Beacon City Council Minutes – Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Call to order: Mayor Shawn Maxwell called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. All council members were present.
I. General Business
- A. Minutes of the September 6, 2011 meeting were reviewed. Aron Whitlatch made a motion to approve minutes as presented and Tom VanDerVeer seconded. The motion carried.
- B. Treasurer’s report was presented. Richard Thomas made a motion to accept Treasurer’s report as presented and Ron Ferree seconded. The motion carried.The treasurer reported there is $187.08 in the recreation fund and inquired if the council wanted to move the money to the playground fund. After discussion the council agreed to move the money to the playground fund for future repairs. Tom VanDerVeer made a motion to move the money to the playground fund and Ron Ferree seconded. The motion carried. Treasurer will move the money to the playground fund.
- C. Claims to be paid from September were reviewed. Aron Whitlatch noted the custodian’s pay should be $85.00 on the claims report for September as well as August. After discussion Aron Whitlatch made a motion to accept the adjustments to the August and September claims reports, Tom VanDerVeer seconded. The motion carried. The city clerk will make the adjustments. Tom VanDerVeer made a motion to accept the September claims report with the adjustment, Richard Thomas seconded. The motion carried. City Clerk reported a claim for Boyle/Henderson, P.C. in the amount of $75.00 would be voided from the September claims report as the claim had been paid.
- D. Sewer report – Kevin Bork was absent from meeting. No report submitted.
- E. Water report –
- Collections – Shirley Mitrisin reported $4577.33 was collected for sewer and $9370.79 was collected for water. Six meters will need to be checked by Justin. Two citizens will have their water shut off for non-payment.
- Elwood Hanna reported the Oskaloosa Water Department received a complaint from a citizen living on Grant Street that the water was running dirty. The hydrant was flushed and water quality improved.
- Justin Scholtus reported he has not made contact with Irv DeBruin to have a stop box replaced at a home on Indian Way for non-payment.
- F. Hall Rentals – Diane Whitlatch was absent from the meeting. Aron Whitlatch reported three new rentals for the months of November, December and January. Three rental agreements for September were submitted.
- G. Stephens Memorial Animal Shelter – The shelter had 3 animal intakes from Beacon for the month of September.
- H. Sheriff’s Report – No report received from Sheriff’s office. Mayor Maxwell will make contact with the Sheriff’s office for discussion on contract terms.
II. Old Business:
- A. Annexation – Discussion was tabled.
- B. Jerry Fenton/Richard Thomas alley sale – City Clerk presented Resolution #09-07-11, a resolution for setting the date for public hearing to consider an ordinance to vacate the north-south public alley 20 feet by 150 feet, adjoining lots 65 and 76 Prices addition in the city of Beacon, Iowa and Resolution #09-08-11 approving the deed and authorizing the sale of said alley and Article 8 Chapter 14, an ordinance vacating the said alley. Aron Whitlatch made a motion to approve all three documents and Ron Ferree seconded. The motion carried. The city Clerk will submit the required documents to the Mahaska County Recorder’s office and submit homeowner’s money to the Beacon Treasurer.
- C. Shane Moore alley sale – City Clerk presented Resolution #08-04-11, a resolution for setting the date for public hearing to consider an ordinance to vacate the north public alley, 95.26 by 14 feet adjoining lots 5 and 4 in the City of Beacon and Resolution #09-06-11 a resolution approving the deed and authorizing the sale of said alley and Article 8 Chapter 12, an ordinance vacating the said alley. Ron Ferree made a motion to approve all three documents and Wayne Braden seconded. The motion carried. The city Clerk will submit the required documents to the Mahaska County Recorder’s office and submit homeowner’s money to the Beacon Treasurer.
- D. Kenneth Linville alley sale- City Clerk presented Resolution #02-08-11, a resolution for setting the date for public hearing to consider an ordinance to vacate the north-south public alley, 20 feet by 40 feet of lots 33 and 40 of the original plate of the Town of Enterprise, now called Beacon and Resolution #09-07-11, a resolution approving the deed and authorizing the sale of said alley and Article 8 Chapter 13, an ordinance vacating the said alley. Tom VanDerVeer made a motion to approve all three documents and Richard Thomas seconded. The motion carried. The City Clerk will submit the required documents to the Mahaska County Recorder’s office and submit homeowner’s money to the Beacon Treasurer.
