Author: R Patrick Sheridan

February City Council Meeting Minutes

Lawler City Council Meeting Minutes

 Regular Meeting   February 3, 2014   7:00 PM   City Hall

Mayor Mueterthies presided.

Council members present: Izer, King, Scheidel, Throndson & Zubrod

Others present: Alan Powell, Roger Dreckman, Tony Blazek, Jerry Vrzak, Jay Uhlenhake, Paul Rosenbaum, Janel Kuennen, Kurt Croell & Curt Franzen.

Moved by King, seconded by Izer to approve the Agenda. All Ayes.

Moved by Scheidel, seconded by Zubrod to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and approve the bills presented to be paid. All Ayes.

Hawkeye REC Service

$20,975.70
Treasurer State of Iowa Sales tax

$1,067.00
United States Treasury FICA, with

$1,420.14
IPERS January

$935.72
Salaries Salaries

$5,288.54
Jendro Sanitation Garbage-January

$2,130.44
Post Office Postage

$117.00
United Parcel Service shipping

$229.70
Windstream January

$72.83
Black Hills Energy natural gas

$358.59
Marshall & Swift rental

$37.12
CASH, Inc. fuel & supplies

$274.38
Stanton Electric electric repairs

$175.12
Five Star Coop fuel

$370.30
Fehr Graham well improvement services

$965.00
Dean’s Carpet Cleaning floor cleaning

$472.50
Zip’s parts

$68.84
Olsgard Auto Sales cutting edge

$268.66
IAMU energy efficiency report

$200.00
Sensus autoread software renewal

$1,524.60
Bodensteiner Imp. parts

$162.13
Test America water testing

$53.50

 

Total  

$37,629.81

 

Library Bills  

 

IPERS January

$154.98
Cathy Humpal wages

$1,041.59
The Courier subscription

$66.69
Iowa Library Association dues

$50.00
INGRAM books

$67.34
Midwest Tapes dvd’s

$88.16
Petty Cash postage & supplies

$78.67
Windstream December

$82.78
This Old House subscription

$26.00
People subscription

$116.07

 

Library Total  

$1,772.28

 

January Receipts

General

$1,409.45
Property Tax

$567.57
Road Use Tax

$2,901.71
Local Option Tax

$3,248.04
Library

$445.00
Charges for Services

$33,926.85
FEMA State Share

$1,662.55

Total  

$44,161.17

The council discussed garbage pickup concerns and spring cleanup day with Alan Powell from Jendro Sanitation.

Curt Franzen from the Starlite Ballroom discussed concerns with parking and traffic flow during the Irish Fest weekend.

The Irish Fest Committee presented a draft of parking, street closings, beer garden and activities for the Irish Fest weekend to the council.

It was decided to have the City Attorney draft a golf cart ordinance and it will be reviewed at the next meeting.

The new Law Enforcement Contract should be completed by the next meeting.

The council discussed three-phase electric hookups.  The cost of this service will not be paid for by the City in the future.

South Benz Street is not a truck route and is being used by trucks.  The City will put up new NO TRUCK signs on South Benz Street.

The FY 2014/2015 budget estimate was reviewed.

Moved by King, seconded by Zubrod to hold a public hearing on March 3, 2014 at 7:15 PM on the FY 2014/2015 budget estimate.  All Ayes.

Moved by King, seconded by Throndson to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 PM.  All Ayes.

______________________________

Sue Cutsforth, City Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2014 Council Meeting Minutes

Lawler City Council Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting   January 6, 2014   7:00 PM   City Hall

Mayor Mueterthies presided.

Council members present: Izer, King, Scheidel, Throndson & Zubrod.

Others present: Jay Uhlenhake, Curt & Anita Franzen.

Moved by King, seconded by Scheidel to approve the Agenda with the addition of Curt & Anita Franzen discussion on street closing in June. All Ayes.

Moved by Scheidel, seconded by King to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and approve the bills presented to be paid. All Ayes.

