OAKLAND ACRES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
7:00 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2012
Oakland Acres Maintenance Building
Call Meeting to Order: Mayor Lennie Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call: Barb Arthur, Robin Elliott, Roger Fisher, and Ted Schultz were present. Absent: Garrett Roche. Also present: Chuck Griffith, Christina Machin, and Duane Venenga.
Inquiries from the Community: Griffith inquired about the franchise agreement with Windstream. He stated that the internet quality at Oakland Acres is substandard. Smith reported that Michael Osten had sent a letter to Windstream regarding improving service, but heard no response. Smith will follow up with Osten.
Smith reported that there is still an issue with a resident’s dog barking excessively. Schultz moved for the city clerk to send a letter to the resident asking for the issue to be taken care of and what the next step would be if not taken care of. Fisher seconded. Ayes: All.
Approval of Minutes: Fisher moved to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2011 meeting as submitted. Schultz seconded. Ayes: All.
Treasurer’s Report: Schultz moved to approve the December treasurer’s report as submitted. Arthur seconded. Ayes: All.
|
General Fund |
$3,588.10 |
|
Community Betterment |
$752.13 |
|
Road Use Fund |
$1,145.05 |
|
Total December Revenue |
$5,485.28 |
|
General Fund |
$5,754.52 |
|
Community Betterment |
$0.00 |
|
Road Use Fund |
$0.00 |
|
Total December Expenses |
$5,754.52 |
Payment of Bills: Discussion took place regarding the snow removal bill from Muckler’s. The Council would like to see the bill from Muckler’s itemized to include a breakdown of hours and materials. Smith will contact Muckler’s regarding this request. Fisher moved to approve payment of the bills. Arthur seconded. Ayes: Arthur, Fisher, and Shultz. Elliott abstained. Motion carried.
|
Payable to: |
Amount: |
Description: |
|
|
IPERS |
$47.08 |
Retirement fund |
|
|
Alliant Energy |
$384.35 |
Electricity |
|
|
Jasper County Sheriff |
$3,000.00 |
Law enforcement for FY 2011-2012 |
|
|
Jasper County Treasurer |
$739.75 |
City election 11/8/11 |
|
|
IMFOA |
$30.00 |
Annual dues 2012-2013 |
|
|
Muckler Snow Removal |
$860.00 |
Snow removal 12/9/11 & 12/20/11 |
|
|
Dodd’s Trash Hauling & Recycling |
$402.00 |
Recycling 10/11-12/11 |
|
|
Marengo Publishing Corporation |
$44.00 |
Luminary display ad |
|
|
News Printing Company |
$45.00 |
Luminary display ad |
|
|
CompuTech4U.net |
$29.99 |
ESET antivirus software |
|
|
United States Treasury |
$383.71 |
941 for 4th quarter 2011 |
|
|
Christina Machin |
$41.05 |
Registration & mileage for budget class |
|
|
Christina Machin |
$311.40 |
Salary for December |
|
|
TOTAL |
$6,318.33 |
Mayor’s Opening Address and Report
Mayor Lennie Smith welcomed Arthur to the Council. Smith mentioned that Venenga was present at the meeting and has volunteered a lot of his time to improvements around the city including the park and signs. Other projects that have happened are the luminaries and Christmas parties which have received a lot of good feedback.
Old Business
Council Appointments: Smith swore in Arthur and Roche last week. Arthur agreed to fill the Council responsibility of Maintenance which includes letting Smith know if she sees something that needs fixed.
Budget FY 2013: City clerk presented the Council with a draft of the FY 2013 budget. The property valuations were not available as of the date of the meeting. She will update it with the current property valuations to calculate property taxes and bring an updated copy to February’s meeting. The public hearing to approve the budget is tentatively scheduled for Monday, February 27, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Ambulance Meeting Update: Smith reported that the meeting is scheduled for next week in Grinnell. That will be the final meeting before they decide which direction they want to go regarding ambulance service.
Other Old Business: City clerk asked the status of the codification of ordinances update. Smith stated that he is currently reviewing them. He will bring them to the next meeting. He asked any Council member that is interested in reviewing them, to contact him.
New Business
2012 Projects: Following is a list of projects Smith would like to see done in 2012:
1. Finish cleaning the trees out below the dam.
2. Trim the trees along the north side between 33 Eagle Drive and 36 Shoreline Drive.
3. Replace street signs.
4. Organize the maintenance building including making a bench and a place to hang up shovels and brooms.
Following is a proposed list of projects that Venenga would like to do in 2012.
1. Replace 17 street signs for an estimated cost of $600.
2. Repair and stain the storage fence around the gravel for an estimated cost of $82.
3. Replace the steel door on the maintenance building. It is rotted out at the bottom. The cost of this should be less than $100.
4. Replace some or all of the posts along the dam using PVC posts. Total cost would be around $5,000.
Venenga also proposed to the Council painting tiger paws where stop signs are and any residents’ driveways that may be interested. He also discussed with the Council purchasing sculptures to place throughout the city including the park. Venenga will check prices at a place near Homestead in Amana and Schultz will check with the art department at Grinnell College. Finally, Venenga mentioned that there may funds available to dredge the lake. Venenga provided Elliott with a website and she will check into any available funding.
FEMA Update: Smith reported that the progress report is due by the 13th of January and they need to know by the 29th if the project is complete or if an extension is needed. Smith asked Griffith to haul the piles of construction debris and put in the hole below the dam. This was part of the original FEMA project. The project will then be considered complete.
City clerk reported that the bill paid to Griffith for $995.00 to fill the wash out below the west lake was taken out of the Community Betterment Fund, but should have been taken out of the FEMA Fund. Elliott moved to move the expense from Community Betterment to FEMA. Fisher seconded. Ayes: All.
Other New Business: City clerk read an employment agreement sent by Caldwell & Brierly, PLLC for 2012. Fisher moved to approve the contract with Caldwell & Brierly, PLLC for 2012. Schultz seconded. 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: There was none.
Maintenance Report: Smith reported that he needs to get the debris blown out of the crack in the road in Oakland Acres East and get that sealed up while it is nice.
Adjournment: Elliott moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Fisher seconded. Ayes: All.
The next regular meeting of the Oakland Acres City Council is scheduled on Monday, February 13, 2012 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