May 4, 2015

Posted: May 4, 2015

Present: E. Meyer , M. Meyer, Holthaus Langreck, Bushman.
Absent:. None

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

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

Mayor Covell announced the public hearing regarding the FY2015 Budget Amendment was open for comments. There were no oral or written comments made. M. Meyer made a motion closing the public hearing, seconded by E. Meyer, carried.

Officer Ward gave the police report noting there were issues with juvenile complaints, domestic violence and traffic matters. Ward explained he is actively working to hire a new police office to replace Officer Peters who recently resigned. Ward also stated he is still working to put together a list of potential nuisances within the City.

Mayor Covell reported there was mock disaster drill that recently took place in Ossian involving many community groups and individuals.

Bushman made a motion approving the following consent items April 6, 2015 council minutes, clerk’s reports and the monthly bills, seconded by E. Meyer, carried.

Langreck made a motion introducing Resolution #554, a resolution amending the current budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, seconded by M. Meyer.

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

The Mayor and Council discussed equipment needs to pull the trailer to water the hanging planters in the downtown area. Options included: continue to use the city’s lawn mower, purchase something used or buy a new lawn mower and use the old mower for a back-up and watering the plants. Safety for the volunteers watering the plants, power needed to pull the trailer and costs were the main points debated.

E. Meyer made a motion to purchase a John Deere Series X738 Full Time 4-Wheel Drive Tractor with a 60″ deck and soft sided cab for $12,092.00. The motion died for lack of a second.

Bushman made a motion to purchase a John Deere Series #378 Full Time 4-Wheel Drive Tractor with a 60″ deck for $10,650.00, seconded by M. Meyer, carried with Holthaus and Langreck voting no.

Pam Buddenberg and Terry Linderbaum, representing the Visioning Committee discussed the bike/walking trail that is part of the visioning planning. Since part of the proposed trail would be out side the city limits, they suggested the Council may want to approach the Winneshiek County Supervisors to seek their support for the project. Bushman suggested to Buddenberg and Linderbaum that they ask to be put on the agenda for one of the Supervisor’s meetings and he would go with members of the visioning committee on behalf of the City Council.

Cost estimates, from Prairie Road Builders, Inc. and Blacktop Service Company, submitted for summer 2015 street maintenance were reviewed. Langreck made a motion to accept the proposal submitted by Blacktop Service Co. to make seal coat repairs, asphalt overlays and patches on various streets and alleys including; a portion of N. Boody Street to Sand Road; south side of Main St. from Mary St. to S.West St; .alleys from S.West St to Lydia Street, Ogden St. to De Sales School, a portion from Ogden to S. Boody St.; Fisher Avenue, seconded by M. Meyer, carried.

Bushman made a motion introducing Resolution #555, a resolution amending the City of Ossian’s Employee Handbook regarding vacation benefits, seconded by Holthaus.

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

M. Meyer made a motion approving the renewal of Columbus Hall’s Class C Liquor/Beer/Sunday Sales permit along with their request to transfer their Alcoholic Beverage Permit to Carey’s Park on June 6-7, 2015 seconded by Bushman, carried.

There was a general discussion regarding the progress being made with the improvements taking place at Carey’s Park.

M. Meyer made a motion approving a mortgage release for each of the following property owners, Kevin Schneider and Serena Timp, from the owner occupied grant/loan awarded to them in 2007, seconded by Bushman, carried.

E. Meyer made a motion approving an amendment to a temporary easement, for construction of a building and permanent easement for a storm sewer, to correct the legal description, seconded by Holthaus, carried.

The June regular council meeting will be moved to Thursday June 4, 2015 so the city’s attorney can attend the meeting.

It was the consensus of the majority of the City Council to charge the City of Castalia $750.00 to sweep their streets.

Bushman made a motion to adjourn, seconded by M. Meyer, carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.