 

Hawkeye REC Service

$17,368.25
Treasurer State of Iowa Sales tax

$884.00
United States Treasury FICA, with

$1,636.56
IPERS December

$1,114.28
Salaries Salaries

$5,288.54
Jendro Sanitation Garbage-December

$2,060.32
Post Office Postage

$66.00
United Parcel Service shipping

$33.92
Windstream December

$71.43
Black Hills Energy natural gas

$157.26
Marshall & Swift rental

$37.12
Hawkins, Inc. water supplies

$203.50
Calmar Courier proceedings

$66.29
TestAmerica water & wastewater testing

$136.45
Office Depot office supplies

$65.16
CASH, Inc. fuel & supplies

$294.90
Stanton Electric electric repairs

$205.29
City of Lawler electric at lift station

$211.16
Five Star Coop fuel

$44.18
Schueth Hardware supplies

$110.34
Chickasaw County Auditor election fees

$387.67
Wellmark Blue Cross health insurance

$3,144.15
Simmering-Cory grant application

$900.00
Fehr Graham well improvement services

$1,544.00
Rosenbaum Auto tire repair

$16.80
Brown Supply Co. street supplies

$881.36
Treasurer State of Iowa withholding

$738.00
Iowa Workforce Development unemployment

$51.05
Iowa One Call locates

$21.70
Paul Niemann Const. rock

$466.37
New Hampton Tribune proceedings

$53.43
NAPA parts

$45.86
Richard Zahasky legal fees

$100.00
Iowa Utilities Board remainder assessment

$85.15

 

Total  

$38,952.49

 

Library Bills  

 

IPERS December

$175.71
Cathy Humpal wages

$1,180.84
Cathy Humpal mileage

$22.00
DEMCO supplies

$158.15
INGRAM books

$263.92
Midwest Tapes dvd’s

$118.59
Petty Cash postage & supplies

$123.92
Windstream November

$83.50
Wellmark BlueCross insurance

$750.00
Treasurer State of Iowa withholding

$38.00
US Treasury FICA

$600.66

 

Library Total  

$3,515.29

 

December Receipts

General

$151.84
Property Tax

$3,787.14
Road Use Tax

$2,928.75
Local Option Tax

$3,248.04
Library

$240.93
Charges for Services

$39,472.83

Total  

$49,829.53

Curt and Anita Franzen expressed concerns about parking and street closings on June 21st during the Irish Fest. There will be a large wedding at the ballroom that day and the street will need to be open for deliveries, etc. that morning. During the wedding reception and dance there will need to be parking available.  This will be discussed with the Irish Fest Committee and decision made about street closings at a future meeting.

Moved by King, seconded by Zubrod to open the public hearing on the multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan at 7:15 PM.  All Ayes.  There were no oral or written comments or objections at this time.

Moved by Scheidel, seconded by Throndson to close the public hearing on the multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan.  All Ayes.

Moved by Scheidel, seconded by King to pass resolution #010614 a resolution adopting multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan for Chickasaw County Iowa.  All Ayes.

The following appointments were made:

Mayor pro-tem                                    Dale King

Bank                                                    Bank Iowa

City Attorney                                      Richard Zahasky

City Clerk                                           Sue Cutsforth

Toxic Cleanup                                     Jeremy Scheidel

Street Committee                                Jeremy Scheidel, John Izer, Jay Uhlenhake

Utilities Committee                             Deb Zubrod, Dale King, Jay Uhlenhake

Fire Dept. Rep.                                   Jeremy Scheidel & Dale King

Tree Committee                                  Dale King, Deb Throndson, Jay Uhlenhake

Health Officer                                     Dr. Moberly

Ambulance Service Rep.                     Mark Mueterthies

Street Superintendent                         Jay Uhlenhake

Water Superintendent                         Jay Uhlenhake

Landfill Committee Rep.                    Jay Uhlenhake

Deb Zubrod to a five year term on the board of adjustment.

Moved by King, seconded by Izer to approve the appointments as listed.  All Ayes.

Moved by King, seconded by Zubrod to approve the estimate of $472.50 from Dean’s Carpet Cleaning for carpet and tile floor cleaning at the City Hall/Library building.  All Ayes.

Discussion on modifications of the Law Enforcement Contract  with Chickasaw County was tabled until the February meeting.

Moved by King, seconded by Zubrod to allot NEICA $329.50 for FY 2014/2015.  All Ayes.

The FY 2014/2015 budget was discussed.

Moved by Throndson, seconded by King to adjourn the meeting at 7:53 PM.  All Ayes.

__________________________

Sue Cutsforth, City Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December City Council Minutes

Lawler City Council Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting   December 2, 2013   7:00 PM   City Hall

Mayor Mueterthies presided.

Council members present: Izer, King, Njus, and Zubrod.  Scheidel arrived at 7:15 PM.

Others present: Jay Uhlenhake, Deb Throndson & Cathy Humpal.

Moved by King, seconded by Izer to approve the Agenda with the addition of update on the Irish Fest. All Ayes.

