Lawler, Iowa

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RES 2020-01062020 Max Levy Hearing for FY21 Budget

FY21 Public Hearing Notice Max Levy Hearing

The Lawler City Council met in regular session on January 9, 2020 at 7:00 PM.

Mayor Mark Mueterthies presided.

Council members present:  Izer, Croell, Kuehner, King and Scheidel

Others present:  Jay Uhlenhake, Cathy Humpal, Kurt Croell and Craig Schmitt

Motion made by Croell to approve the Agenda. Second by King.   All Ayes. Motion passed.

Motion made by Scheidel to approve the previous minutes and current bills to be paid.   Second by King.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

WINDSTREAM	PHONE	106.68
ARAMARK	RUGS	210
STANTON ELECTRIC		1,427.70
UPS	ROSENBAUM AUTO	43.64
TEST AMERICA		102.9
EFTPS	FED/FICA TAXES	1,688.75
IPERS	IPERS	1,244.20
STATE WITHHOLDING	STATE TAXES	838
BLACK HILLS ENERGY	GAS UTILITY	252.21
MIENERGY	ELECTRICITY	22,454.36
CASH	GAS	436.61
FIVE STAR COOP	TRACTOR DIESEL	124.24
HAWKINS	AZONE 15	311.14
IOWA DEPT OF REVNUE/SALES	SALES TAX	1,152.00
BLAZEK CORPORATION	FIX WATER MAIN	1,855.00
NEW HAMPTON TRIBUNE	COUNCIL MINUTES 12/7/2019	64.12
WELLMARK BLUE CROSS		3,443.25
LAWLER FIRE DEPARTMENT	1ST TRUCK PAYMENT 2020	5,671.25
CHICKASAW COUNTY AUDITOR	2019 ELECTION	548.5
IOWA ONE CALL	EMAIL	25.2
BARCO MUNICIPAL PRODUCTS	RAILROAD CROSSING	1,253.04
PAYROLL CHECKS	TOTAL PAYROLL CHECKS	7,672.56
	CLAIMS TOTAL	50,925.35	REVENUE TOTAL
	GENERAL FUND	15,551.84	7736.3
	ROAD USE TAX FUND	2,547.92	2645.43
	WATER FUND	4,723.59	7191.49
	SEWER FUND	3,007.56	8002.22
	ELECTRIC FUND	25,094.44	32566.77
	STORM WATER		1313.24
	SANITATION		2551.45

Jeremy Scheidel, John Izer and Dale King were sworn in as Council persons.  Mark Mueterthies was sworn in as Mayor.

Kurt Croell would like permission to bore under Grove Street to allow water discharge from the old Hugeback Funeral building to flow into the creek.  He as permission from John Cuvelier to bore between his properties on Grove Street.    He spoke with Roger Dreckman and John Cuvelier to take the fence down in the pocket park to allow updates to the building.  He will pay to fix the pocket park.  He would like permission from the city since it is city owned.  Motion made by Scheidel access to pocket park and to bore under Grove Street to creek for water discharge.  Second by Izer.  All Ayes.  Motion passed

Craig Schmitt with Hawkeye Telephone from Hawkeye, IA offered to put fiber optic cable to homes for phone, internet and cable TV.    Maynard, IA and Wesgate, IA have accepted his offer.  He will be mailing information to the City residents to ask permission to home owners for permission to allow fiber optic to homes.   Hawkeye Telephone will only be in Lawler once to run the fiber optic underground to home free of charge.     Homeowner’s do not have to sign up for the phone, internet or cable TV at this time.   If the homeowner doesn’t give permission to run fiber optic cable to the home at this time and would like this service at a later date then the homeowner will need to pay for this.  Motion made by Kuehner to add Hawkeye Telephone.  Seconded by Croell.  All Ayes.  Motion passed

Cathy Humpal discussed the library board.  Renee Throndson is no longer on the board and Cathy Stevens agreed to serve on the board.   Motion made by King to appoint Cathy Stevens to the Library Board.  Second by Scheidel.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

Cathy Humpal gave to council her Library Budge for FY20-21.  She also took the council to the library to discuss what she is working on in the library.  The library works with Iowa Shares which is a free service for interlibrary loans.  She also explained in order to be an accredited library; the library needs to have an online catalog which the library has.  She has a “Maker Space for children to work in.

