OAKLAND ACRES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

7:00 p.m. Monday, August 8, 2011

Oakland Acres Maintenance Building

 

Call Meeting to Order:  Mayor Lennie Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Roll Call:  Roger Fisher, Nancy Minner, and Robin Elliott were present.  Absent:  Michael Osten and Ted Schultz.  Also present:  Chuck Griffith, Christina Machin, Daniel Reynolds, Garrett Roche, and Duane Venenga.

Inquiries from the Community:  Garrett Roche identified himself along with Daniel Reynolds as residents living on Fore Seasons Drive.  Roche discussed an ongoing situation with another resident’s unsightly trash.  On the property is a dumpster which has been there for several months which frequently overflows.  In addition, they have about four trash barrels which are uncovered and overflowing with trash.  Roche feels that this will adversely affect Oakland Acres’ property values as well as potential sales of properties in Oakland Acres and the ordinances need to be enforced.  Roche is also concerned about the way the resident’s dog is being treated as well as the dog running at large through the city and frequent and habitual howling.  A letter of warning was sent to the residents.  Smith reported that he was going to stop by and visit with the residents regarding the issues brought up.  However, he has been tied up with trying to get the CIWA sewer issue resolved.  He noticed that lately the dumpster has been cleaned out.  Smith did see the dog running loose one day and has been keeping an eye on the situation.  Minner moved to have Mayor Smith contact the city attorney on Monday, August 15th (he is out of town until then) and ask him the point of order to file municipal infractions on all issues.  Fisher seconded.  Ayes:  All.  Fisher moved and was seconded by Minner for Smith to talk to the city attorney regarding another resident’s dog who continues to run at large through the city.  Ayes:  All.

Reynolds wanted to talk to the Council regarding the fish kill in Oak Lake.  He had called the DNR that morning.  He counted several hundred fish dead on the lake.  He noticed the day before that there were fish breathing at the top of the lake.  Reynolds asked the Council who was responsible for the lake – is it the city or the DNR.  Smith reported that the DNR came out today and he visited with them on the phone.  There is a lack of oxygen in the lake and a lot of the lake is only 1 foot deep.  Smith wants to find out how much the DNR is responsible for it since they built it and how much the city is responsible and look for any available grants or loans to get it dredged.

Approval of Minutes:  Elliott moved to approve the minutes of the July 11, 2011 meeting as submitted.  Fisher seconded.  Ayes:  All.  Fisher moved to approve the minutes of the July 22, 2011 budget hearing as submitted.  Minner seconded.  Ayes:  All.

Treasurer’s Report:  Fisher moved to approve the July treasurer’s report as submitted.  Elliott seconded.  Ayes:  All.

Payment of Bills: Fisher moved to approve payment of the bills.  Minner seconded.  Ayes:  All.

Payable to:

        Amount:

Description:

IPERS

$47.08

Retirement fund

Alliant Energy

$90.35

Electricity

Greg & Tom’s Mowing

$700.00

Mowing for July

News Printing Company

$63.00

Ad for snow removal bids

Marengo Publishing Corporation

$88.00

Ad for snow removal bids

Christina Machin

$311.40

Salary for July

Jack Suttek

$405.00

Electrical work on maintenance building

Caldwell & Brierly

$495.00

Attorney fees regarding CIWA sewer agreement

Duane Venenga

$138.09

Work to playground equipment & tables

TOTAL

$2,337.92

 

Mayor’s Opening Address and Report

Mayor Lennie Smith did not have any additional report that would not be covered in new business.

Old Business

Estimate of Equipment:  Venenga will obtain an estimate on a water pump.

Maintenance Building Update:  Smith reported that the maintenance building has lights and plug ins now.  He also reported that the garage door does not go all the way down leaving a gap at the bottom and it needs greased and oiled.  Minner moved to get an estimate from the Door Doctor to repair the door.  Fisher seconded.  Ayes:  All.

Park Update:  Griffith reported that locates were called in last week.  Griffith stated that they will be here either the end of this week or early next week to lay the tile.  They will come down 75 – 100 feet and will build basically a berm with an intake. 

Griffith reported that he has seen a lot of kids using the park equipment recently.

Smith reported that the benches have been stained, the roof is on the shelter house, and the play equipment has been stained.

Snow Removal Bids Review:  Currently, two bids have been received plus Muckler’s which is staying the same from last year.  Minner moved and was seconded by Fisher to have a special meeting in two weeks to review the bids with all council members present and include the bid from Muckler’s.  Ayes:  All.  A special meeting will be held on Monday, August 22, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the maintenance building.

New Business

Street Budget:  Griffith received a quote of $32,514 from Manatt’s for work towards the end of Fore Seasons Drive.  The quote was to widen two feet on each side and do a leveling pass and 1 ½” overlay.  Griffith found that companies are territorial and this job is not big enough for other contractors to come in.  Griffith said he could almost do an 18 foot wide slab for almost what the quote from Manatt’s was.  The budget needs to be reviewed for a time frame for doing this project.  Griffith suggested that if it is going to be some time before the project can be done, the city have someone come in and repair the road with oil.  Griffith also talked to Manatt’s regarding the corner in front of Venenga’s house.  The inside of the corner is high.  The quote for that was $14,941.  Griffith would like to research options for that project further. 