Moved by Zubrod, seconded by King to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and approve the bills presented to be paid. All Ayes.

Hawkeye REC Service

$17,220.50
Treasurer State of Iowa Sales tax

$996.00
United States Treasury FICA, with

$1,426.14
IPERS November

$935.72
Salaries Salaries

$5,288.54
Jendro Sanitation Garbage-November

$2,045.19
Post Office Postage

$112.00
United Parcel Service shipping

$45.45
Windstream November

$73.23
Black Hills Energy natural gas

$93.26
Marshall & Swift rental

$55.68
Hawkins, Inc. water supplies

$235.00
Calmar Courier proceedings

$206.99
TestAmerica water & wastewater testing

$189.95
Sandean service

$104.35
Iowa Finance Authority sewer note interest

$10,680.00
Office Depot office supplies

$392.06
Iowa Rural Water Assoc. membership dues

$200.00
CASH, Inc. fuel & supplies

$511.23
Stanton Electric electric repairs

$609.42
INTUIT annual payroll subscription

$449.00
Mark Mueterthies mayor

$1,200.00
John Izer 10 mtgs.

$250.00
Dale King 12 mtgs.

$300.00
Orlo Njus 11 mtgs.

$275.00
Jeremy Scheidel 12 mtgs.

$300.00
Deb Zubrod 10 mtgs.

$250.00
Don Mueterthies tree removal

$935.00

 

Total  

$45,841.71

 

Library Bills  

 

IPERS November

$167.43
Cathy Humpal wages

$1,125.14
Cathy Humpal mileage

$18.00
MidAmerica Books books

$152.55
INGRAM books

$169.74
Midwest Tapes dvd’s

$114.40
Ouill office supplies

$45.56
Windstream November

$82.79

 

Library Total  

$1,875.61

 

November Receipts

General

$446.58
Property Tax

$5,007.35
Road Use Tax

$2,810.33
Local Option Tax

$3,803.06
Library

$61.50
FEMA

$12,469.12
Charges for Services

$33,406.40

Total  

$58,004.34

 

Library Director Cathy Humpal presented the FY 2013/2014 library budget and also gave a presentation on a children’s book.  The Library Board is asking for a $500 increase in the budget.

Moved by Njus, seconded by Zubrod to appoint Deb Speltz to the Library Board for a six year term.  All Ayes.

Moved by King, seconded by Zubrod to pass resolution #120213 setting a date for a public hearing on the adoption of the multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan for Chickasaw County, Iowa.  The public hearing will be held January 6, 2014, 7:15 PM at City Hall.  All Ayes.

Moved by Njus, seconded by Izer to designate the New Hampton Newspapers as the official city newspaper having all council proceedings and official notices published that paper.  All Ayes.

The City Clerk will get an estimate on carpet and tile floor cleaning.

John Izer updated the council on the plans for the Irish Fest.

Moved by Njus, seconded by King to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 PM.  All Ayes.

______________________________

Sue Cutsforth, City Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Irish Heritage by Tom Brannon

 

 

MY IRISH RELATIVES

My Dad would have been one hundred years old in 2011. He was born in a small farming town in Lawler, Iowa. The population at the time my father lived there was about 500. I visited there when I was a young man and it seemed to me that many of the town’s people were related to me. I recall visiting the local cemetery and observing all my deceased relatives tombstones including my grandparents who were born in Ireland. I was told my grandfather was a successful farmer who lost his farm due to the great depression in 1929. He reportedly deposited his money from a successful crop in the bank only to have the bank close the next day. After losing the farm my grandfather moved to Independence, Iowa where he obtained employment with the Iowa State Hospital, running their farm industry. My Dad, upon graduating from high school in Lawler, left to find employment in Chicago, IL, where I was born.

Even though my Dad left Lawler as a young man he never forgot his life on the farm. He often talked about returning there and always spoke of being buried there. He continued all of his life, whenever he returned to Iowa, to visit Lawler and often sent money to the priest at the small Catholic Church.

Years passed and my Dad retired after suffering a serious heart attack. While living in Glendale, California my Dad and Mother decided to visit us in Japan in the 1970’s.  They insisted they come in August, and although we strongly discouraged their visit in August they insisted. August in Japan is when all of Japan shuts down for vacations and travel is extremely difficult. Japan’s four main islands are only as big as California, with a population approximately 150 million people, making travel difficult.

