City of Ute REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 6, 2024 – City Hall 7:00pm The Ute City Council met with Mayor Henschen in regular, open session on Monday May 6th at 7pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall with the following council members present: Josh Gotto, Sue Kelm, Matt Leitz, Ryan Pithan. Absent: Jimmy Carlson. Also Present: City Clerk Megan Peitsch, Angie Kroll, Michael Kluver, and Erica Kragel. The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Mayor Henschen. Motion by Pithan/Kelm to strike from the consent agenda item 11e “Water Tower Project – Approval of Group B Change Order 4” as the change order was not ready. All Ayes. MC Motion by Gotto/Kelm to approve the agenda as posted with item 11e removed. All Ayes. MC Mayor Henschen opened the public hearing for the proposed budget amendment for the City of Ute Fiscal Year 2024 at 7:01pm. City Clerk stated that no written correspondence has been received by the Clerk’s office. No comments were made by the public in attendance. Public Hearing was closed at 7:03pm. Motion by Pithan/Kelm to approve the resolution for the approval of the budget amendment for the City of Ute fiscal year 2024 (RESOLUTION #2024-28). All Ayes. MC Angie Kroll spoke on a formal complaint that she filed in regards to a dog bite she received. This complaint will remain open and the City Clerk will follow up with the Sheriff. Public Form had two speakers: Michael Kluver and Erica Kragel, who both spoke together regarding a formal dog complaint that they filed that morning. The complaint process previously adopted by council printed on the back of the complaint form will be followed. Mayor Henschen for his report stated that he has not had much time to work on the rental inspection information, but will have more time in the coming months to do so. Public Works Supervisor Lonnie Carlson was unable to be in attendance and City Clerk Peitsch gave a brief report in his place. A water tower construction meeting is scheduled for Wednesday May 8th and more details will be available after that meeting. King Construction should be finishing up this month. Seeding has started and checks will be made that the grass is growing as expected. They will reseed as necessary. Maguire Iron will give their on-site date at the construction meeting to start the construction of the tower. CCR reports were not mailed. Copies are available at City Hall and at www.cityofute.com/2023CCR. They have also been posted at the Ute Post Office, Ute Community Bank, and City Hall. Fire Chief Lonnie Carlson was unable to be in attendance and City Clerk Peitsch gave a brief explanation of the SCBA replacement project underway. The Fire Department applied for a grant to cover the cost of this year’s SCBA replacements and received a partial grant. City Clerk Peitsch presented the April cash report, treasurer’s report, budget report by function, current claims by function, outstanding transactions, bank reconciliations for banks 1, 2, and 5, tax liabilities, and utility billing reconciliation. Banks 3 and 4 are CDs that will accrue interest when they mature. Leitz asked for the new utility billing reconciliation form to be explained. Peitsch went over the form, explaining the numbers and the supporting reports. Motion by Pithan/Kelm to approve the consent agenda consisting of: Approval of April 2024 bills and payroll; Approval of City Council Minutes 04/01/2024 Regular, 04/03/2024 6pm Special, 04/03/2024 6:30pm Special, 04/08/2024 Special, 04/22/2024 Special; Approval of financial reports and utility billing reconciliation as presented by City Clerk; Water Tower Project Items- Approval of Pay App 7 – Group A, Approval of Pay App 8 – Group B, Approval of Pay App 2 – Generator, Approval of Generator Change Order 2. All Ayes. MC Motion by Gotto/Pithan to approve the resolution regarding assessment of unpaid utility charges (RESOLUTION #2024-29). All Ayes. MC Motion by Pithan/Gotto to approve the resolution adopting the City Council Rules of Procedure (RESOLUTION #2024-30). All Ayes. MC Discussion was held on the possibility of hiring a deputy clerk or having an area city clerk on call to fill in for emergencies or vacation. A deputy clerk position could be made without additional cost to the budget. All members stated a desire to move forward with a possible deputy clerk and have the City Clerk create a draft job description and ad for City Council to review at the next meeting where the discussion will be continued. No action taken. Discussion