Fort Atkinson Regular City Council Meeting
June 7, 2023
Mayor Paul Herold called the regular meeting of the Fort Atkinson City Council to order at 6:00 P.M. on June 7, 2023 at the Fort Atkinson Community Center. Present were: Dale Leuenberger, Kay Schmitt, Paul Schmitt, Bob Glass. Schroeder was absent. Also present were: Paul Herold, Michele Elsbernd, Greg Barta, Tom Madden, Scott Sindelar, Laura Thomas ( for a portion of the meeting), Matt Shatek and Steve Kelsay.
Laura Thomas, Fort Atkinson librarian was present to update the city council on a ALA grant applied for and received by the library in the amount of $ 20,000 for handicap accessibility to the library building. Planned is a new back door and a ADA compliant ramp and ADA door openers to both front and rear doors.
Tom Madden presented Partial Pay Estimate # 4 for Blazek Corporation in the amount of $54729.79. Motion by K. Schmitt, second by Leuenberger to approve PPE#4. All aye, motion carried. Also presented was PPE#2 for Shawver Well for $ 112,334.17. Motion by K. Schmitt, second by P. Schmitt to approve. All aye, motion carried. Tom stated that there is a hold up for the electrical components and that receipt of these components is about 13 weeks out. The new well could possibly be operational by the end of August. Discussed was the cost variations that will be noted in the final change order for Shawver Well mostly dealing with the additional grout. Also discussed was the estimate from Alliant Energy to install electricity to the well site. The old lagoon site was also discussed. Council expressed their displeasure with all the unanticipated overages. Madden stated that the contractor is scheduled to install the fencing at the lagoon next week and that the contractor expects to have the project completed by the end of June.
The City has received a construction permit for the sewer extension portion of the water and sewer extension project. The water construction permit has not yet been received and that may take longer per the city engineer. Mayor Paul Herold opened the quotes for the water extension project as follows: Northeast Iowa Backhoe Service $ 26,105.00, Blazek Corp. $ 31,940.00, Rausch Const. $ 37,300.00. Quotes were discussed and it was noted that Rausch Construction bid a bore and the others bid digging thru the street. Motion by P. Schmitt, second by Glass to approve and accept the quote from Northeast Iowa Backhoe Service for $ 26,105.00. All aye, motion carried.
The insurance renewal from IMWCA for Work Comp Insurance and from ICAP for the city property and liability insurance was discussed. There was a large 19% increase from last years premium.
Matt Shatek addressed the council regarding the rusty water at his location. Greg Barta stated that a flush hydrant needed to be installed which would help with this problem.
Greg Barta stated he had been asked about the fire department filling swimming pools. It was noted that the fire department wasn’t interested. Also discussed-sewer fees for water to fill pools or water trees that wasn’t going into the city sewer system. The city will not be making any adjustments for this type of use to the sewer bill. Greg stated that the fire hydrant at the church would be replaced on June 12th and that water on the east side of Hwy 24 would be off for a period of time. The location of the lp tank and generator at the old well site was discussed. Greg would like to install these items to the west of the well house on land owned by Scott Sindelar. Sindelar has agreed to the easement. The city attorney prepare an easement for their signature. Greg stated that the well house plans originally did not have a floor drain, the DNR has approved this installation.
Motion by Glass, second by P. Schmitt to approve the consent items (minutes from May 1, 2023, clerk/treasurer reports, claims, cigarette permits for Huber’s Store, Lickety Split and The Fort and the ABD license for The Fort. All aye, motion carried.
