December 1, 2014

Posted: December 1, 2014

Present: E. Meyer, M. Meyer, Langreck, Holthaus.
Absent: Bushman.

Zak Kriener from the Ossian Bee and Don Dilaura and Brian Zweibohmer were present during the meeting.

Mayor Covell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Officer Lance Peters gave the police report. Peters noted the issue with junk vehicles at 209 Fisher Avenue has not yet been resolved.

Michaela Collins from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission presented a summary of the 2015 Winn. Co. Multi-Jurisdiction (MJ-9) Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan includes all cities and unincorporated areas of Winneshiek County and is expected to be submitted to FEMA for approval in the near future.

Mayor Covell reported the DOT has announced they will be resurfacing areas of Hwy 52; including the sections between Calmar and Ossian, Ossian and Castalia and Castalia and Postville. However it was noted there will be no work performed within the City limits. The project is proposed for construction during 2015. Covell also told the Council he has been in contact with the owners of the building located at 101 N. Lydia Street. The building has some structural issues making it unsafe. He noted the owners are actively seeking options to mitigate the problem. Discussion followed . It was the consensus of the group to have the owner attend the next council meeting to give an update as to what progress is being made to remedy the situation.

Holthaus made a motion approving the following consent items November 3, 2014 council minutes, clerk’s reports and the monthly bills, seconded by E. Meyer, carried, one absent.

E. Meyer made a motion introducing Resolution #550, a resolution adopting the 2015 Winneshiek County, Iowa Multi-Jurisdiction (MJ-9) Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, seconded by M. Meyer.

The Mayor put the question on the motion and the following named Council Members voted:
Ayes: Holthaus, Langreck, E. Meyer, M. Meyer.
Nays: None. Absent: Bushman
Whereupon the Mayor declared said motion approved.

M. Meyer made a motion introducing Resolution #549, a resolution waiving an acceptance requirement in Ordinance #61, seconded by Holthaus.

The Mayor put the question on the motion and the following named Council Members voted:
Ayes: Holthaus, Langreck, E. Meyer, M. Meyer.
Nays: None. Absent: Bushman
Whereupon the Mayor declared said motion approved.

The Mayor and Council discussed sections of the City Code that may need updating when the City’s Code of Ordinances is re-codified. Further consideration to any updates will be given as the re-codification process  continues.

A general discussion was held concerning the upcoming FY2016 Budget.

The city clerk reported the full-time City employee’s group health insurance premium will be increasing 14.7% on it’s February 1, 2015 renewal date.

Farmers Union Cooperative is considering building a maintenance shop on property they own at 102 Jessie Street and had concerns as to the distance the building needed to be from an adjacent street right-of-way. The consensus of the Council is to have the building placed eight to ten feet from the street right-of-way.

E. Meyer made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Langreck, carried, one absent. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.