City of Keithsburg Council met January 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Mayor Henshaw opened the Meeting at 6:30 pm
Pledge of Allegiance
Alderman Physically Present: Gary Fues, Bill Pinger, Donnie Cox, Ronnie Brock, and Don Truitt. Lisa Wessels was absent. Also, Present: Treasurer-Cindy Diehl and City Clerk-Terri Gibson.
Old Business:
Surplus Property: Last month the council voted to deem numerous items as surplus property and put them up for bid. The bids were opened by Mayor Henshaw, Cindy Diehl and Terri Gibson and a bid spreadsheet was presented to the council. The council reviewed the results and decided the city could possibly make more profit by junking the items rather than accepting any of the bids due to the low amounts. Gary made motion not to accept any of the bids at this time and discuss other options next month; Ronnie seconded. Motion carried by all “Yes” votes.
Property at 1601 VanBuren: The city acquired the following property (Lots 10, 11 & 12, Block 2, Fairview Addition) through a revolving loan fund. Donovan and Shawn Tippie was the highest bidder at $5,100. The city had paid over $2,000 in delinquent real estate taxes, plus forgiving a delinquent revolving loan fund balance. Gary made a motion not to accept any of the bids at this time and discuss other options next month; Bill seconded. Don-no; Ronnie-no; Donnie-no; Bill-yes; Gary-yes and Mayor Henshaw-yes; Motion not carried. After some discussion Ronnie made motion to accept the highest bid of $5,100; Donnie seconded. Don-yes; Ronnie-yes; Donnie-yes; Bill-no; Gary-no; Mayor Henshaw-no. Motion not carried. Bill asked if the city could utilize the building rather than selling. The council will discuss further options next month with a full council.
Zoning Board: A public hearing was held on January 4, 2018 and the board voted to approve the following:
• Special Use Permit for CCR Construction: Josh Carle applied for a Special Use Permit for his contractor’s business at 504 Washington Street. Gary made motion to accept; Ronnie seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
• Vacate the 16’ wide alley (117.93’ long) between Lots 10 & 11, Block 2 of AB Sheriff’s 2nd Addition (south side of the existing alley running east and west between Jefferson to Madison between 12th & 13th Street). Ronnie made a motion to vacate the alley as described; Bill seconded. Gary-yes; Bill-yes; Donnie-yes; Don-yes; and Ronnie-yes. Motion Carried.
Meetings: Mayor Henshaw explained they needed to change the way the council meetings are conducted, therefore he suggested the following new guidelines:
a) Set a 3-5-minute time limit at the council and/or mayor’s discretion
b) Everyone including the council members will speak one at a time
c) Zero tolerance for foul language (pertains to everyone including council members)
d) Issues brought up during public comments will be addressed later (no questions allowed)
e) Board members need to refrain from interacting with the audience during the meetings
f) Mayor will open subjects for discussion, if a motion is required will ask for motions/seconds
g) Anyone wanting to speak including department heads must stand at the podium
h) The audience will not be allowed to speak unless asked to come to podium
Donnie made motion to accept all the new guidelines; Bill seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
Mayor Henshaw also explained that if anyone is not obeying the guidelines (such as speaking and/or talking during a meeting) that he will politely remind them that “no talking is allowed during council meetings” and if they persist they will be given a warning, and if they continue to interrupt meeting they may be removed from the meeting. The council agreed.
Mayor Henshaw also reminded the public, department heads and engineers that they must be put on the agenda prior to noon on the first Thursday of each month. State Statues mandates that the council can only act on subjects that are on the agenda. The council agreed.
Microphones: There was some discussion to purchase a microphone system for the podium and council members. Terri had reviewed several options and the council were presented with estimates. Gary made motion to accept the microphones that cost $221.99; Donnie seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes. Don made a motion to resend the prior voting; Donnie seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes. Donnie made a motion to authorize Terri to spend up to $500; Gary seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
Public Comments: No comments
Approve the minutes of last month meeting: Donnie made a motion to accept; Bill seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
Authorize the Cash Receipts and Disbursements: Gary made a motion to accept; Bill seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
MSA Engineering Update on “IKE” Grants: Nick Wagner was present to give the updates:
• New 100,000 Gallon Water Storage Tank Bids – Nick explained the lowest bidder was Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors for $657,889 which is for the base bid. In addition to the base bid the following alternates was included on the bid sheet: elevated water tower for better water pressure, tank mixer, demolish existing water tower, cathodic protection system, hydraulic instrumentation panel and remote telemetry control panel. The grant award for the construction of the water tower is $860,000 and the lowest bid for the elevated water tower, including all 6 alternates totals $816,714. Gary made a motion to accept Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors base bid of $657,889 plus all 6 alternates for a total of $816,714.00, Donnie seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
• Storm Water Pump, Storm Drainage, Flood Protection: Nick explained this project is on hold until the issues with the existing levee are taken care of.
• Existing Levee Analysis/IDNR Permit: MSA completed an initial qualification of “worst case scenario” flows and determined that impacts to flood elevations due to encroachment from the post 1987 levee range up to.3’. In communications with the IDNR anything more than 0.1’ needs to be mitigated. The following are acceptable approaches by IDNR:
▪ Obtain easements from affected property owners, allowing for a greater-than-01’ rise (no change would be required to the levee height)
▪ Remove floodway restrictions other than levee (for instance, a portion of the old railroad grade that runs northwest to the former river crossings) to limit the rise.01’
▪ Iterate the design to find a levee height lower than elevation 547, but still above the pre-1987 level, with the aim of limiting the rise to 0.1’
The work outside the existing project area (including removal of old railroad levee and reducing existing levee height) is not part of the current design scope, likely not covered by the project environmental review and likely not grant eligible. The council agreed for MSA to type a cover letter explaining the approval from all the property owners just north of the levee agreeing to sign an easement that would allow for a greater-than-.01’ rise, therefore no change would be required to the existing 1987 levee. Ronnie, Bill and Donnie agreed to contact all the property owners affected and obtain signed easements.
• Wetland Mitigation Project: Tentative date of advertisement January 18th with a bid opening of February 7th and the council to consider bids at the February 12th council meeting.
• Continuation of Flood Mitigation project design: Temporary construction easements have been obtained by numerous property owners adjacent to the project, however there is one more pending from Nora Luallen (Off the Hook). It must be obtained prior to construction or the storm sewer alignment must be moved to avoid her property. The ability to proceed with this portion of the project is contingent upon getting the existing levee permitted as-is, or IDNR is otherwise satisfied. Tentative date for advertisement is February 5th with bid opening March 7th and the council to consider bids at the March 11th council meeting.
Water/Sewer Operator: Renew a contract with Dave Maynard for another year. Donnie made motion to accept; Ronnie seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
Ordinances:
Resend the following Ordinances 2011-2 (Equal Employment); 2017-1 (Travel, Meal and Lodging) and Ordinance 2017-11 (Sexual Harassment) there is already language in our Personnel Policy pertaining to each of these subjects. Donnie made motion to resend; Gary seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
Resend Administrative Ticket Ordinances 2011-3 and 2011-7 the city no longer issues Administrative Tickets. Donnie made motion to resend; Ronnie seconded. Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
Donnie made motion to adjourn, Bill seconded, Motion carried by all "Yes" votes.
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/c8c066_f3aff50770b74c0882bf84ae37823467.pdf
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