Slater Regular City Council Meeting

December 6, 2007

The regular meeting of the Slater City Council was called to order by Mayor Rick Rewerts at 7:30 P.M. on December 6, 2007, at City Hall, 105 Greene St. , Slater, Iowa having been rescheduled from December 3, 2007 due to lack of quorum.  The roll being called the following Council members were present as follows: Dave Cook, and Tim Locker. Electronic connection - Mark Pritchard.  Absent – Gene Staples and Louise O’Donnell.  Others in attendance were Mary Beth Chinery, Jennifer Davies and approximately 5 citizens. 

Mayor Rewerts asked former Public Works Director, LaDonna Chriswell to approach the council table.  He commented that it was a privilege to honor LaDonna for her 26 plus years of service with the city and that he had been an excellent employee who had always given her all.  Of behalf of the council, Mayor Rewerts presented her with a plaque.  Chriswell retired November 30, 2007 .   

It was moved by Pritchard and seconded by Cook to approve the consent agenda, November 14, 2007 , November 19, 2007 and November 29, 2007  minutes and expenditures totaling $ 105,740.05 as follows:

ABSOLUTE BUILDING

MISC SUPPLIES

$178.09

AHLERS & COONEY

POOL LITIGATION

$2,070.69

ALLIANT

UTILITY BILL

$5,495.75

BAKER & TAYLOR

LIBRARY BOOKS/ DVD 'S

$359.93

CITY OF AMES

RESOURCE RECOVERY BILL

$6,856.50

DEMCO

LAMINATE, LABLES

$217.48

ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

FD CHARGER

$38.50

FEILMEYER, FEILMEYER, ET AL

LEGAL FEES

$513.00

FOLLETT

WEB COLLECTION

$266.18

HAWKINS

WATER CHEMICALS

$664.13

IA DNR

PERMIT FOR TANK

$380.00

IA DOT

BATTERY , LUBE

$315.17

IOWATELECOM

PHONE SERVICE

$256.30

JISSOM

TIF PAYMENT

$78,542.63

KNOWBUDDY

BOOKS

$47.90

MINN VALLEY TESTING LABS

WATER, SEWER TESTING

$130.10

MUNICIPAL SUPPLY

POOL ADAPTERS

$9.35

NIGHT OWL PRINTING

COPIES

$52.00

PMRG

P & Z WORK

$5,799.00

POSTMASTER

STAMPS

$134.72

PRO CLEANING

BUILDING CLEANING

$440.57

SMART APPLE MEDIA

BOOKS

$284.65

SNYDER & ASSOC

WATER, SEWER & FLOODPLAIN

$2,115.69

STAPLES

LIBRARY - CLEANER, ETC

$58.77

THE TRIBUNE

LIBRARY - 26 WEEKS SUB

$52.00

TYLER MORTVEDT

REIM $ COLLECTED LAST YEAR

$101.92

US CELLULAR

CELL PHONES

$228.25

WINDFALL

BOOKS

$130.78

The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Pritchard, Cook and Locker.  No: none.  Absent: Staples and O’Donnell 

The council reviewed a repair estimate from Mallon Excavation.  Cook moved to approve the bid from Casey Mallon to repair the culvert under Hwy 210 with the total not to exceed $2200.00.  Pritchard seconded the motion.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Cook, Pritchard and Locker.  No: none.  Absent: Staples and O’Donnell 

The council expressed an interest in setting the date for the information meeting with the DNR and Snyder & Associates Engineering regarding the FEMA floodplain area.  If possible this meeting will occur before the next council meeting so that all involved parties are as informed as possible before the council reviews the option of joining the National Flood Insurance Program. 

Cook moved that the proposed ordinance entitled: PLANNING AND ZONING, ZONING ORDINANCE be considered and approved on first consideration.  Pritchard seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Cook, Pritchard, Staples, O’Donnell and Schick.  No:  none.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

Cook moved that the proposed ordinance entitled: PLANNING AND ZONING, SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE be considered and approved on first consideration.  Pritchard seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Cook, Pritchard and Locker.  No: none.  Absent: Staples and O’Donnell.  The Mayor declared the motion carried.   

Cook moved that the proposed ordinance entitled: AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMIT SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS be considered, approved and adopted on third consideration.  Locker seconded the motion.  The Council Members voted on the motion as follows:  Yes:  Cook, Locker and Pritchard.  No: none.  Absent: Staples and O’Donnell.  The Mayor declared the motion carried. 

Former public works director, LaDonna Chriswell did receive and forward the letter received from the owners of 317 Main regarding their plans for the dangerous structure.  They indicated that the building will be demolished in 60 days weather permitting.  Chinery informed the council that 416 Main is listed as for sale by sealed bid with the highest bid being accepted on December 14, 2007 .  Once the new owner takes possession a notice to abate will be delivered.  319 Main has no changes.  Chinery will contact the city attorney about the resolution to abate.  101 E. 6th has made the improvements and has been removed from the dangerous building list.   

Mayor Rewerts informed the council that the application deadline is passed for the position of Public Works Director and stated that all applications were on file in city hall.  Considerable discussion ensued regarding the possible make up of the hiring committee including how many members, which members and how long the process might take.  There was considerable interest in serving on this committee.  It was moved by Pritchard and seconded by Cook that Pritchard, Locker and former Public Works Director LaDonna Chriswell be the members of the hiring committee.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Pritchard, Cook and Locker.  No: none.  Absent: Staples and O’Donnell 

The council indicated that they would like to have the park board submit a letter from the Friends of the Pool committee stating the amount they are willing to donate toward the playground equipment purchase for Grimm Park .  The equipment funding request was tabled pending that request.

Mayor Rewerts recommended the appointment of Don Schick to the Planning and Zoning Commission.  It was moved by Pritchard and seconded by Cook to approve appointment of Don Schick to the Planning and Zoning Commission.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Pritchard, Cook and Locker.  No: none.  Absent: Staples and O’Donnell 

It was moved by Cook and seconded by Locker to approve the liquor license renewal for Casey’s General Store.  The motion passed with record vote as follows:  Yes:  Cook, Locker and Pritchard.  No: none.  Absent: Staples and O’Donnell 

It was moved by Cook and seconded by Pritchard to adjourn at 8:40 P.M. , the motion carried and the meeting adjourned.