OAKLAND ACRES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
7:00 p.m. Monday, July 9, 2012
Oakland Acres Maintenance Building
Call Meeting to Order: Mayor Lennie Smith called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
Roll Call: Roger Fisher and Ted Schultz were present. Absent: Barb Arthur, Robin Elliott, and Garrett Roche. Also present: Larry Crady, Anita Ford, Larry Kramer, Duane Venenga, Donald Jennings (Partner Communications), and Christina Machin.
Inquiries from the Community: Larry Crady spoke about the Canadian geese problem in the city. He had heard of other cities using a goose light either mounted on land near the pond or on the pond. It is a strobe light that is hardly visible to the human eye, but geese have sensitive eyes and it is very irritating to them. According to Crady, the golf course is looking to purchase them and suggested that the city work with the golf course. Otherwise, they may migrate from the golf course to the city.
Smith noticed more muskrats on the lake that are becoming an issue. He has a live trap and thought about trapping them himself. The Council suggested that Smith call a local gentleman who does trapping.
Smith also reported that people are sneaking onto the golf course and playing without paying. Smith would like to remind people that the owners of the golf course are trying to run a business and for people to be thankful that we have a golf course here and support them.
Anita Ford inquired if there were any other people who had new posts with transmitters put in their yard by Central Iowa Water Association (CIWA). She stated that she was unhappy with where it was located and the size of the post. The Council informed her that CIWA will eventually be updating everyone’s.
Approval of Minutes: Tabled due to lack of quorum.
Treasurer’s Report: Tabled due to lack of quorum.
Payment of Bills: Tabled due to lack of quorum.
A special meeting will be held Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Oakland Acres Maintenance Building to approve the minutes, treasurer’s report, and payment of bills.
Mayor’s Opening Address and Report
Mayor Lennie Smith thanked everyone who helped to get the tree off of Fore Seasons Drive last Friday evening. One-half of it landed on the street and the other ½ landed on a resident’s garage. Smith said it was great to see everyone from the community help out.
Smith helped clean up numerous trees around the city and took them below the dam. He is waiting until we get some rain before he burns the area though. Currently, there is no burning ban for Jasper County, but Smith advises residents to avoid burning on grass until we get some rain..
The golf course has been open for one week now and seems to be doing well for being so hot and dry. He has heard a lot of good feedback.
Smith found a frisbee in the city park. If anyone is missing one, please contact Lennie Smith.
Smith also talked to a resident about heading up a garden club. The individual was not interested in heading it up, but would be willing to help.
Old Business
Iowa League Conference: Tabled due to lack of quorum.
Snow Removal Contract: No bids had been received at the time of the meeting. The deadline is August 13th.
Neighborhood Watch: Smith spoke with the Jasper County Sherriff’s office and left a message for Halferty who is responsible for neighborhood watch. He had not heard anything back at the time of the meeting. Smith feels it would be good to have since shortly after the last meeting several vehicles outside of Oakland Acres were broken into and taken and/or destroyed. Smith will follow up to see if Halferty could attend the next meeting.
Fore Seasons Drive: The city has received letters from two different companies claiming that they own the parcels in question which include a portion of Fore Seasons Drive and Parkview Drive. Crady volunteered to speak with the assessor’s office for the city.
New Business
Partners Communications Presentation: Donald Jennings with Partners Communications presented their plans on updating their cable system and internet in Oakland Acres. They are expanding their cable line up. They have 40 HD channels and are continuing to grow. The cable did not have the bandwidth to push more channels out so they are upgrading that along with bringing the internet so they will be able to deliver a full package. They are in the process of doing that right now and hope to have it done by the end of July. They offer 2 packages for stand-alone data service with either 3/1Mb internet or 7/1 Mb internet. He also reviewed the pricing for bundling internet with cable. Fiber optics is at the edge of the city and when the need arises can be brought into the city and to the homes. Jennings also discussed that the Iowa Utility Board has passed new legislation and they are now doing franchises state wide. Partners Communications has filed for a state wide franchise.
Iowa League of Cities Fiscal Conditions Survey: The Council provided input to the city clerk in completing the Iowa League of Cities fiscal conditions survey.
Weather Damage Report: Smith reported that there was a tree across Fore Seasons Drive as well as several other trees that were snapped off. He took down about 11 trees last week.
Ordinances and Incidents: Smith wanted to make the Council aware of a situation that became an issue a couple of weeks ago. A resident’s dog got loose and attacked Smith’s dogs. His dogs were not hurt, but they could have been. Smith advised the Council to check the Iowa Code for any information on this issue.
The Council had it brought to their attention that there are two properties in the community that have excessive debris and/or garbage on their property. The Council instructed the clerk to send letters to these residents.
Smith will order new signs which say “No swimming, fishing, etc.” to put up by the lake.
Smith discussed the corner just west of the bus stop. Smith would like to see the city get some dirt and put in there to level it out and make it easier to mow. Then this fall plant some grass. Smith also suggested getting some dirt down by the east side of the dam where CIWA put tubes in and never came back to level it out.
Other New Business: None.
Council Report:
Transportation: There was none.
Community: There was none.
Treasurer: There was none.
Maintenance: There was none.
Interest and Events: There was none.
Schultz reported that he was not able to find anything about the maximum grass height in his review of past ordinances.
Clerk Report: There was none.
Maintenance Report: Duane Venenga reported that he would be starting on the gravel storage bin soon. He would need the gravel out and then he would be able to replace some boards and get it stained. He estimated the project to be around $200.
Venenga also said he would like to see a long-term plan for repairing the streets in the entire city. Fisher will follow up with Chuck Griffith to start estimating the cost of doing so.
Adjournment: Fisher moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 p.m. Schultz seconded. Ayes: All.
The next regular meeting of the Oakland Acres City Council is scheduled on Monday, August 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
OAKLAND ACRES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 12, 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, Roger Fisher, and Ted Schultz were present. Absent: Robin Elliott and Garrett Roche. Also present: Christina Machin.
Approval of Minutes: Schultz moved to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2012 meeting as submitted. Arthur seconded. Ayes: All.
Treasurer’s Report: Fisher moved to approve the June treasurer’s report as submitted. Schultz seconded. Ayes: All.
|
General Fund |
$181.11 |
|
Community Betterment |
$711.67 |
|
Road Use Fund |
$695.40 |
|
Total June Revenue |
$1,588.18 |
|
General Fund |
$2,244.49 |
|
Community Betterment |
$0.00 |
|
Road Use Fund |
$0.00 |
|
FEMA Grant Fund |
$0.00 |
|
Total June Expenses |
$2,244.49 |
Payment of Bills: Schultz moved to approve payment of the bills. Fisher seconded. Ayes: All.
|
Payable to: |
Amount: |
Description: |
|
|
IPERS |
$47.08 |
Retirement fund |
|
|
Alliant Energy |
$78.52 |
Electricity |
|
|
Iowa League of Cities |
$235.00 |
Membership dues 2012/2013 |
|
|
Greg & Tom’s Mowing |
$700.00 |
Mowing for June |
|
|
United States Treasury |
$203.49 |
941 for 2nd quarter 2012 |
|
|
Marengo Publishing Corp. |
$44.00 |
Snow removal ad |
|
|
News Printing Company |
$28.00 |
Snow removal ad |
|
|
Christina Machin |
$310.00 |
Salary for June |
|
|
Lennie Smith |
$114.92 |
Mow dam |
|
|
TOTAL |
$1,761.01 |
Adjournment: Fisher moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 p.m. Schultz seconded. Ayes: All.
The next regular meeting of the Oakland Acres City Council is scheduled on Monday, August 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 Mach