Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S INQUIRIES: - None.

SANITATION – Administrator Mandsager said there will be a staff meeting Wednesday morning with Shive-Hattery concerning operations at the new Wastewater Treatment Facility.

UTILITIES – There was nothing to report.

PUBLIC SAFETY – Police Chief Walters said Police Officer Moore is in the hospital.

Walters also said his department has been chosen by the State of Iowa as a test site for the new electronic citation program. He said Officer Newberry will be leading the operation.

FINANCE – Administrator Mandsager said he would like the Council to schedule a time to review the Budget. After discussion it was the consensus of the Council Members to meet on Thursday, January 24 at 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, January 26 at 8:00 a.m.

Council Member Hockett said he would like the Council to consider a Tax Abatement for residential property as we have for commercial property.

STREETS – There was nothing to report.

Consider Appointment of City Clerk – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve the appointment of Terrie Simonson as City Clerk. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Resolution of Support for Location of New Electric Generating Facility in Des Moines County –

Mayor Trousil said the City has been asked to join with Des Moines County, the City of Burlington and the Chamber of Commerce in making known our support for the location of a new Alliant electric generation facility in Des Moines County. He said we must work within the next two weeks to elicit the support of those responding to Alliant’s RFP. The bidders will be recommending the location of the facility in their bid.

Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve a Resolution of Support for Location of New Electric Generating Facility in Des Moines County. Roll Call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Hockett, Pilger and Johnson. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Approval of Board of Adjustment Minutes for December 20, 2001 – Mayor Trousil explained the Board of Adjustment met on December 20 to review a request from Richard and Janet Broeg, 701 E. Mt. Pleasant Street, concerning a sign at their Lighthouse Christian Book Store. The Broeg’s want to exceed the square footage allowed for a sign. They installed strip lighting on the lighthouse structure of their building to attract attention to their business for advertising purposes. The Building Inspector was required under the provisions of the Sign Ordinance to deny the permit because the square footage of the lighthouse structure exceeds the allowable square footage for a sign in a B-1 (Retail Business) District.

It was the general consensus of the Council that the Board of Adjustment acted as they should have. Council Members Hockett and Crowner believe the sign ordinance needs to be changed to clarify the definition of a sign. They do not believe a light should be classified as a sign. Hockett said even a flood light in some instances could be a sign.

Pilger and Lees agreed Mr. Broeg knew what he was doing when he put the lights up. They agreed he made the building to look like a sign then put lights on it.

Mayor Trousil said according to City Code no action of the Board of Adjustment becomes effective until it is reviewed by the Council, provided the review occurs within thirty days of such action. The Council may remand any decision to the Board of Adjustment for further study.

Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to remand the decision concerning the sign at the Christian Book Store to the Board of Adjustment for further review. Voice vote. Hockett, Crowner and Johnson voted aye. Pilger and Lees voted nay. Motion carried.

Consider Pay Request for Leffler & Pennington Street Project, Resolution Accepting Project and Release of Retention – Hockett moved, second by Crowner to approve payment for the Leffler & Pennington Street Paving Project to Shipley Contracting in the amount of $3,325 for Pay Estimate #2; and to approve a Resolution accepting the Leffler & Pennington Street Project and consenting to the release of retainage in the amount of $3,720.34. Roll call. Ayes: Crowner, Hockett, Lees, Johnson and Pilger. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to Shipley Contracting for Wheeler Street Project – Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment to Shipley Contracting for work completed on the Wheeler Street Project in the amount of $32,585.28. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Police Reserve Incentive – Mayor Trousil explained the City Council created an incentive program for police reserve officers who actively participate on the reserve unit by reimbursing them for some of their expenses. The program provides for payment of $200 per quarter for members who volunteer 48 hours of service and attend 75 percent of the unit meetings and training sessions. Hockett moved, second by Lees, to approve payment of $200 per quarter for Police Reserves who meet the criteria. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried. Reserve Officers Robert May, Cindy Bowen, Tom Cipolli and Paul Barnett will receive payment.

