Slater Regular City Council Meeting

January 7, 2008

The regular meeting of the Slater City Council was called to order by Mayor Gary Halverson at 7:30 P.M. on January 7, 2008 , at City Hall, 105 Greene St. , Slater, Iowa .  The roll being called the following Council members were present as follows: Gene Staples, Steve Ransom, Mike Higgs, and Tim Locker; electronic connection - Mark Pritchard.  Also in attendance were Mary Beth Chinery, Jennifer Davies, Jeremy Schlee and several residents.  Absent – none. 

Recognition of the departing mayor and council members was tabled until the January 21, 2008 meeting.

Lt. Toresdahl with the Story County Sheriff’s Office reported on the calls in the community.  He informed the council that Dep. Mike Miller has been assigned to Slater and is available to present any programs the community is interested in.

A resident informed the council that the sidewalks throughout town were covered in ice.  After discussing many options the council decided to start by reminding the citizens of the city code that requires that walks be cleared no later than 48 hours following a weather event or the city after notifying the owner can clear the walks at the owner’s expense.  Notices will be placed around town and on the next water bill.

Several residents with property in the flood plain asked the city to make contact with FEMA/ DNR to see if an extension was possible to get the changes made so that their structures can be submitted as above the base flood elevation.  Currently all work must be completed by February 11 so that elevations can be surveyed and paperwork submitted before the February 20 deadline.  Jeremy Schlee, with Snyder & Assoc. engineer will place the calls and inform Chinery so that she can pass along information to the property owners.

Utility customer 1760000 asked the council for options regarding a very large water bill because of a leak.  The council decided to charge them an average bill for the number of residents at their location.  

It was moved by Staples and seconded by Pritchard to approve the consent agenda, December 17, 2007 minutes and expenditures totaling $ 28,030.02 as follows:

The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Staples, Pritchard, Ransom, Higgs and Locker.  No: none.   

Schlee submitted a proposal to amend the contract for up to an additional $1100 to survey the additional homes and submit the FEMA forms.  It was moved by Staples and seconded by Pritchard to accept the change order for the Fourmile Creek Modeling Project.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Staples, Pritchard, Locker, Ransom and Higgs.  No: none.   

Mayor Halverson opened the public hearing regarding the proposed Flood Plain Management Ordinance.  There was no public input so the hearing was closed. 

Staples moved to waive the second reading of the proposed ordinance entitled: FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE #229.  Pritchard seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Staples, Pritchard, Ransom, Locker and Higgs.  No: none.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

Pritchard moved that the proposed ordinance entitled: FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE #229 be considered, approved and adopted on third consideration.  Higgs seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Pritchard, Higgs, Locker, Ransom and Staples.  No: none.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

The park board submitted a plan to purchase playground equipment for Grimm Park including the use of Peterson and Sydnes funds as well as donations.  The council asked Chinery to find records regarding RAISE and report if the Sydnes money would need to be reimbursed from the 08-09 budget if spent on this project.  It was moved by Ransom and seconded by Locker to approve the park board equipment request and allow the money to be spent as described for a total of $21,977.

Steve Ransom volunteered to be the Mayor’s back up for the Emergency Management Commission. 

Locker informed the council that the hiring committee had met, screened applicants, selected eight for interview and complied interview questions. Discussion followed regarding changing the committee to be the entire council.  Concerns discussed included consistency in hiring for all positions, availability of a large committee, time requirements and quorum requirements.  Staples moved that the entire council be the hiring committee for all future management positions.  Ransom seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Staples, Ransom, Pritchard, Higgs and Locker.  No:  none.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.  

Staples asked the council to consider retaining the current city hall staff for the open positions.  Discussion ensued regarding the positions and was tabled until a future date.  January 19, 2008 was chosen for the public works director interviews.  Chinery will post an agenda, schedule the candidates and forward the questions from the committee.

Mayor Halverson recommended Chinery be appointed acting city clerk, Davies acting deputy city clerk, Jerry Weeks building official and Staples mayor pro tempore.

Ransom moved to accept the mayor’s recommendations and adoption Resolution 7 (2007/2008) APPOINTING CITY OFFICERS FOR 2008-09 TERM.  Locker seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Ransom, Locker, Pritchard and Higgs.  No:  none.  Abstain: Staples.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

Chinery informed the council that Ord. 223 Establishing the Storm Water Utility was incorrectly published.  In order to correct the situation the city needs to suspend collection until the number of months collected is equal to that of months passed since the correct publication.  It was correctly published on January 1, 2008 .  

Pritchard moved for the adoption of Resolution 8 (2007/2008) RESOLUTION REGARDING COLLECTION OF STORMWATER UTILITY FEES.  Ransom seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Pritchard, Ransom, Locker, Staples and Higgs.  No:  none.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

The Slater City Council would like to thank Randy Kennedy for donating sand to the city for use on the streets during snow and ice events. 

The council expressed an interest in trying to reduce the budget.  Staples suggested that a letter would be sent to each department asking them to submit their recommendations for the 08-09 budget based on a 15% cut in what was granted in the 07-08 budget.  The council will look at budget at the January 21 meeting.  The employee handbook will also be discussed at that time.

Ransom suggested that the city staff write a column for the newspaper to help keep the residents informed.  Chinery also expressed an interest in having drop boxes for questions that people have for city hall.

It was moved by Staples and seconded by Locker to adjourn at 10:00 P.M. , the motion carried and the meeting adjourned.