12-07-2015 - City of Melbourne Iowa

Melbourne City Council
Council Meeting Minutes
December 7, 2015
Melbourne City council met in regular session on December 7, 2015 at the Melbourne Fire Station
Meeting Room at 7 pm. Council members present were Russo, Stahl, Smith and Fuller. Absent was Curl.
Also present Carrie White, Angie Bunting, Brian Juel, Chief Hauser, Bob Monroe, Joe Russo, Judy Pfantz,
Jim Pfantz, Carla Gall with Alliant Energy, David Wermager, John White, Sara Mechtel, Marty Wymore,
Deb Mercer and Mary Pothast. Mayor White called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Russo led us in the
Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Smith, 2nd
by Russo. Vote was all ayes.
A call was made to Attorney Greer for some points she wanted to make since she was unable to attend
the meeting. Her first topic was the school building—she said that the contractor estimate was very high
and Heartland is no longer interested. Bob Monroe said that he talked with someone at the landfill and
someone there had told the contractor that there was still asbestos in the building. He thinks that is why
the estimate was so high. The trailer court still has two trailers on the property and are not tied down;
Greer will contact her as to when they will be leaving. Dave Wermager talked with Greer about
properties that have vehicles on them and wanted to know if there could be a change from the R-1
Restricted Residential District that the whole town falls under. It was agreed that Dave and Greer need
to meet and discuss this and the agreement on the properties.
Carla Gall from Alliant Energy went over some points of the new franchise agreements. Motion by Smith
to approve the Revenue Purpose Statement Resolution 15-12-01, second by Stahl. Roll call vote-Russo,
aye; Stahl, aye; Fuller, aye; Smith, aye. Motion passed. This is required by the State to institute the
franchise fee on Alliant Energy bills. When this fee is charged there will no longer be a Local Option Sales
Tax fee of 1% charged on the bills. Setting this fee AT 1% will not change the amount of anyone’s bill.
Motion by Smith to approve the franchise fee at 1%, second by Fuller. Roll call vote- Russo, aye; Stahl,
aye; Fuller, aye; Smith, aye. Motion passed. A public hearing and first reading of the ordinance is set for
January 11, 2016.
Youth and Shelter Services was going to attend tonight but must have forgotten the meeting. We will
table to next meeting.
Library Director gave her report—Story Time was not being very well attended on Tuesdays, so this
week they had it on Wednesday morning and had four kids. Will try Wednesdays for a while to see how
it works. The book club will meet December 14th, it has quite a few people attending; Early Out movie
day—asked kids for ideas, will show Inside Out next. Will have a third adult on those days, the soup
supper for Home for Christmas was very well attended; the new Facebook page is up and running-get
updates on activities there; the Planning for Results meeting went well and the State is working with
Sara and the Board to facilitate the next steps; they are considering an adult craft club; they have
started a $2 free will donation for Inter Library Loan to cover the cost of postage; Butzlaff’s brought in
chairs and tables for kids space; some smokers were leaving cigarette butts on the property—City Hall
placed a sign on the railing advising of the no smoking on city property.
Public Hearing on CDBG Housing Owner Occupied Rehabilitation. Marty Wymore told the council that
they need to decide how much the city will contribute toward the CDBG Housing Owner Occupied
Rehabilitation program. The city has until January 15 to turn in their application. Wymore told them the
city must contribute between $1000 and $2500 per household (approx. 6 homes accepted) over two
years in matching funds. After some discussion a motion was made by Stahl to approve Resolution 1512-02-Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation program, second by Fuller. Roll Call vote--- Russo, nay;
Stahl, aye; Fuller, aye; Smith, nay. Motion failed.
Clerk had Brian Juel, Carrie White and Angie Bunting stand, raise their right hands and give the Oath of
Office. They will begin their new terms on January 1, 2016. Fire Chief Monroe then told them of the
need to take NIMS training so that in case of a disastrous event in town, FEMA will not turn us down for
grant money.
Public Works report was read by Clerk. They serviced mowers and ordered new blades, put mowers
away for winter; put up ice skating rink; ran all generators; painted back of big truck and put sander and
plows on; put 6” pump in Morton building, plowed, sanded and hauled snow once; checked Christmas
lights and hung them; had new starter and fly wheel put on pickup; got straw for hayride; hauled tables
and chairs for holiday event; put up snow fence. On to-do list: trim trees, rake leaves at park, and have
VisuSewer clean lift stations. Update on Landt property—lasered and found high spot and ditched to
drain water away. They seem happy with it.
Police Report—Ran radar on Hart; death investigation; radar on Hwy. 330; patrolled Rhodes; school bus
watch; out of control juvenile; follow up with WMHS about juvenile; sTEP hours—pre-wave and postwave seat belt survey; medical call; has someone who needs community service hours, will have them
clean up park-leaves and sticks.
Motion to adjourn by Russo, second by Smith. Vote was all ayes. Meeting adjourned.
Published prior to approval.
REVENUES: General-$18881.59; Road Use-$8872.63; Employee Benefits-$55.21; Emergency-$290.30;
Water-$12121.72; Sewer-$15110.10; TOTAL REVENUE-$55331.55. EXPENSES: General-$12811.98; Road
Use-$54682.35; Employee Benefits-$1216.10; Water-$14810.28; Sewer-$7028.47; TOTAL EXPENSES$90549.18.
__________________________________________
John White, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________________
Mary Pothast, City Clerk