June 5, 2017

Posted: June 5, 2017

Present: Holthaus, Meyer, Beckman, Lienau, Langreck.
Absent: None.
Zak Kriener from the Ossian Bee were present during the meeting. Brian Zweibohmer and Karl Schroeder were each present during a portion of the meeting

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor Green called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm.

Adam Moris, project engineer, gave a progress report on the Reilly Interceptor Sewer Project. The new line passed the necessary testing and is in full use, riprap, backfilling and seeding are the main items left to finish. and a couple of minor concrete matters will be monitored. Moris went on to explain the reasons for the project change order was due to quantities involving piping, stone and concrete.

Dan Christopher from Malcom Enterprises, the city’s garbage hauler, explained to the Mayor and Council he was sending notices to the local residential trash customers to make them aware of the following: due to their weight and lack of handles, blue barrels are not acceptable trash cans, trash should be bagged to avoid loose items blowing around and the Winn Co. Landfill does not accept cardboard so it must not be included with household trash. The Council understood his requests and encourage residents to abide by them.

Robyn Dundee and Dolly Panos approached the Mayor and Council with a request to preserve and restore the cabin located in Carey’s Park. Dundee noted a committee has been established, a go-fund-me page has been set up and many reasons were suggested as to why keeping the cabin in the park would be good for the community in terms of tourism, history, education, etc. Dundee suggested if not enough money was raised to make the necessary repairs to the cabin, the funds could still be utilized to make improvements to the park. To continue moving forward with this project, Dundee asked the Council for the their support. Following discussion, the Council told Panos and Dundee the topic of the cabin would be further discussed at the next council meeting.

Adam Moris gave a brief update concerning the street and utility collaboration that will be necessary between the City and the Military Trail Estates developers. Presently engineers for both the City and Military Trail Estates are working out concerns that involve extending Brooks Street westward. Discussion followed with the consensus that a future meeting with representatives from the City and the Military Trails Estates Developers will be in the best interest of both parties.

Lienau made a motion to approve Contract Change Order #1 in the amount of $22,584.15, for the Reilly Addition Interceptor Sewer Project, seconded by Meyer, carried. The new contract price including this change order will be $228,597.15.

Beckman made a motion authorizing Payment #1 in the amount of $158,651.04 to Bacon Concrete, LLC for the Reilly Addition Interceptor Sewer Project, seconded by Meyer, carried.

Mayor Green reported on concerns regarding water that sits on the westerly end of South Street, the speed of vehicles coming into Ossian and school stop signs being ignored. The water comes from a natural spring and because it doesn’t drain, algae/moss builds up on the street. A property owner suggested he be allowed to cut a groove in the concrete to direct the flow of the water to a storm sewer. The Council suggested a local cement contractor be contacted to see what his thoughts were. To help curb traffic violations, Green recommended the Council consider posting electronic speed signs and stop signs. The clerk was directed to get cost estimates for those signs.

Mayor Green explained the repair done to the water treatment aeralater was not successful. The repair will be more extensive than originally anticipated.

Lienau made a motion approving the following consent items: May 1, 2017 and May 17,2017 council minutes, clerk’s reports and the monthly bills, seconded by Beckman, carried

Beckman made a motion authorizing Payment #2 in the amount of $69,515..33 to Croell Inc. for the Jessie-Brooks-West Street Project, seconded by Lienau, carried.

Langreck made a motion approving Cigarette Permits, effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, for Casey’s General Store and Bambinos, seconded by Meyer, carried.

Meyer made a motion approving the renewal of Shooter’s Bar & Grill’s Class C Liquor/Sunday Sales Permit and Ossian’s RAGBRAI Committee’s application for a 5 day Beer Permit w/Outdoor Service, seconded by Holthaus,
carried.

Langreck made a motion approving a building permit for South Winneshiek Community School, seconded by Holthaus, carried with Beckman voting not.

Due to non-compliance of the City ‘s building code, Langreck made a motion to deny Calvin Steffen’s application for a building permit, seconded by Meyer, carried.

The Council reviewed a letter submitted by Stephen Belay, city attorney, concerning the ownership of Old Sewer Road.

Belay confirmed the City has title to Old Sewer Road. Belay also recommended the City follow the guidelines set out under Chapters 50 and 51 of the City of Ossian ‘s Code of Ordinances to abate properties with nuisances. Following discussion it was recommended to list properties where a nuisance may exist and review it at the July 3, 2017 meeting.

It will then be determined what properties need to be contacted regarding nuisance abatement. Beckman volunteered to observe and make the list of properties where nuisances may be present.

Mayor Green reported Advanced Environmental will be doing the asbestos removal from the former Living Hope Baptist Church within the next week or ten days.

A general discussion by the Council included the following: community center cleaning, fireworks within the City, personal property in city buildings and painting parking lines. It was also the consensus of the Council to not have the maple tree located by the eastern most park shelter in Carey’s Park removed.

Holthaus made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Lienau, carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm.