Slater Regular City Council Meeting 

February 4, 2008  

The regular meeting of the Slater City Council was called to order by Mayor Gary Halverson at 7:30 P.M. on February 4, 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 - Mark Pritchard.  Also in attendance were Mary Beth Chinery, Jennifer Davies, and several residents.

Sergeant Mortvedt of the Story County Sheriff’s Office presented the town call report to the council.  It also contained a printed presentation about the upcoming Citizen’s Academy.  

Betty Robb updated the council regarding the First Responders.  They have ordered an AED with the funds raised at their breakfast.  They will also be looking into updating their current facilities or finding a new location. 

Howard Hammond presented the council with the budget request for the Historical Society.  He, along with several other society members updated the council regarding the possessions and displays housed within Heritage Hall. 

Susan Erickson approached the council again about the condition of sidewalks.  She provided the council with a list of specific properties that need to be made aware of the removal ordinance.  City hall and public works will follow up with these properties.  

It was moved by Staples and seconded by Pritchard to approve the consent agenda, January 19, 21 and 23, 2008 minutes and expenditures totaling $ 19128.75 as follows:

ABSOLUTE BUILDING CENTER

SUPPLIES

78.50

ALLIANT

UTILITIES

7,620.23

AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOC

DUES

68.00

AREST-A-PEST

MOSQUITO SPRAYING

460.00

BAKER & TAYLOR

BOOKS & DVD 'S

419.41

BRUCE'S COMPUTER REPAIR

COMPUTER HELP

25.00

DEMCO

LABLES, COVERS, ETC

141.42

EBSCO

INFORMATIONS SYSTEM

42.68

ED FELD EQUIP

SCBA BOTTLE TESTING

38.00

EIGINEERING AMERICA

FILTERS

658.40

ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

RADIO PROGRAMMING

194.95

GALE

BOOKS

56.60

INDEPENDENT SALT CO.

ROAD SALT

905.21

IOWA LEAGUE OF CITIES

MLA WORKSHOP

100.00

IOWA TELECOM

PHONES

260.52

J & M DISPLAYS

X- MAS ON MAIN FIREWORKS

550.00

JEFF MEYER

REIMB FOR KID PROMOTIONS

7.09

MALLON EXCAVATING, LLC

WATER MAIN REPAIR

400.00

MARY BETH CHINERY

REIMB FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES

375.72

MATT PARROTT & SONS

WATER BILLS

709.35

MID WEST BENEFIT

DEATH CONTRIBUTION

31.25

MINN VALLEY TESTING

WATER/SEWER TESTING

84.42

MITINET INC

SUBSCRIPTION DUES

189.00

MONGAN PAINTING

POOL STRIPE PAINTING

812.60

MUNICIPAL SUPPLY, INC

CLAMPS

315.30

NITE OWL PRINTING

SURVEYS

37.50

PENWORTHY

BOOKS

282.34

PEPPY PUSHERS 4-H CLUB

REIMB FOR 1ST RESP BREAKFAST

60.00

POSTMASTER

STAMPS - LIBRARY, W, WW, RU

246.00

QUICKS HARDWARE

SOCKET

4.19

RAINBOW BOOK CO

BOOKS

355.80

SELECT OFFICE SYSTEMS

ANNUAL COPIER MAINTENANCE

399.00

SHOWCASES

VHS CASES

152.16

SNYDER & ASSOCIATES

ENGINEERING

2,578.00

SOUTH STORY BANK & TRUST

SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

9.00

STAPLES

OFFICE SUPPLIES

198.73

STORY COUNTY MAYORS ASSOC

DUES

20.00

TOWN & COUNTRY STORE

TRASHBAGS

14.73

US CELLULAR

CELL PHONES

227.65

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

Chinery updated the council concerning the floodplain.  Because there is not currently a map in existence the “Zone X” insurance is not going to be available.  Property owners continue to make improvements to raise their lowest adjacent grade above base flood elevation before the re-survey on the 11th.  Chinery will submit a letter to Senator Grassley asking if he can provide any assistance.     

Pritchard made a motion to accept the change order for the 2007 water supply discharge equalization system.  Staples seconded the motion.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Pritchard, Staples, Ransom, Locker and Higgs.  No: none.

Staples moved for the adoption of Resolution 9 (2007/2008) ORDERING BIDS , APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND FORM OF CONTRACT AND NOTICE TO BIDDERS, FIXING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY, AND ORDERING CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE AND FIXING A DATE FOR RECEIVING SAME, AND FOR SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT AND ESTIMATE OF COSTS ON THE SLATER, IOWA, 2007 water supply discharge equalization system.  Pritchard seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes: Staples, Pritchard, Higgs, Locker and Ransom.  No:  none.   The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

Estrem asked the council if anything could be done to begin his insurance before March 11th as that is when his current insurance will lapse.  Locker moved to waive the probationary period for his insurance and allow Estrem to enroll effective March 1, 2008 .  Higgs seconded the motion.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Locker, Higgs, Pritchard, Ransom and Staples.  No: none.  The council discussed the start date and insurance for the new public works director.  The council decided that since Estrem has been working on the budget that he will be compensated for those hours. 

 Staples made a motion to accept the new revision of the employee handbook with the necessary revisions still needing to be made to the table of contents.  Locker seconded the motion.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Staples, Locker, Ransom, Pritchard and Higgs.  No: none. 

The council had significant discussion about the 2008-09 budget and is considering different options to maximize efficiency and reduce costs.  It was recommended to split the parks budget into parks items and public works items to make it more representative of who actually budgets these items.  Chinery will make revisions and the council will continue to work on budget at the next meeting, February 11, 2008 , 

It was moved by Staples and seconded by Locker to adjourn at 11:48 P.M. , the motion carried and the meeting adjourned.

 Mayor Halverson administered the oaths of office for Chinery and Davies.