The following Board Appointments were discussed

Appointments January 2020

Mayor pro-tem                                    Dale King

Bank                                                    Bank Iowa

City Attorney                                      John Anderson

City Clerk                                           Suzette Byrne

Toxic Cleanup                                     Jeremy Scheidel

Street Committee                                Dawn Croell, John Izer, Jay Uhlenhake

Utilities Committee                            Gwen Kuehner, Dale King, Jay Uhlenhake

Fire Dept. Rep.                                   John Izer & Dale King

Tree Committee                                  Dale King, Gwen Kuehner, Jay Uhlenhake

Health Officer                                     Dr. Lukas Brinkman

Ambulance Service Rep.                    Mark Mueterthies, Dawn Croell

Street Superintendent                         Jay Uhlenhake

Water Superintendent                         Jay Uhlenhake

Landfill Committee Rep.                    Jay Uhlenhake

Board of Adjustment                          5 year term

Linda Anderson                                  2020

Jeremy Scheidel                                  2017

Dawn Croell                                        2022

Roger Dreckman                                 2024

Frank Wilson                                       2020

Park Board                                          5 year term

Deb Njus                                             2020

Dale King                                            2022

Jeremy Scheidel                                  2020

Emergency Management Board

Mark Mueterthies

Dawn Croell

Motion made by King to accept the appointments.  Second by Croell.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

The Code of Ordinances need to be updated every 5 years.   Motion made by Scheidel to use Simmering-Cory Iowa Codification for $4200.  Second by Croell.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

If the resident runs their water during the winter months, that is the resident’s responsibility to pay for the water usage.   The water runs through the city’s sewer and costs the city money.  The city will not credit resident’s utility bills for this.  Suzette spoke to several cities and they do not do this.   Motion by Croell to not credit utility bills for water running at trickle.   Second by King.  Izer abstained for voting.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

Dale discussed the fire department is in need of purchasing 21 air pack tanks and need to be purchased by December 2020.  The townships do not have the money to help.  Mayor Mueterthies made a statement; the City of Lawler should not have to pay for what the townships cannot pay.  Kuehner asked why the air pack tanks could not be purchased 3 or 4 per year instead of all in one year.  No answer was give.  Dale needs to know by January 21, 2020 how much the city can give.   Croell would like to ask local business to for donations for this expense.   Motion made by King to have Dawn Croell ask local businesses to donate money.  Second by Croell  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

Budget FY20-21 was discussed.  Resolution NO.  2020-0106202 for setting Public Hearing for the Maximum Property Tax Levy was discussed.  Iowa SF634 requires a public hearing on the proposed maximum property tax dollars from certain levies.  Motion made by Kuehner to set Public Hearing February 3, 2020 at 7:15 p.m.  Second by Scheidel.  All ayes.  Motion passed.

It was discussed the city will need a new dump truck for FY20-21 and would need to increase Roads and Snow Removal Expenses in the Public Works fund by $50,000.  The Lift Station needs to be repaired around $2,400.  Suzette will enter new budget numbers in the Budget for FY20-21.

Delinquent accounts were discussed.

The next meeting will be Monday, February 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Motion by Croell and second by Scheidel to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

_________________________________

Suzette Byrne, City Clerk

 

The Lawler City Council met in regular session on December 3, 2019 at 7:00 PM.

Mayor Mark Mueterthies presided.

Council members present:  Croell, Kuehner, and Scheidel

Council members absent:  Izer and King

Others present:  Jay Uhlenhake and Cathy Humpal

Motion made by Croell to approve the Agenda. Second by Kuehner.   All Ayes. Motion passed.