| Claims May 23 | |
| Acentek, phone | 291.74 |
| Alliant, elec | 2713.13 |
| Arnie Engine, repair | 174.07 |
| Baker & Taylor, books | 428.86 |
| Bank Iowa, has | 200.00 |
| Bodensteiner Impl, supp | 459.17 |
| Bruening Rock , rock | 290.37 |
| Citizens Svgs, taxes | 1929.90 |
| Core & Main, hydrant | 4369.00 |
| Croell, concrete | 1350.00 |
| Decorah Tech, cameras | 1075.23 |
| Decorah Tec, comp lib | 788.98 |
| Drillings, supplies | 126.45 |
| Farmers Union, supplies | 1290.33 |
| Five Star, lp tanks | 3700.00 |
| Forbin, fee 365 | 200.00 |
| Fort Lib, p cash | 198.21 |
| Fort Nursery, trees | 1790.00 |
| Franzen Sales, battery/supp | 145.61 |
| Hartley Lib, book | 13.47 |
| Hawkeye Sanit, garb | 2208.83 |
| Hawkins, chemical | 566.28 |
| Hoopla, books | 61.76 |
| Icap, ins | 188.00 |
| State Ia, emulson | 1170.00 |
| Iowa Dept Rev, tax | 335.81 |
| DNR, permits | 200.00 |
| Ia League, grantfinder | 75.00 |
| Iowa One Call, locates | 85.50 |
| Ipers, pension | 1175.31 |
| Iroc Web, host | 100.00 |
| Jay’s Auto, fd 1995 | 1056.34 |
| John Deere Fin, ladder | 203.56 |
| Keystone, testing | 32.50 |
| Laura Thomas, reimb | 4.00 |
| Lee’s Repair, tree park | 1228.00 |
| Leonard Good Lib, book | 10.00 |
| Marv Smith, repair,supp | 393.13 |
| Maynard Lib, book | 16.00 |
| Mediacom, internet | 231.56 |
| Mid-America,pub | 94.05 |
| Midwest Geog,update | 526.25 |
| Mississippi Welding,blades | 136.90 |
| Postoffice, postage | 96.00 |
| Riley’s, toner lib | 106.95 |
| SHE, eng | 17749.43 |
| Shawver, ppe#1 | 119986.90 |
| Sully Lib, book | 15.00 |
| Superior Bldg, supplies | 281.23 |
| US Cell, phone | 36.22 |
| UPERC, admin | 597.99 |
| Utility Equip, paint | 352.92 |
| Visa, lib | 206.91 |
| Wellmark, ins | 655.46 |
| Winn Landfill, clean up | 260.00 |
| Payrolll, May | 7197.40 |
| Total | 179175.71 |
| Claims by fund | |
| General | 19499.33 |
| ROAD USE | 2,050.67 |
| Benefits | 8,553.46 |
| WATER | 8,391.32 |
| Wellmark, ins | 133730.62 |
| Sewer | 6,344.61 |
| Lagoon | 8,303.70 |
| Total | 186,873.71 |
| Revenue by fund | |
| General | 12,740.61 |
| Road Use | 3,417.59 |
| Benefits | 334.51 |
| Emergency | 51.13 |
| Lost | 4,751.13 |
| Debt Serv | 1,057.99 |
| Water | 26,798.76 |
| Well | 76,216.54 |
| Sewer | 40,111.27 |
| Lagoon | 17,787.21 |
| Total | 183,266.74 |
Eric Phillips re-submitted his building permit. His original had expired and since then the city code has been updated allowing for a maximum of 1200 sq. ft accessory building. Eric was advised that he would have to modify his permit and plans.
A request for a donation from the Fort Atkinson Little League was discussed. Per Iowa Code no public money shall be appropriated for local, or private purposes.
Motion by K. Schmitt, second by Leuenberger to set July 5, 2023 as the date for a public hearing on the Status of Funded Activities for the City of Fort Atkinson Water Supply Improvement Project. All aye, motion carried. This hearing is to satisfy CDBG requirements.
Also discussed were various water issues, possible use of a type of flushing hydrant, the city museum and an issue with a dead end city street. The clerk will speak with the city attorney regarding the street issue.
Motion by K. Schmitt, second by Glass to adjourn. All aye, motion carried, meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
_________________________________________ ATTEST:_________________________________
Paul Herold, Mayor Michele Elsbernd, City Clerk