OAKLAND ACRES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

7:00 p.m. Monday, June 13, 2011

Oakland Acres Maintenance Building (39 Fore Seasons Drive)

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

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

Inquiries from the Community: Duane Venenga shared a picture he had taken of a waterway at Park Centre in Newton that is used for drainage off of their roof. The Council discussed making something like that work in the park to control the water coming down through it. It would consist of rock in a V-shaped area 6 feet wide and 6 inches deep for about 400 feet. Venenga will get some quotes on the rock needed and present to the Council at the July meeting. Venenga reported that there are two dead pine trees by the shelter house that need cut down. He also presented an invoice to the Council for payment of supplies to stain the shelter house which he hopes to start on this week.

Smith had received an unsigned letter from a resident regarding containment of pets. Chapter 55 of the Code of Ordinances is dedicated to animal protection and control. The city’s ordinance number 55.06 states that: “It is unlawful for any owner to allow an animal to run at large within the corporate limits of the city.” Ordinance number 55.08 states that: “It is unlawful for the owner of a dog to allow or permit such dog to cause serious annoyance or disturbance to any person or persons by frequent and habitual howling, yelping, barking, or otherwise; or, by running after or chasing persons, bicycles, automobiles or other vehicles. Please be considerate to others in the community and clean up after your pets as well.

Smith received a call from a resident regarding the road breaking up by his house. The concrete is breaking loose and rocks are going down into his yard. A cold patch was put on it last summer. Smith will look at it and evaluate it. There are limited funds in the Road Use Fund and road repair projects will have to be reviewed and prioritized. Smith will also check into getting a truckload of patch to help alleviate some of the problems around the city.

Smith also received a phone call from a resident asking why signs are not allowed to be put at the entrance for houses that are for sale. The Council discussed that they had reviewed the issue at a previous meeting last summer and decided that open house signs may be put up the week of the open house, but regular for sale signs should not be put at the entrance. Too many signs become unsightly and a nuisance to mow around. Smith will take out the sign advertising dryer vent and chimney sweep services also.

Approval of Minutes: Osten moved to approve the minutes of the May 9, 2011 meeting as submitted. Schultz seconded. Ayes: All.

Treasurer’s Report: Osten moved to approve the May treasurer’s report as submitted. Schultz seconded. Ayes: All.

Payment of Bills: Osten moved to approve payment of the bills. Elliott seconded. Ayes: All.

*Payable to:*	*Amount:*	*Description:*
IPERS	$40.08	Retirement fund
Alliant Energy	$84.00	Electricity
Dodd’s	$1,053.28	Recycling for 1/11-5/11, dumpster days
Griffith Masonry, Inc.	$4,770.00	Remove and replace culvert at Fore Seasons
Griffith Masonry, Inc.	$894.00	Remove and replace broken driveway slab
Grinnell Implement Store, Inc.	$85.79	Tractor repair
Greg & Tom’s Mowing	$700.00	Mowing for May
Marengo Publishing Corporation	$13.20	Ad for garage sale day
News Printing Company	$15.00	Ad for garage sale day
Christina Machin	$314.48	Salary for May
TOTAL	*$7,969.83*

Mayor’s Opening Address and Report

Mayor Lennie Smith wanted to thank the residents for their patience while the culvert work was being completed on Fore Seasons Drive. He apologizes for not getting notice out prior to the work being done. The weather had finally straightened out and conditions were right to get the project done. The dirt pile will be removed once the weather permits.

This was the first meeting to be held at the maintenance building. Smith encouraged the Council and guests to look around after the meeting. The light bulbs were donated by Jim Townsend and Duane Venenga donated a push mower. Smith had brought his personal tables to use at the meeting. The Council discussed the need for the city to own tables and chairs for up to 20 people. Elliott moved and was seconded by Osten to buy 2 tables and 20 chairs for the maintenance building for meetings for up to $250. Ayes: All.

Old Business

Summer Projects: Venenga scrubbed the shelter house down in preparation of staining it. Smith has kept the dam mowed. Smith reported that there are trees to cut and areas that were washed out on the shoulders of the roads to repair.

New Business

Enforcement of the Ordinances: Discussed animal control in Inquiries from the Community.

Road Repair: Discussed in Mayor’s Opening Address and Report.

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 presented the Council with a quote from Iowa Codification to update the City’s Code of Ordinances. The first option was to readopt the existing Code of Ordinances and supplement with ordinances passed in 2006 and 2007. The cost of this option is $450. The second option was to complete a comprehensive update of the existing Code to bring them into compliance with the legislative changes plus model changes and cleanups that have occurred since the code was adopted in 2005. The cost of this option would be $3,000. Osten moved and was seconded by Minner to do a complete codification totaling $3,000. Ayes: All.

Osten discussed the clerk’s tape recorder. He spent 16 hours so far transferring previous meetings to a computer. The current recorder has to be hooked up to the computer and however long the meeting is is how long it takes to get it off the recorder. He recommended to the Council that a recorder be purchased with a removable media device that can be directly put on the computer. Osten will spec one, order it, and show the clerk how to operate it.

Maintenance Report: Smith reported that there is no water at the maintenance building and that he and Venenga have been using their personal water at their own expense to wash the tractor. The Council discussed putting a hydrant at the maintenance building, but there would be a minimum charge each month no matter how much was used.

Venenga suggested having the park sprayed for weeds. If the city purchased a pull behind sprayer, it could be used to spray the park, by the dam, maintenance building, and at the corner where the new curb was put in. Theisen’s has sprayers on sale now. Venenga will check into the pricing.

Adjournment: Osten moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. Schultz seconded. Ayes: All.

The next regular meeting of the Oakland Acres City Council is scheduled on Monday, July 11, 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