My parents arrived in Japan and at that time we were assigned to Yokosuka, about an hour’s train ride from Tokyo. I was worried about their trip as I knew my Mom would most likely be in shock at the difference between the United States and Japan. I was right. They no sooner arrived and my Mom asked why these people don’t speak English. Next she said for me to slow down or I was going to cause my Dad to have another heart attack. Wow, I thought this vacation is going to be difficult. We finally made it to the base, having driven by car from the airport in Tokyo.

Later I planned a trip for them to Shimoda, a beautiful fishing village, where Admiral Perry entered Japan and established trade with the country. Although the trip was only about 90 miles, it took over 12 hours to drive there. I thought my Mother was going to drive me crazy with her complaining why it was taking so long. I reminded her I had told her it was vacation time in Japan, and I had warned her not to come in August. Then when we got to the Oceanside inn where we often stayed she said, “Don’t tell me we have to sleep on the floor.” Bev and I left and then went to the Saki bar and had a few drinks to escape after an exhausting day.

 

 

The rest of the trip went well, however, the return trip and another 12 hour ride back to Yokosuka was much the same with complaints about the long drive. So, I thought I would take them to Tokyo, and put them on a bus for a tour of the city. We took the train to Tokyo and went to the Sanno Hotel. American food was available at the Sanno so that made them happy. Then after a bite to eat we took them outside to where the bus was leaving, they got on, my mother was astonished that we were not going with them. Again Bev and I went to the bar in the hotel and indulged in a few drinks to survive. Bev being a Baptist laughed and said, “Now I see why the Irish drink so much.”

Back home at our base things went well. However, my mother started asking my wife why hasn’t any one called and told her about her mother and how she is doing. She then started complaining she probably died and no one will call and tell her. Finally Bev got a little upset and picked up the phone and called the United States and got Grandma McClung on the line and said, “Tell Mary you aren’t dead.” My Grandma McClung and I were very, very close and she was fully aware of my Mom’s disposition. My Grandma lived well into her 90’s and was one of the smartest women I ever met. She had graduated from a four year Registered Nurses training course at the turn of the century, and was the youngest of 13 children.

Next I planned a trip farther north to a very famous shrine where the Emperor of Japan went annually. The temple was over a thousand years old. We had visited it previously. So off we went in my new car which I had purchased for my parents, and the car had air conditioning, which was unusual for Japan. It seemed finally the complaints from my mother were slowing down, although I attributed that to my mother being mad at Bev, after she made the phone call to Grandma and was told to quit complaining and enjoy herself.

So we finally made it to the famous one thousand year old temple. As we pulled up to the temple on the hill I said to my Dad, “How do you like that?” He stated “Tommy this is no nicer than the cemetery in Lawler.” I still laugh about the comment to this day. I have told all of the relatives from Iowa of my dad’s comments and they get a big kick out of it. The funny thing, after my parents returned to the United States they did tell everyone what a wonderful time they had and how much they enjoyed Japan and their visit.

  • A side note to this story is that my father died before my mother. So my mother buried my father at the famous Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, CA. That location is where all the famous people in CA and all the movie stars are buried. Recently they buried Michael Jackson in Forest Lawn. I visit the location whenever, I return to Glendale and without a doubt it is certainly the most beautiful cemetery in CA. It is also the most visited with the exception of Arlington in Washington. D.C., That location is where President Kennedy is buried. Unfortunately my dad did not get his wish to be buried in Lawler, Iowa.

 

  • One time years ago when we were visiting relatives in Iowa my wife and I drove out to the cemetery in Lawler. After walking around I heard my wife looking up and saying to herself out loud Paul, my dad’s name, this cemetery is not as nice as the cemetery in Japan.

November Council Meeting Minutes

Lawler City Council Meeting Minutes

Regular Meeting   November 4, 2013   7:00 PM   City Hall

Mayor Mueterthies presided.

Council members present: Izer, King, Njus, Scheidel and Zubrod.

Others present: Jay Uhlenhake and George TeKippe.

Moved by King, seconded by Scheidel to approve the Agenda. All Ayes.

Moved by Scheidel, seconded by Zubrod to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and approve the bills presented to be paid. All Ayes.

