City Council Regular Meeting - November 16, 2009

Alden City Council
Minutes of Regular Meeting
November 16, 2009

Mayor Fiscus called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with council members Bill
Ramspott, Janaan Harding, Mike Oliver, Bob Hoversten and Steve Hunt present.  Also
present were Chester Neubauer, Ranelle Kolthoff, Audrey Fleener, Gene Jondall, Dave
Lanning, Deputy Sheriff J.D. Holmes, Frank Cearley, Dave and Kristy Forgy, Chuck Steen, Tom Vanderloop, Lorrie Watts and Dan Zoske.

Consent Agenda: Bill Ramspott motions to accept, Bob Hoversten seconded the motion and all voted aye.

Alley East Street/Main Avenue: Audrey Fleener expressed wanting to see that alley
closed.  There are ruts due to usage when the alley is wet and it is making it difficult
to mow.  Fran Burns who resides on the alley informs the council that she and David
Lanning have legal easement rights on the alley because their driveways and garages
are on the alley.  She does not want to see the alley closed and states that it is an alley
and it is being used for what it was intended.  Janaan Harding states that some of the residents want to see people use the paved end of the alley.  Fran Burns states she understands what they are saying but it is an alley and everyone has the right to use either end of the alley.  Mayor Fiscus reports that this is an un-maintained alley.  He explained the City’s adopted alley maintenance policy of 80% signage of a petition by the property owners living on the alley, all trees, bushes, shrubbery & flowers must be cut back on the
alley and  approved by inspection by the City Maintenance Department, no vehicles may be parked in the alley or on the alley and all living on the alley must have their property surveyed to assure lines are staked and accurate.  This cost will be the property owner’s responsibility. The City is not responsible for cleaning of rock, dirt, sand or gravel from the property owner’s yard from snow removal.  Hoversten comments that the City
would not have problem maintaining the alley if the proper procedures are followed.  Dave Lanning comments that he did not know there was a problem until an hour before
the meeting.  He stated further that he wished someone would’ve called him instead of
bringing it before the council.  Bill Ramspott comments that it seems like something neighbors should be able to work out amongst themselves.  Bob Hoversten asked if rock or dirt could be put in the ruts.  Audrey Fleener did not want rock put in the ruts because of mowing.  Mike Oliver comments that dirt would just wash away when it rains.  Janaan  Harding asked if Tom Vanderloop could take a look at the area.  Bob Hoversten asks if the city is obligated to fill the ruts.  Mike Oliver states the city is not obligated to fill the
ruts because it is an un-maintained alley.  Frank Cearley states that if the City starts filling in ruts in un-maintained alleys where does the line get drawn for everyone else.  Mike Oliver offers the citizens a copy of the alley maintenance policy.  Steve Hunt tells
Audrey Fleener that he has personally put rock in some ruts in his alley to fill in the problem and rocks work well.  The other problem with that area is the water run-off and the council does not want the water to be dammed up in that area.  Tom Vanderloop instructed to check the area.

Sump Pump/Down Spouts:  Janaan Harding copied the article from the Times Citizen in regards to how the City of Iowa Falls is handling illegal sump pumps & down spouts hooked into the sanitary sewers.  Alden has received a grant of $1, 324,500.00 for the lining and rehabilitation of the sanitary sewers and manholes and she feels the small number of illegal sump pumps and down spouts needs to be corrected also.  Iowa Falls is looking into a $100.00 surcharge on the City’s utility bills per month until the problem is
corrected.  Hoversten asks when the engineering inspections were done.  The Clerk reports that in 1996 Ryken Engineering inspected so we could receive the grant for the City’s sewer plant.  Vanderloop also reported that Veenstra & Kimm also inspected in the last two or three years.  He states that the illegal sump pumps are fewer than probably ten
properties and knows of very few illegal down spouts.  Mike Oliver thinks everyone should have to comply.  The City has an ordinance that prohibits illegal hook ups to the
sanitary sewer.  That had to be adopted for the CDBG Sewer Plant Grant.  Bill Ramspott
motions to have the ordinance and a list of names who are illegally hooked up to the sanitary sewer provided to the Council and letters sent to the property owners who are not
compliant at this time,  Janaan Harding seconded the motion and all present voted aye.