- E. Nuisance Letters-
- Loren Linville- Aron Whitlatch will make contact with the homeowner regarding vehicles on city property. They must be removed from city property or fines imposed.
- Pat Lafollette – Council members discussed they had noticed some clean-up had be done at the residence but additional clean-up was needed. Mayor Maxwell will make contact with the homeowner and clarify what additional clean-up is needed.
- F. Mahaska Rural Water – After discussion of citizens concerns of switching to Mahaska Rural Water, the council decided to table the issue of switching from Oskaloosa city water to Mahaska Rural Water.
- G. City Maintenance Issues – Shawn Maxwell will purchase an auger at Menards. Tom VanDerVeer and Shawn Maxwell will take care of the issues by the end of October.
- H. Abandoned Property – Aron Whitlatch has made contact with Jeff Haines regarding homeowner hiring someone to remove the abandoned buildings from the property. Aron Whitlatch and Wayne Braden will make contact with Jeff again the week of 10-10-11 for update.
- I. Widening of the Highway – Moore Construction has completed the work and submitted a bill for $64,800.00 Council approved claim submitted to the city for payment. After discussion on Mahaska county painting the new lines, the council asked Tom VanDerVeer to contact the county regarding painting the lines wider to include the new concrete.
- J. Hail Damage at City Hall –Mayor Shawn Maxwell has received only one bid for residing the City Hall. McCartie Construction submitted a bid for $5600.00. Additional bids were requested but none were received. Shawn Maxwell announced insurance will pay to replace the siding on the East side of the building only. After additional discussion on the type and color of the siding and whether to reside the entire City Hall, the council decided to reside the entire City Hall with White 4” Dutch Lap siding with white trim. Tom VanDerVeer made a motion to award the contract to McCartie Construction. Richard Thomas seconded. The motion carried. Ron Ferree will contact McCartie Construction to let them know they have been awarded the job. The job should be completed before Winter.
- Mayor Shawn Maxwell has received only one bid for replacing the gutters at City Hall. Kool Seamless Gutters has submitted a bid for $465.75 for White 5” gutters. Tom VanDerVeer made a motion to award the bid to Kool Seamless Gutters. Richard Thomas seconded. The motion carried. Mayor Shawn Maxwell will contact Kool Seamless Gutters to let them know they have been awarded the job. The job should be completed before winter. K. Citizen Complaint of Parking at Winkelman residence – Mayor Shawn Maxwell and Richard Thomas made contact with the homeowner and discussion followed on what needed to be done. Council has not noticed any changes in the parking, Richard Thomas will follow-up with the homeowner and inform them the city will issue fines if changes are not implemented by the end of the month.
- L. Citizen complaint of overgrown weeds at the Naylor residence – Council discussed they had noticed some mowing had been done around the residence but the pasture area remains overgrown. Aron Whitlatch and Wayne Braden will contact the homeowners about completing the clean-up.
III. New Business –
- A. City Treasurer reported the city is being audited by the State of Iowa for IPERS on October 25, 2011, 10:00 am at Beacon City Hall.
- B. 2011 Elections – City Clerk will contact the Mahaska County Auditor for directions on preparations for elections on November 8, 2011.
IV. Business from the floor:
- The council received a citizen complaint regarding a dog running loose in the early morning hours. The dog is a boxer and is believed to be owned by the Sarver’s. Richard Thomas will contact the owner and let them know if the issue continues next month, a letter will be sent to the owner and possible fines issued.
- The council received a citizen complaint regarding a dog owned by Johnny Anderson attacking workers hired by the city to complete contracted work. It has been noted the dog has been running loose again. Richard Thomas will contact the dog owner. Tom VanDerVeer will also speak with homeowner about weeds problems behind the house.
V. Next meeting date – November 3, 2011
VI. Adjournment – A motion to adjourn was made by Richard Thomas and seconded by Ron Ferree. The motion carried.