OAKLAND ACRES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

7:00 p.m. Monday, October 8, 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:  Larry Crady, Mary Abrahamson, and Christina Machin.

Inquiries from the Community:  Crady shared information that he had received from Central Iowa Water Association (CIWA) regarding the installation of service to the park shelter house and a freezeless outdoor water hydrant.  He advised the Council to request a written quote from CIWA in two different formats – one with only water and the other with water and sewer combined.

Crady requested permission from the Council to work with the registrar and Oakland Acres Golf Club in moving the polling place for the City to the golf course.  The Council agreed that this would be beneficial in boosting voter turnout.

Crady encouraged the City to work with the golf course to better the community.  He recommended the City purchase trees and donate them to the golf course.

Abrahamson informed the Council that the Oakland Acres Golf Club’s clubhouse manager offered the clubhouse to the City to hold their council meetings if so desired.  She also stated that the clubhouse manager offered to host the holiday party for the City again.  The fee would need to be agreed upon.

Abrahamson shared her desire to be part of a beautification committee to clean up around the stop sign at the corner of Fore Seasons & Oakridge Drive.  Crady suggested that the Council consider organizing a park committee as well.  The next newsletter will include information on organizing a beautification committee.

Abrahamson stated she feels that getting information out to community members is very important in the success of a community.  This will allow more opportunities for residents to become involved in the community.  The Council discussed getting the newsletters out more often such as on a quarterly basis.

Abrahamson expressed the need for rock to be added to the shoulders along a portion of Fore Seasons Drive.  Smith will use the city’s tractor in the next day or so to do so.

Approval of Minutes:  Schultz moved to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2012 meeting as submitted.  Fisher seconded.  Ayes:  All.

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

General Fund

$1,661.27

Community Betterment

$0.00

Road Use Fund

$1,491.38

Total September Revenue

$3,152.65

 

General Fund

$3,235.47

Community Betterment

$0.00

Road Use Fund

$0.00

FEMA Grant Fund

$0.00

Total September Expenses

$3,235.47

 

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

Payable to:

        Amount:

Description:

IPERS

$50.58

Retirement fund

Alliant Energy

$85.31

Electricity

Caldwell & Brierly, PLLC

$163.20

Conferences regarding tax sale

Grinnell Implement Store, Inc.

$37.26

Tractor parts

Jasper County Sheriff

$3,000.00

Law enforcement for 2012/2013

Jasper County Emergency Management

$234.00

Annual per capita for 2012/2013

Petty Cash

$45.00

Postage

Christina Machin

$80.24

Reimburse for toner

United States Treasury

$251.37

941 for 3rd quarter 2012

Christina Machin

$310.00

Salary for September

Lennie Smith

$57.46

Mow dam

TOTAL

$4,314.42

 

Mayor’s Opening Address and Report

Mayor Lennie Smith reported that he received a lot of good information at the Iowa League of Cities Conference he attended recently.  Some of the information that he received at the conference will be shared in old and new business.

Old Business

Directory Update:  Smith reviewed the council members’ assignments for updating the city directory.

Fore Seasons Drive:  Discussion tabled until lawyer evaluation and information in new business.

Park Improvement:  Smith reported that he had researched solar power for the shelter house.  The cost would be between $8 and $10 per watt to install.  This would be an alternative to running electric to the park.  The cost to put an electric meter in at the park would be $500 - $1,000.  The cost would be more if the work was done after the ground freezes. 

The need for water at the park was discussed again as well.  The Council agreed that all of these things need to be done, but will likely wait until the spring.

Smith’s wife, Lori, won a pole pad for a basketball pole at the Iowa League of Cities Conference and will be donating it to the city park.  Smith will keep it in the maintenance shed during the winter and will put it out in the spring.

Ordinances and Incidents:  Discussion was tabled.

New Business

Iowa League of Cities Conference:  Smith reported that next year’s Iowa League of Cities Conference will be held in Dubuque.  He attended conferences on hiring engineers for projects, hiring a city attorney, and “going green.”  All of the presentations are available on the Iowa League of Cities’ website.

Halloween Party:  Elliott was not in attendance.  The party is still being planned for Sunday, October 28th from 4-6 p.m.  Two residents have volunteered to help Elliott in the planning process.

Lawyer Evaluation and Information:  One of the sessions Smith attended at the Iowa League of Cities Conference was a presentation on the steps in hiring a city attorney.  Smith sent an e-mail to the Council on the League’s recommended attorneys in the area.  He asked the Council to review it and come to November’s meeting with a recommendation. 

Other New Business:  The Council set the following dates for the Holiday Party and Luminaries:

            Holiday Party – Sunday, December 9th

            Luminaries – Sunday, December 16th.

Fisher moved and was seconded by Schultz to approve Smith to spend up to $175 for luminary candles.  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.          

Smith reported that there are trees growing over the road toward the back of Fore Seasons Drive.

Clerk Report:  There was none.

Maintenance Report:  Smith will work on putting rock along the shoulders where needed.

Adjournment:  Fisher moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 p.m.  Schultz seconded.  Ayes:  All.

The next regular meeting of the Oakland Acres City Council is scheduled on Monday, November 12, 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