Slater Regular City Council Meeting

November 5, 2007

 The regular meeting of the Slater City Council was called to order by Mayor Rick Rewerts at 7:30 P.M. on November 5, 2007 , at City Hall, 105 Greene St. , Slater, Iowa .  The roll being called the following Council members were present as follows: Gene Staples, Louise O’Donnell, Don Schick and Dave Cook.  Electronic connection - Mark Pritchard.  Absent – None.  Others in attendance were Public Works Director LaDonna Chriswell, Mary Beth Chinery and approximately 15 citizens.  (List on file) 

 Chris Young requested that the council repair the culvert for Fourmile Creek on Hwy 210.  It is pushed out of place and is causing water to back up.  He contacted Mike Krohn at the DOT and was referred to the city as it is not a state issue.  Chriswell indicated that it has been referred to the engineer.  She will contact him and request options for the council to review at the next regular meeting.

 Sergeant Randy Mortvedt from the Story County Sheriff’s Office presented the council with the monthly call report.  The Sheriff’s budget meeting will be held on November 15^th.  He informed the council that R38 is still closed and that tickets are being issued to people who violate the signs.  Betty Robb of the Slater First Responders thanked the sheriff’s office for having a deputy and McGruff the Crime Dog present at their pancake breakfast.

It was moved by Staples and seconded by Cook to approve the consent agenda, October 15, 2007 , minutes and expenditures totaling $ 32045.32 as follows:

 The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Staples, Cook, O’Donnell, and Schick.  No: Pritchard. 

  Gary Reiners from Public Management Resource Group informed the council that the zoning and subdivision control chapters are working documents.  The council decided that a special work session would be appropriate to go through the document thoroughly and set a date of November 14, 2007 .  He also presented the council with documents regarding fees and growth policies to begin reviewing. 

 Reiners recommended that the scope of service that PMRG could provide to assist the city in the selection of the new employees and the establishment of an effective personnel system including defining job descriptions and employee policies be tabled until after the first of the year.

The council was informed that the DNR will only allow Chriswell to volunteer for six months, until May 31, 2008 .  Staples moved to accept and sign the Public Works volunteer contract for Chriswell.  Motion was seconded by Cook.  The motion passed with record vote as follows: Yes:  Staples, Cook, O’Donnell and Schick.  No:  Pritchard

 The council then discussed sending approximately 1000 letters that will be sent to select certified operators in the state of Iowa as soon as possible to attract applicants for the Public Works Director position.

 Rewerts updated the council that he approached Jennifer Davies regarding the temporary part-time position in the city offices.  She had previously submitted a resume and is the census volunteer which will require her to learn the city software and records.  She is available on a very flexible basis.  Pritchard indicated that he would like the city to be more strict in following the hiring steps and procedures laid out in the handbook.

 Pritchard indicated that he was very upset with the process because it did not follow proper procedures and he wanted it noted as such.  There was an unofficial vote that wasn’t on the agenda, the person was hired prior to the council’s approval and there was no wage established as required by the employee handbook and the council members handbook.  Councilman Pritchard felt the people of Slater didn’t elect them into office to make decisions of having the City Hall ran by three temporary part-time employees without a full-time staff member to provide supervision.  He wished as much effort was put into hiring a full time staff member as there was a temporary part-time employee.  It is irresponsible for the council to allow the city to be operated in this manner.

 The City of Sheldahl sent a letter asking if the City of Slater would pay half of the cost of the odor control monitoring equipment for the wastewater connection.  The council, citing the original agreement denied the request.

 Chinery informed the council that Huxley Communications does not do phone installation.  The council was presented with the installation quote from the company that Huxley Communications contacted on the City’s behalf.  O’Donnell made the motion to accept the proposal from Iowa Telecom and to authorize Chinery and Rewerts to move forward with the installation including internet hard wiring of the computer.  The motion was seconded by Pritchard.  The motion passed with record vote as follows: Yes:  O’Donnell, Pritchard, Schick, Staples and Cook.

 The ordinance to change the speed limit on R38 was received just before the council meeting and will be tabled until the next meeting.

 Chriswell informed the council that the deadline is approaching for the buildings that have been designated as dangerous.  One location is sold and once the transfer of ownership occurs she will contact the new owners.  Chriswell will contact the owners of the other three buildings, inspect the repairs made and report at the next meeting.  She will also present the council with the options previously sent by the attorney.

 Mayor Rewerts submitted Jerry Hull’s name for the vacant position on the Parks and Recreation Board to fill the unexpired term of Dee Newell.  It was moved by Staples and seconded by Schick to approve the appointment of Jerry Hull with a term to expire December 2007.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Staples, Schick, Pritchard, O’Donnell and Cook.  No:  none.

 Evy Raes, chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Board presented the council with a playground sketch that their board had approved for construction in Grimm Park .  The board proposes the use of their Peterson and Sydnes money to fund the project as well as seeking additional funding from the Friends of the Pool Committee.  Chinery will report the remaining available balance of those funds at the next meeting.

Raes also indicated the boards interest to participate in the Tobacco-Free Policy in cooperation with the Iowa Dept. of Health.  Signs would be posted to inform the public that recreational facilities are a tobacco-free area.  The program provides the signs at no cost to the city.  The council approved the adoption of the Tobacco-Free Policy by consensus. 

The council discussed the FEMA floodplain designation.   Application materials have been received for the National Flood Insurance Program.  FEMA maps are currently at City Hall and will be effective on February 20, 2008 .  The city has until early January to return the necessary paperwork.  The Engineer’s survey of the area is not completed.  Chriswell will check to see when it will be available and affected residents will be notified of the meeting to discuss the results.  This is tentatively planned for the November 19, 2007 meeting.

Mayor Rewerts informed the council that he had meet with John Speer, Ballard Schools Superintendent.  Speer indicated that he plans to form a committee after the first of the year to address what to do with the old school property.

Mayor Rewerts also indicated that the traffic calming study was complete and that the city had the option to retain the calming mechanisms.  The council is interested in keeping the radar sign but would prefer to remove the tubes on South Linn due to street maintenance problems.

Mayor Rewerts was contacted by Attorney Jim Wainwright.  Mayor will attempt to have Mr. Wainwright at the special council meeting on November 14th prior to the P&Z discussion.   

O’Donnell requested Chriswell’s pay out amount and any foreseeable budget impact be available at the next meeting.  She also indicated an interest in looking at taking bids for a attorney services.

Ken May asked the council if there is a form to fill out for fireworks for the Christmas on Main event.  Chinery will locate the form and contact May.

It was moved by Staples and seconded by Schick to adjourn at 9:55 P.M. , the motion carried and the meeting adjourned.