Hawkeye REC Service

$16,880.97
Treasurer State of Iowa Sales tax

$904.00
United States Treasury FICA, with

$1,426.14
IPERS September

$935.72
Salaries Salaries

$5,288.54
Jendro Sanitation Garbage-October

$2,082.33
Post Office Postage

$204.00
United Parcel Service shipping

$126.68
Windstream October

$86.79
Black Hills Energy natural gas

$63.00
Marshall & Swift rental

$37.12
Hawkins, Inc. water supplies

$539.89
Calmar Courier proceedings

$44.50
TestAmerica water testing

$53.50
Croell Redi-Mix sand

$389.19
Stanton Electric electric services

$2,804.60
Roger Dreckman Const. move sand shed

$6,398.00
Uline supplies

$70.22
Iowa DOT rock salt

$1,036.60
MARC lagoon supplies

$642.90
Bodensteiner Imp. supplies

$36.52
Pollard pest control

$52.50
Terry-Durin Co. street lights

$1,800.00
Emily Arens deposit refund

$75.00
Bank Iowa street note

$14,465.11
Five Star Coop fuel

$211.00
Date Technologies support agreement

$1,085.54
Brown Supply Co. street supplies

$195.30
Fencl Oil Co. bury electric lines

$122.50
Schueth Hardware supplies

$47.96
Total

$58,568.12
Library Bills
IPERS October

$169.08
Cathy Humpal wages

$1,136.28
Petty Cash postage

$135.00
Domain Registry website

$60.00
HGTV Magazine subscription

$18.00
The Oprah Magazine subscription

$35.28
Windstream October

$83.33
Time Magazine subscription

$72.24
Reader’s Digest subscription

$17.98
Family Fun subscription

$14.95
IMGRAM books

$126.47
New Hampton Tribune subscription

$46.00
The Courier subscription

$66.69
Robert Patrick Sheridan reimbursement Kindle

$119.00
Quill office supplies

$80.44
Cathy Humpal reimbursement story hour

$33.63
Library Total

$2,214.37
October Receipts
General

$227.37
Property Tax

$26,552.77
Road Use Tax

$5,905.51
Local Option Tax

$3,139.42
Library

$1,188.89
Charges for Services

$45,695.13
Total

$82,709.09

George TeKippe from Fehr Graham Engineering was present to discuss the proposed design services for upgrades to well #2 including iron sequestration as described in the preliminary report.

Moved by Zubrod, seconded by King to approve the proposal from Fehr Graham Engineering for design services for upgrades to well #2 including iron sequestration as described in the preliminary report.  All Ayes.

Mayor Mueterthies opened the public hearing on the consideration of the submission of an application for a Community Development Block Grant for water system upgrades including well and water main improvements at 7:15 PM.

There were no oral or written comments of objections at this time.

The following announcements were made:

The City of Lawler is proposing to submit a Community Development Block Grant Applica­tion to the Iowa Economic Development Authority.  The grant funds will be used to help finance improvements to the City’s water system.  Total project costs are estimated at $550,000.

The grant application will be submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority on November 13, 2013.

The City is requesting $300,000 in CDBG funds for the proposed project.  If the grant is approved by the State, the City intends to commit $250,000 in local matching funds to the project. The City will be applying to the SRF loan program for financing assistance with the local match.

The project will result in City-wide benefit and based on the recent survey, 61% of the residents living in the community are of low-and-moderate income.

It will not be necessary to displace or relocate any homeowners as a result of the proposed program.

Moved by Scheidel, seconded by Zubrod to close the public hearing on the consideration of the submission of an application for a Community Development Block Grant for water system upgrades including well and water main improvements.  All Ayes.

Moved by Scheidel, seconded by King to accept the estimate from Don Mueterthies of $935.00 for tree removal in the fence line of the lagoon property.  All Ayes.

Moved by Njus, seconded by King to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 PM.  All Ayes.

______________________________

Sue Cutsforth, City Clerk

November City Council Agenda

City of Lawler

414 E. Grove St.

PO Box 215

Lawler, IA  52154

563-238-3614

AGENDA

 

REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 4, 2013                                                              7:00 PM, CITY HALL

1.  ROLL CALL.

2.  APPROVAL WITH ANY ADDITIONS OF AGENDA.

3.  APPROVAL & CORRECTIONS, IF ANY, OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND APPROVAL OF THE BILLS PRESENTED TO BE PAID.

4.  MAYORS COMMENTS.

5.  BUSINESS:

  1. GEORGE TEKIPPE FROM FEHR GRAHAM – DESIGN SERVICES FOR WATER SYSTEM PROJECT.
  1. PUBLIC HEARING – 7:15 PM – CONSIDERATION OF THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FOR WATER SYSTEM UPGRADES INCLUDING WELL AND WATER MAIN IMPROVEMENTS.
  1. REMOVAL OF TREES AT LAGOON PROPERTY.

6.  COMMENTS.

7.  ADJOURNMENT.