on the agenda as he had requested a
race to take place at the football field area.
Mayor Bedford had looked into this request with insurance agent Mike
Beaty who stated that the City would need to take out a million dollar
insurance policy to protect against any damage or harm that may take place
during the race. The request was denied
as the expense would not be feasible to the City.
Flea market/garage sale at the football field was also
discussed. Per Mayor Bedford, he also
spoke with Mike about the liability in this and the insurance that the city
already carries would cover an event like this.
Casey will get with Roberta Reynolds and may possibly hold the city wide
garage sale at the field to have all in one place instead of going from house
to house and possibly invite outside city limits to join if they so wish. There will be a fee for a spot for tables
that will be used as donations to make improvements to city celebrations such
as additional purchase of flags or Christmas decorations. Casey will let council know what response she
has.
The city has also received from the state renewal
notifications for liquor licenses for Last Chance and for a new business in the
city, Prairie Street Pub.
Casey Dehoedt motioned for approval for Last Chance LLC to
renew their license and this motion was seconded by Terry Newcomb.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Chris Feehan motion for approval for Prairie Street Pub and
this motion was seconded by Casey DeHoedt.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Officer Tyler Jeffrey was not able to attend the meeting but
had left his report for the council. He
has been handing out flyers for the fall city wide clean up on October
12,2019. Also, Cindy Smith is now a
notary and will start with the citation letters that need to be completed for
properties that are not yet in compliance with the junk and debris
ordinances.
Council appreciates the reports the Officer Tyler provides
them.
Fire Chief Beaty was also not able to attend the meeting,
Chris Feehan notified the council that the Russell Volunteer Fire Department
placed 5th at the recent fire convention. We congratulate our firemen for all the work
that they do for the city and surrounding area’s and we are very proud of
them!!
Jim Larrington gave the water/wastewater report. Water loss last month was at 38%. This loss was higher due to the house fire,
mill fire and 1 valve that broke and 4 shut offs that also broke with trying to
move water to the fire hydrants. There
are several hydrants that are now leaking that will need to be fixed, we have 2
and Jim was approved to purchase 2 more new hydrants. Jim will also look into the cost of adding
additional isolation valves so that when water is shut off, he has more control
over location and hopefully would eliminate having to shut down the whole water
system for repairs, thus eliminating the need to have to do bottled water
notifications as the system would just divert water and not have to shut off.
There are no issues with wastewater. Jim will get costing on dredging the lagoon
and Duane will discuss with Austin and the USDA if this would be part of what
they will be doing when upgrading our wastewater system.
There was discussions of having to increase water and sewer
rates.
Jim Larrington then gave the street report. Alliant will be out to move the power pole at
the corner of Maple and Ames so that he can replace the culvert by the fire
station that is starting to move the entrance for the fire trucks into the fire
station. Alley way’s are starting to
become a problem for the Alliant trucks that have had to come in to do repairs
on power lines due to recent storms. Jim
and Mayor Bedford will be looking at all alley ways to determine what trees
need to be cut down that are on city property or private property that will
need to be taken care of and also any buildings that have been placed on city
property in alley ways. There must be a
16ft clearance for the utility trucks to pass through. Jim has also requested that we issue a new
ordinance for parking on snow days as he had several vehicles last year that
impended on blading the streets properly.
Mayor Bedford with work with Attorney’s to get this ordinance in effect
and attach a penalty to any vehicle that is not in compliance.
We will also be trimming trees again in the fall – he is
aiming for November to get this work scheduled and will have quotes for a lift
in the next council session.
Old Business: Casey
DeHoedt is still working on an emergency system that the City can have to
notify residents of any emergencies that the City may have.
The Lockridge Network contract proposal is still in the
hands of the attorney’s.
Casey DeHoedt is also still working on getting a can
redemption trailer that residents can bring their cans to and we will take to
Albia and any funds that are brought in will be used as with the “football
field” garage sale fees for flags, Christmas decorations or any upgrade to
parks.
Jim will be getting quotes for foam insulation in the
maintenance garage to help save cost on propane. The cost to insulate will in the long run
more then pay for itself.
New Business: Street
Financial Report was reviewed, need to add the new dump trailer that was
purchased then it will be ok to submit to the State.
There are several cracks in the concrete of Shaw and Prairie
Streets that need to be repaired. The
City of Chariton has a machine that may be able to do the work. Duane has discussed the use of the Chariton
equipment with Chariton City Manager and David VanRyswyk.
Mayor Bedford is also in discussions with Scott McGee to
repair the stairs in front of the Russell Post Office, and how Scott thinks
that it will work the best. We will also
look at replacing the flagpole in front of the Post Office.
Mayor Bedford also discussed that he had met with Iowa
American Water and their proposal to possibly purchase and be overseers of our
water and lagoon systems. The Council
does not wish to pursue this as it would take all aspects out of our hands and
be dependent upon someone else. Jim
Larrington stated that this would be in the same lines as what Chariton has
done with their wastewater system.
At 9:00 Terry Newcomb motioned to extend the meeting this
motion was seconded by Chris Feehan.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Fines on our City Ordinances were then discussed. All will need to be reviewed by an Attorney
and so this process will be put on hold for the new council that will begin in
January 2020.
The water tower was recently cleaned and painted on the
inside for maintenance on the tower.
Suez is the tower company that we have contracted with in the past at
$+9,000.00 per year for this painting to be completed at a 12 to 15 year
interval. During this maintenance work,
Jim Larrington was in contact with the Rathbun Water division and after Jim
reviewed his findings with the council, it was determined that we will set
aside these monies ourselves and put in an interest bearing account over a ten
year period to pay for the work as it is needed. We will have monies available for our own
repair work that we complete on the tower but the majority of this budgeted
amount will now be held in our own account.
Mayor Duane Bedford and Cindy Smith will discuss with the bank how best
to proceed with the funds.
Chris Feehan motioned that we not renew the contract with
Suez and that we set aside funds for maintenance as needed. Casey DeHoedt seconded this motion.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Begger’s night for Halloween was then discussed.
Chris Feehan motioned for the City of Russell to have begger’s
night on Thursday the October 31st of
October from 6pm to 8 pm. This motion
was seconded by Casey DeHoedt.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s – None
Casey then stated that the Trunk or Treat that the
Historical Society has on Maple street will be on Saturday the 19th. Council approved the closing of Maple Street
for the event.
Casey DeHoedt motioned for adjournment at 9:45 and this
motion was seconded by Terry Newcomb.
Aye’s – All Approved
Nay’s - None
_____________________________
Approved by:
Duane Bedford, Mayor
______________________________
Attest:
Cindy A. Smith, City Clerk