Dilapidated Property Update:  Janaan Harding asked Chester Neubauer if he had made
contact with the IDNR in regards to operation date of the old station after 1990.  Chester
states he has made phone calls to the attorney with information but has not received a
return phone call.  Janaan Harding reports that there are different standards for pre-1990
operation and after-1990 operation.  These standards were set by the EPA.  Janaan Harding asks Chester Neubauer to do his best to get this information because this is holding up the progress.  The IDNR won’t do anything until they have this information. The last time the wells on site were tested by the IDNR was  2004.  The Clerk inquires as to how the IDNR is allowed to not test these wells for this length of time.  Harding reports that someone “dropped the ball” at the IDNR and it fell off the radar.
Hutchinson Property:  City Clerk reports that City Attorney, Clark McNeal strongly urges
the City to follow the proper procedures on the property clean up issues.  He urges the City to petition for title to the property.  This procedure takes 60 days.  Bob Hoversten asks why this was not done to begin with.  The Clerk reports that this option was presented to them in September by Clark McNeal.  Harding reports at that time the Council did not want to take the property and the clerk send letters and have the Sheriff’s
Department serve a letter to Mr. Hutchinson.  The Clerk reports that Clark McNeal says this is different from hauling some junk or junk vehicle away.  Ramspott states that the
best answer would be for Dave Forgy to buy the property and take care of it.  Dave Forgy has offered to buy the abandoned place.  Hoversten says we should petition for title,  the Mayor asks if that is a motion.  Kristy Forgy reports that they have spoke with
Mr. Hutchinson’s family and they have all tried to help him without any success.  Mayor
Fiscus asks if we should have Clark McNeal come to a special meeting to give the City
legal guidance and answer the questions.  The Clerk is instructed to arrange the special
meeting.  The Clerk is instructed to send Manuel Lerma a letter to clean up the miscellaneous junk sitting around his property and get rid of the trailer of grass clippings
that has been sitting there for months.

Life Insurance Proposal:  Janaan Harding reports that the City need to become uniform on this policy.  The City could have a group term policy for a $50,000.00 policy for $97.00 per month for all three employees, $100,000.00 policy would cost the City $194.00 per month for all three employees.  $25,000.00 is all that is guaranteed, all amounts over that would require proof of insurability.  The second option is to give the
amount that it would cost the city to provide the insurance to the employees in there pay
with the tax costs included and the City would no longer pay for premiums and the employees could keep their current policies.  The cost to the City would be $40.43/employee or $80.84/employee based on $50,000 or $100,000 policies.  Tom Vanderloop asks if it could be given in a clothing allowance and the employees would
pay the taxes on it.  Hoversten thinks the City should give the employees a raise to cover their premiums and the employee would pay the taxes on the increase based on Tom’s $160.00 per month, Dan’s & Lorrie’s $100.00/month.  Steve Hunt motions
to discontinue the payment of the Life & Disability Insurance Policies and give an increase January 1, 2010 in the employees’ bi-monthly payroll based on each person’s policy cost, motion seconded by Hoversten and all voted aye.

Public Input:  Tom Vanderloop reports the liner project is done under the school.  Frank Cearley asks about the grant for the lining of the sewer lines.  Vanderloop explains that it is shot into the sewer system expanded, camera televised and sealed.  The manholes are cut out. He also reported that more manholes will need to be installed for this system.  Janaan Harding reports that the Iowa Falls Police Department expressed interest in bidding on the City’s law enforcement service, the lights are now in at the
Portage Park.  Mayor Fiscus called for a motion to adjourn, Hoversten motioned, Ramspott seconded and the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 P.M.

 

                                                            Signed___________________________________
Jeff Fiscus, Mayor

 

ATTEST;

 

________________________________
Lorrie Watts, City Clerk