Motion made by Scheidel to approve the previous minutes and current bills to be paid.   Second by Croell.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

WINDSTREAM	PHONE	104.51
ARAMARK	RUGS	140
JENDRO	GARBAGE CONTRACT	4,642.52
POLLARD PEST CONTROL CO.	PEST	54.5
STANTON ELECTRIC	POLE	1,683.89
UPS	SHIPPING	84.69
TEST AMERICA	DRINKING WATER & WASTE WATER TEST	147
EFTPS	FED/FICA TAX	1,397.09
IPERS	IPERS	1,046.04
BLACK HILLS ENERGY	GAS UTILITY	170.05
IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY	MC119R INT 2019	7,793.75
CASH	GAS PICKUP	353.32
FIVE STAR COOP	FIELD MATER DYED DLVD	359.7
IOWA DEPT OF REVENUE/SALES	SALES TAX	1,052.00
BLAZEK CORPORATION	MUSKRAT HOLES BY LAGOON	887.5
NEW HAMPTON TRIBUNE	AFR POSTING 2019	146.88
SANDY’S SIGN SHOP	WELCOME SIGN	800
LAWLER PUBLIC LIBRARY	OCTOBER NOVEMBER PAYMENT	2,300.00
MIC’S PLUMBING & HEATING	WATER HEATER REPAIR	848.07
ANDERSON		348.75
BANK IOWA	DECEMBER 2019 LOAN PAYMENT	9,046.54
IOWA RURAL WATER	MEMBER DUES 1/1/20-12/31/20	225
JAY UHLENHAKE	REIMBURSEMENT	16.49
MARK MUETERTHIES	2019 MILEAGE	358.56
MUNICIPAL PIPE TOOL	JET CLEANING SANITARY SEWERS	3,471.53
ROYAL PUBLISHING	XC STATE MEET AD	175
BMC AGGREGATES LC	CLASS A ROADSTONE	90.17
DEPOSIT REFUNDS	REFUND DATE 11/25/2019	143.38
PAYROLL CHECKS	TOTAL PAYROLL CHECKS	5,070.31
	CLAIMS TOTAL	42,957.24	REVENUE
	GENERAL FUND	9,000.83	8,621.63
	SANITATION FUND	4,642.52	2,173.03
	ROAD USE TAX FUND	665.85	2,818.96
	DEBT SERVICE FUND	9,046.54	704.90
	WATER FUND	1,789.74	5,819.41
	WATER SINKING FUND FUND	2,710.00	2,556.46
	SEWER FUND	6,363.90	88,665.79
	SEWER SINKING FUND FUND	5,083.75	4,121.04
	ELECTRIC FUND	3,510.73	22,518.53
	DEPOSITS – ELECTRIC FUND	143.38	138.01
	STORM WATER		1,164.43

Suzette presented a quote from Simmering-Cory & Iowa Codification to update the city’s Code of Ordinance Book.  It was quoted for $4,200 to be paid in 3 installments.  It was discussed the amount of money left in the General Fund for FY19-20.

Motion made Scheidel to table until next month.  Seconded by Croell.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

Suzette was inquiring about a city web page to be utilized for unexpected announcements (ex. Garbage pickup changes for holidays) and events happening within the city.  A city web page would cost money to set up and Croell mentioned to start with a city Facebook page.  Kuehner stated she would help Suzette set up City Facebook page.

Motion made by Croell to set up City Facebook page.  Second by Kuehner.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

Chickasaw County Offer for the ambulance payment was discussed.   For FY 2019-2020 the offer was $6,905.47 and FY 2020-2021 was $ 8,161.01.   This is more than what was discussed in June 2019.

Motion made by Croell not to accept Chickasaw County Offer.  Second by Kuehner.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

The city will be sending a letter to Kennedy and Kennedy with a counter offer to Chickasaw county.

After much discussion regarding the counter offer.  $165,000 Total price / 12,439 (total residents county & city = $13.27 per resident.

Motion made by Scheidel to make the following counter offer:  $13.27($165,000/12,439) X 439 = $5,826 with no plaintiff lawyer fees and will need invoices before payment can be made.   Second by Kuehner.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

Delinquent accounts were discussed.

The next meeting will be Monday, January 6, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Motion by Scheidel and second by Kuehner to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.  All Ayes.  Motion passed.

_________________________________

Suzette Byrne, City Clerk