City Council Minutes – June 9, 2021

Present: P. Schmitt, Leuenberger, Glass, and K. Schmitt joined later Absent: Schroeder

Mayor Paul Herold called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Tara Hoffert, Bushman Insurance, presented the insurance renewal with ICAP and explained the 15% increase due to building evaluations revised to replacement costs and no member credits this year. Increase is about $1900. She did look at raising deductibles more, and the savings was minimal, so she did not change to that.

Aaron from Tree Doctor Services discussed the Emerald Ashbore Disease and the Ash trees that remain within the city. Currently they look pretty good in Fort Atkinson, and he estimated around 50 trees. Treatment lasts about 3 years, and would cost about $6.50/inch. Barta would rather see us start putting money into the budget each year to take a few down and replace them.

Ashley Christianson, Upper Explorerland, was present to discuss the CDBG application for the 2nd Well Project. Glass made a motion to open the Public Hearing, P. Schmitt seconded. All Aye. Carried. Christianson read the 9 points of the CDBG application as follows:

1. how the need for the proposed activity or projects was identified;
   It has been identified that the current water supply within the City of Fort Atkinson is inadequate to meet the firm capacity as required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Recommended Standards for Water Works by the Great Lakes Upper Mississippi River Board. The City currently has one fully functional water supply well. However, it is required that firm capacity be provided, which requires a minimum of two water supply wells.
2. how the proposed activity or projects will be funded and the sources of funds;
   The request from the Iowa Economic Development Authority will be $300,000. If successfully funded, the remainder of the proposed activity will be funded through an Iowa Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) loan along with funds from the City of Fort Atkinson for a total project cost of $612,000.
3. the date the CDBG application will be submitted;
   The CDBG water/sewer application will be submitted on or before July 1, 2021 to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).
4. requested amount of federal funds;
   The requested amount is $300,000.
5. estimated portion of federal funds that will benefit persons of low and moderate income;
   Given that a community income survey conducted in July of 2019 found that 53.37% of Fort Atkinson’s residents could be considered low- and moderate-income persons, it can be expected that the same proportion of the funds will benefit that group of residents or a total of 186 persons.
6. where the proposed activity or project will be conducted;
   The proposed site is located to the west of the ballfields south of 150th Street and east of 271st Avenue within the city limits of Fort Atkinson.
7. plans to minimize displacement of persons and businesses as a result of funded activities or projects;
   No businesses or persons will be displaced as a result of the proposed project.
8. plans to assist persons actually displaced, and;
   No persons will be displaced as a result of the proposed project.
9. the nature of the proposed activity or project.
   The project consists of the construction of a new public water supply well, well house, interconnecting water main, backup generator at both the new well and the existing well and associated miscellaneous work.

After no questions, motion was made to close the Public Hearing by P. Schmitt, seconded by Leuenberger, and to approve Resolution 322 authorizing submission of a CDBG Water/Sewer application to Iowa Economic Development Authority for the 2nd Well Project. All Aye. Carried.

Council then discussed Community Development Needs Assessment, and Fire Chief Ron Franzen asked if the storage building at the new lagoon site could be built large enough to store a new fire truck. Herold explained plans have already been submitted by the engineer to Iowa DNR, so it would be difficult to change at this time. Herold also updated the easement for the land at the site of the 2nd well should be finished next week.

Motion was made by Glass, seconded by P. Schmitt, to open the Public Hearing to review the SRF Application for the 2nd Well. All Aye. Carried. After no questions were received, P. Schmitt made a motion to close the Public Hearing, Glass seconded. All Aye. Carried.

Laura Thomas, the new Library Director, introduced herself to Council and talked about what she is doing to get started in the Library. Council Welcomed her.

Ron Franzen advised he has 4-5 guys ready to set up physicals at Gehling Chiropractic, and will do that right away. He also requested to put air conditioning in the meeting room at the Fire Station. Barta will check if he has one that will fit from the Library. Franzen also updated they received a new hose from an Iowa DNR grant, and new pagers from the Community Foundation Grant.

Scott Sindelar advised he will shoot fireworks off on July 2nd in Fort Atkinson as he has in the past.

Greg Barta advised the dike pipe has gotten really bad. He discussed the possibility of having the firemen try to clean out before he replaces the pipe. Approximate cost is $4,000 for new gate.

Motion was made by Glass, seconded by Leuenberger, to approve May 5, 2021 Minutes, May Clerk Reports and Monthly bills as presented. All Aye. Carried.

Discussed nuisances sited within the community. Johansen sent letters out giving them all until 6/26/2021 to abate each nuisance. Will need to review at that time, and have City Attorney assess fines to those not in compliance.

Kim Fischer applied for the summer position for mowing and watering flowers, and other duties as assigned by Barta. Motion was made by Glass, seconded by Leuenberger, to hire Fischer at $10/hour for this summer. All Aye. Carried.

No building permits were submitted.

Motion was made by Glass, seconded by P. Schmitt, to approve FY22 Cigarette and Tobacco Permits for The Fort, Huber’s Store, and Lickety Split as submitted. All Aye. Carried.

Barta is still waiting for quotes on the HVAC to apply to the Facilities Grant for 35% reimbursement at the Community Center.

Received a draft from SOO Green for a Franchise Agreement for putting in underground utilities along the railroad bed.

Herold recommended we forward to the City Attorney for review before proceeding. There was no mention in the draft of a franchise fee to be paid to the City for this utility.

Next meeting will be July 7, 2021 at 7pm in the Community Center. Motion to adjourn was made by Glass, seconded by P.

Schmitt. All Aye. Carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

• Acentek – Phone $275.30
• Alliant – Electric $1,786.71
• Amie Johansen – Postage $55.00
• Anderson Law – Legal Services $497.50
• Badger Meter – Fees $100.32
• Baker & Taylor – Books $60.79
• Bank Iowa – HSA Contribution $200.00
• BARCO – Supplies $932.08
• Calmar Courier – Publishing $81.65
• FED/FICA Taxes $1,121.02
• Darin Barta – Rental $70.00
• Decorah Newspaper – Ad $120.00
• Farmers Union Coop – Supplies $297.98
• Fort Atkinson Rentals – Fee $90.00
• Franzen Sales – Supplies $34.99
• Gerald Andera – Flowers $987.50
• Heying’s – Posts $29.00
• HGTV Magazine – Subscription $27.97
• Huber’s – Supplies $147.88
• Impact Vinyl Graphic – Golf Stickers $7.50
• Iowa DNR – Certs $120.00
• IPERS – $813.26
• IROC – Web Fees $90.00
• John Deere – Supplies $68.34
• Keystone – Lab Fees $274.60
• Lee’s Repair – Repairs $373.50
• Luana Savings Bank – Pymt $15026.28
• Mediacom – Internet $422.56
• Mick Gage – Restroom Rent $323.00
• NICC – AED $1449.00
• Post Office – Postage $127.00
• River City Paving – Asphalt $274.92
• Sandry Fire – Flow Tests $1,074.19
• SEH – Engineering $5,122.91
• US Cellular – Phone $114.61
• UERPC – CDBG Admin $105.12
• Utility Equip – Supplies $3,300.46
• Wellmark – Insurance $518.80
• Winn Co Engineer – Salt & Sand $1,132.00
• Winn Co Landfill – Cleanup Day $90.00
• Payroll $4,040.79

Totals $41,287.03