was held on the recodification process. Recodification issues will be addressed in the regular council meetings instead of work sessions. No action taken. Motion by Leitz/Pithan to change the previously approved amount of $100 to $135.98 based on a quote from Bomgaars for the same flowers/plants as last year for Main St for the public purpose of City Beautification. All Ayes MC. Help will be needed to water the plants. City Clerk will post on the website and Facebook that help is needed. Discussion on the Loess Hills Hospitality Association Membership was held. City Council was not in favor of joining. No action taken. Discussion was held on the upcoming budget shortfalls and how to address them in the long term for Water and Streets. The Fire Department had requested additional help with the SCBAs from the partial grant. At this time, there are not funds in the budget for that request. No action taken. Discussion was held on the EMC Insurance claim from the water damage at the Water Plant. Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson had previously requested to increase the approved amount to spend for the replacement of items listed on the insurance claim. City Council would like LCarlson to try to keep the cost as low as possible, seeking out used options if possible. Cabinetry was approved for up to $1,000. Pictures of the water plant will be brought to the next meeting to show Council the inside of the building and what it entails. No action taken. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to move to closed session for one employee performance review – The employee has requested closed session. Closed Session Under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. All ayes. MC City Council entered into closed session at 8:23pm. The detailed minutes and recording have been sealed in accordance with Iowa Code 25.1(5). City Council returned to open session at 8:27pm. Discussion was held on wages for FY2025 for the wage resolution at the next meeting. No action taken. Announcements: Primary election will be held on Tuesday June 4, 2024 at City Hall. Polls are open from 7am–8pm; Triple C Pest Control will start mosquito spraying on Tuesday May 21, 2024 at dusk and will continue weekly for 16 weeks – weather permitting. If you would like a pre-spray notification, please contact City Hall at 712-885-2237; Next regular meeting set for Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall Motion by Leitz/Gotto to adjourn at 8:46pm. All Ayes. MC Submitted by: Megan Peitsch, City Clerk Claims Report April For May Meeting Vendor, Reference Amount Acco, Water Chemicals $519.90 Barnes & Noble, Library Books And Materials$23.17 Bc’s Ampride Truck Plaza, Fire Truck Fuel$711.78 Bomgaars, Supplies$81.98 Chn Garbage Service, Garbage Pick Up$2,400.10 Crary Huff, Legal Services $2,200.50 Eftps Irs, Fed/Fica Tax$1,555.04 Electric Motor Service, Tornado Siren Repair$1,545.30 Foundation Analytical Lab, Water Testing$213.00 Go Daddy, Website Domain Renewal$44.34 Heiman Inc, Fire Battery Packs$161.21 Hydro Optimization And Automat, Water Tower Repair $1,075.00 Incontrol Electronics, Fire Door Dues$17.00 Ipers, Ipers-Regula $1,168.09 Jct Restorations, Siren Sandblasting$974.62 Jeo Consulting Group, Water Tower Engineering $1,400.00 King Construction, Water Tower Pay App 7$192,648.34 Lonnie Carlson, Reimburse Office Supplies$40.00 Maguire Iron, Water Tower Pay App 6$119,510.00 Mapleton Press, Publishing$847.18 Mcclintock Boehm Insurance, Insurance Premium 2024-2025 $49,445.00 Megan Peitsch, Reimburse Mileage$154.23 Michelle Carlson, Reimburse Library Event Food$33.44 Midamerican Energy, Electric$1,873.54 New Cooperative Inc, Tank Rent Water Generator $130.00 Quill, Office Supplies$153.62 Sparetime, Paper Towels And Dispensers$66.30 Iowa Department Of Revenue, April Wet Tax$571.91 Iowa Department Of Revenue, State Taxes $278.09 Stinn Backhoe & Plumbing, Water Leak Repair$2,657.04 Sue Kelm, Public Purpose - Reimbursement$236.91 Usps, Certified Letter$8.73 Usps, Certified Mail$5.08 Ute Senior Citizens, Senior Meals Contract$140.00 Wellmark, Health Insurance$1,040.56 Wex, Fuel$53.66 Windstream, Telephone/Internet$324.67 Windstream, Telephone/Internet Water Plant$76.95 Wipco, Sewer Electric$35.00 Accounts Payable Total$384,421.28 Payroll Checks$5,693.90 ***** Report Total *****$390,115.18 General$57,335.55 Library Fund (Gen)$210.99 Road Use Tax$850.43 Employee Benefits$520.28 Cap 2023 Water Tower Proj$313,558.34 Water$13,496.35 Sewer$4,143.24 Total Funds $390,115.18 MP5-16-24