Luminary and Christmas Events:  Smith has researched options for luminary candles online.  Tealights do not work and it is cheaper to buy luminary candles online.  Fisher moved to spend up to $175 for candles for luminaries.  Elliot seconded.  Ayes:  All. 

Note to residents:  Start saving your milk jugs for the luminaries.  You can bring them down to the maintenance shed for storage.

The tentative date for the Christmas Party is December 4, 2011 and for the luminaries is December 10, 2011.

CIWA Update and Course of Action:  A resident sold his house and had the septic system inspected.  The county recommended that he put a new pump in.  He spent $1,800 on the inspection and new pump.  CIWA then said he needed to hook up to their system or have his water shut off.  The resident and CIWA reached an agreement to hook up to CIWA’s sewer in the next 1 ½ years.  The cost to hook up to CIWA sewer is $3,000 for the grinder, $1,089 for the pipe, and $500 for the easement for a total of $4,589.  The city reimburses $1,000.  There are other houses for sale in the city and residents need to know whether or not they need to hook up.  Smith talked with the city attorney and he said if he was to pursue anything it would need to be the non-exclusive franchise agreement.  The Board of Health said they needed more information from CIWA to make a decision at the next meeting.  The Council suggested that Smith attend the next Board of Health meeting to see what they decide before having the attorney pursue the non-exclusive franchise agreement with CIWA.  The meeting is scheduled for August 26, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. in the basement of the Jasper County Annex Building.  Smith encourages anyone who is not hooked up to CIWA sewer to come to the meeting.

Other New Business:  Venenga would like to put rock in where the old playground equipment is so it doesn’t grow up in weeds.  Elliott moved and was seconded by Fisher to spend up to $400 for rock in the park.  Ayes:  All.

Council Report: 

            Transportation:  There was none.

            Community:  There was none.

            Treasurer:  There was none.

            Maintenance:  There was none.

            Interest and Events:  There was none.

Clerk Report:  Machin reported that Iowa Codification has completed the initial phase of updating the Code of Ordinances.  The next step is to address specific areas of the code outlined in a letter sent by Iowa Codification, Inc. on August 3, 2011.  Fisher moved and was seconded by Elliott to add the codification letter to the special meeting on August 22, 2011.

Maintenance Report:  Smith reported that the dam is being mowed and the roof on the shelter house has been done.  He has also been trying to put rock here and there where it has washed out.

Adjournment:  Elliott moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:59 p.m.  Fisher seconded.  Ayes:  All.

The next regular meeting of the Oakland Acres City Council is scheduled on Monday, September 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Oakland Acres Maintenance Building.

These minutes are as recorded by the City Clerk and are subject to council approval at the next regular City Council Meeting.

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Lennie Smith, Mayor                                                   Christina Machin, City Clerk

OAKLAND ACRES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

SPECIAL MEETING

6:30 p.m. Monday, August 22, 2011

Oakland Acres Maintenance Building

 

Call Meeting to Order:  Mayor Lennie Smith called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.

Roll Call:  Roger Fisher, Nancy Minner, and Ted Schultz were present.  Michael Osten joined the meeting at 6:55 p.m.  Absent:  Robin Elliott.  Also present:  Christina Machin.

Old Business

Snow Removal Bids Review:  The Council reviewed bids received from Snow Ball Removal, P&B Lawn & Landscape, and M&M Snow Removal.  The Council discussed that all bids were comparable in price and they were satisfied with the work that M&M Snow Removal has done in the past.  Schultz moved and was seconded by Fisher to accept M&M Snow Removal’s bid for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 winter seasons.  Ayes:  All.

Review Items in Code per Letter Dated 8/3/11 from Iowa Codification, Inc.:  The Council reviewed the following sections of the Code and determined no changes were needed:

            7.07(3)             Signatures on checks

            18.05(2)           Posting places

            80.05               Fees for impoundment

            105.06             Separation of yard waste

            106.01             Collection service

            135.09(11)       Permit fee

            63.04               Special speed zones

            64.02               U-turns

            69.03               Angle parking:  none

            69.07-.08         Parking regulations

The Council discussed fines associated with parking violations in 70.03 and proposed a change from $5.00 to a minimum of $5.00 and a maximum of $75.00.

The Council tabled the discussion regarding Chapter 111, Telephone Franchise until Minner talks with the city attorney.

Everything looked current per the Council with Chapter 112, Cable Television Franchise; Chapter 155, Building Code; and Chapter 165, Zoning Ordinance.

Adjournment:  Fisher moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 p.m.  Schultz seconded.  Ayes:  All.

The next regular meeting of the Oakland Acres City Council is scheduled on Monday, September 12, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Oakland Acres Maintenance Building.

These minutes are as recorded by the City Clerk and are subject to council approval at the next regular City Council Meeting.

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Lennie Smith, Mayor                                                   Christina Machin, City Clerk