Consider Fire Department Incentive – Mayor Trousil explained the City created an incentive program for Firefighters who actively participate on the department. Firefighters who attend 70 percent of department meetings and respond to 30 percent of city alarms qualify. The City Council budgeted $10,000 to be split among the firefighters who qualify. This year 12 firefighters qualified. Hockett moved, second by Lees, to approve payment of $834 to 12 firefighters as recommended by Chief Astfalk. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried. Firefighters William Astfalk, Tim Kesterke, Evan Bachtell, Todd VanScoy, Darrin Schwind, Patrick Hollister, Terry Kesterke, William Brissey, Lenny Sanders, Mike Diewold, Kirk Logan and Scott Herrick will receive payment.

Consider Setting a Public Hearing for Industrial Tax Abatement for Property on W. Mt. Pleasant Street –

Administrator Mandsager said Rodney Wittkamp is requesting an industrial tax abatement for a 22,500 sq. ft. addition to his building located at 2610 W. Mt. Pleasant Street. He said Mr. Wittkamp’s proposal qualified for the abatement. He said Mr. Wittkamp has been successful in finding ABC Supply as a tenant for the building previously built and granted tax abatement. Crowner moved, second by Pilger, to approve setting a Public Hearing for January 28 to consider an Industrial Tax Abatement for property on West Mt. Pleasant Street belonging to Rodney Wittkamp. Roll call. Ayes: Crowner, Pilger, Lees and Hockett. Nays: Johnson. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to French-Reneker for Various Engineering Services Agreements – Hockett moved, second by Crowner, to approve payment in the amount of $12,226.31 to French-Reneker for various engineering services agreements. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Accepting Easement along Brushtown Lane – Administrator Mandsager asked the Council to consider accepting an easement along Brushtown Lane. He said three property owners along Brushtown Lane to the South did each acquire easement rights (utility and roadway) to Brushtown Lane and they are willing to relinquish their individual rights to the easements and allow the City to purchase those rights for $1.00. He said this easement is necessary for the successful completion of the proposed water and sewer project in the Brushtown Area. Both water and sewer utilize this easement in the preliminary design. He said once the City accepts this easement it will become a public easement which is enforceable by the City and will require the City to maintain the roadway. At present, the City cannot enforce the private easement.

Mrs. Willie Scott who is the property owner to the north of Brushtown lane said she objects to those residents giving the City an easement across property she owns. She said she pays the taxes on the property and does not think this is right. Administrator Mandsager explained the easement is necessary to this project. He said the City will not own the property just have an easement. He also said she could convey the property covered by the easement to the City and not have to pay property taxes on the property any longer. She said that was not what she had in mind. She said she just doesn’t think this is right.

Hockett moved, second by Johnson, to authorize the City Administrator to secure the offered easement along Brushtown Lane. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Purchase of Mobile Radios for Public Works - $2,125.00 – Public Works Director Fry said he would like to purchase five mobile radios for Public Works. He obtained quotes from Electronic Applications and Electronic Engineering. Electronic Applications quoted $396 per unit while Electronic Engineering quoted $425 per unit. Crowner moved, second by Lees, to approve the purchase of five (5) mobile radios for Public Works at a cost of $396 each. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Council Member Johnson said he doesn’t want workers to have radios as well as cell phones. He said he has no trouble purchasing these radios as long as we don’t come back later and ask to purchase cell phones.

Consider Resolution Naming the Official Newspapers – Johnson moved, second by Pilger, to approve a Resolution approving The Des Moines County News and The Hawkeye as the official newspapers of the City. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Hockett, Johnson and Pilger. Nays: None. Motion carried.

Consider Ordinance on Second Reading Rezoning Property Located Behind Target and Farm King from B-2 to R-4 and from B-2 to R-1 – Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve the first consideration of an Ordinance rezoning property located behind Target and Farm King from B-2 to R-4 and from B-2 to R-1. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Hockett, Pilger and Johnson. Nays: None. Motion carried.

ADJOURN: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:19 p.m. upon motion by Johnson, second by Lees. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried.

______________________________ __________________________________

Approved Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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