Fort Atkinson City Council Minutes
November 2, 2022
Mayor Paul Herold called the meeting of the Fort Atkinson City Council to order at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at the Fort Atkinson Community Center. Present: Glass, P. Schmitt, Leuenberger, K. Schmitt and Schroeder. Also present: Richard Nienhaus, Lyndsay Vsetecka, Tom Madden, and Michele Elsbernd.
Mayor Herold opened the public hearing on the intention to vacate and convey city-owned property. There were no written or oral comments presented and Mayor Herold closed the hearing. Motion by Glass, second by Leuenberger to approve Ordinance# 31 to vacate a parcel of city owned right-of-way located in Block 60 of the Original Town of Fort Atkinson. Aye: Glass, Leuenberger, P. Schmitt, K. Schmitt, Schroeder. Motion carried. Motion by P. Schmitt, seconded by Leuenberger to wave the second and third readings of Ordinance # 31. Aye: Schroeder, Leuenberger, P. Schmitt, Glass, K. Schmitt. Motion carried. Motion by K. Schmitt, second by Schroeder to approve Resolution # 354 approving the conveyance of a portion of a vacated alley right-of-way and conveyance of city property to Paul Herold and James Herold. Aye: Glass, Leuenberger, P. Schmitt, Schroeder, K. Schmitt. Motion carried.
Mayor Herold opened the public hearing on Budget Amendment 2022-2023. There were no written or oral questions or objections, Mayor Herold closed the hearing. Motion by K. Schmitt, second by Schroeder to approve Resolution # 357 approving the 2022-2023 Budget Amendment. Aye: P. Schmitt, Glass, Leuenberger, K. Schmitt and Schroeder. Motion carried. Motion by Glass, second by Leuenberger to approve Resolution # 358 approving the 2022-2023 budget transfers. Ay: K. Schmitt, P. Schmitt, Leuenberger, Schroeder and Glass. Motion carried.
Richard Nienhaus was present to address the council regarding accessibility to his property from the alley behind the community center. He suggested trading some property with the city. The council will research and have on the agenda at the November 30, 2022, council meeting.
Lyndsay Vsetecka was present representing the Fort Atkinson Library. The yearly library report was included in the council packet. They are requesting appointments to their board. Motion by K. Schmitt, second by Leuenberger to appoint Becky Schmitt, Jessica Uhlenhake and Lyndsay Vsetecka to the Fort Atkinson Library Board. Aye: P. Schmitt, Glass, K. Schmitt, Leuenberger and Schroeder. Motion carried.
Marie Riha was present representing the Fort Atkinson Museum. She stated she had an estimate for display cases for the items donated by Robert Humpal. They will be writing grants to help pay for these cases, the estimate was approximately $ 20,000 for 11 cases for 60 items.
Tom Madden with SHE Engineering was present to update on the Lagoon project. He stated they were working on the leakage tests for the lagoon liners, the UV building was being constructed and the storage building is under construction and the trees and lilacs have been planted. He stated that all needed equipment is here and that he estimates the project as 75% complete. He explained to date the project was approximately $ 400,000 over budget due to dirt quantities being off because of type of soil and compaction of the soil. He has reached out to the state to see if any grants would be available to help with this cost increase. The fencing was discussed, all agreed to move the fence to the top of the berm to try and eliminate the deer problem. Motion by P. Schmitt, second by K. Schmitt to approve Pay Request # 7 for $544,514.12 to JB Holland. Aye: Schroeder, Glass, P. Schmitt, K. Schmitt and Leuenberger. Motion carried. Tom had no update on the well project and stated that the road to the site would be constructed after the first of the year and that Blazek would not start anything until Spring.
Motion by Glass, second by Leuenberger to approve the consent items (minutes from October 5, 2022, clerks reports and claims for October). Aye: Glass, Leuenberger, K. Schmitt, P. Schmitt, Schroeder. Motion carried.
| Claims | ||
| Acentek | monthly bill | 333.62 |
| Alliant | electric bill | 3797.67 |
| Anderson/Wilmarth | legal services | 360.00 |
| Baker & Taylor | books | 447.21 |
| Bank Iowa | hsa Greg | 200.00 |
| Bell’s Fire Stop | check fire ext | 125.00 |
| Bruening Rock | street patching | 502.49 |
| Capital One | supplies | 210.83 |
| Chosen Valley | comp test | 2925.00 |
| Citizens Svgs | taxes | 2001.75 |
| Darin Barta | sept & oct | 70.00 |
| Decorah Tech | support | 300.00 |
| Dorsey/Whitney | legal sewer | 16500.00 |
| Earl Lensing | mileage Keystone | 81.25 |
| Forbin | monthly agree | 100.00 |
| Ft Atkinson Rental | sept & oct | 90.00 |
| Franzen Sales | supp/ship | 18.58 |
| Hawkeye Sanit | monthly service | 2190.79 |
| Hawkins | chemicals | 567.71 |
| Hoopla | books | 63.44 |
| Hubers Store | supplies | 370.64 |
| Ia Dept Rev | wet tax | 317.90 |
| Iowa League | workshop | 50.00 |
| Iowa Lib Assn | conference fee | 220.00 |
| Ia Pump Works | service agree | 905.00 |
| Rural Water | annual dues | 225.00 |
| ipers | ipers | 1390.91 |
| Jay’s Auto | pickup serv | 1176.20 |
| JB Holland | PPE#6 | 488822.35 |
| John Deere Fin | deadbolt well | 119.99 |
| Keystone | testing | 456.00 |
| Laura Thomas | op supplies Lib | 42.58 |
| Lee’s Repair | use of equip | 388.00 |
| Lickety Split | fuel | 3757.84 |
| Marv Smith Elec | modem hook up | 979.93 |
| Mediacom | internet | 83.90 |
| Mick Gage | restroom rental | 285.00 |
| Mid-American Pub | sept&oct, cdbg | 396.04 |
| Modern Market | supplies | 74.92 |
| Lee Fischer | install hydrant | 1315.00 |
| Penworthy | books | 181.81 |
| US Post Office | mail utility bills | 88.00 |
| SHE | eng wwtf & well | 24982.50 |
| Thompson Truck | fire truck service | 348.95 |
| US Cell | cell phone Greg | 114.98 |
| UPERC | sewer proj adm | 1600.92 |
| Utility Equip | supplies | 2680.19 |
| Wellmark | insurance greg | 572.79 |
| Payroll | 7181.55 | |
| Total | 569914.23 | |
| Claims by fund | ||
| General | 16419.50 | |
| Road Use | 3016.37 | |
| Benefits | 772.79 | |
| Water | 10894.07 | |
| Well | 2039.51 | |
| Sewer | 3963.40 | |
| Lagoon | 532808.59 | |
| Total | 569914.23 | |
| Revenue by fund | ||
| General | 51226.34 | |
| Museum | 51.00 | |
| Road Use | 3171.44 | |
| Benefits | 5973.75 | |
| Emergency | 913.01 | |
| Lost | 2878.04 | |
| Debt Service | 18892.65 | |
| Water | 6506.54 | |
| Well | 47847.35 | |
| Sewer | 16810.29 | |
| Lagoon | 558050.84 | |
| Total | 712321.25 | |
Motion by K. Schmitt, second by Schroeder to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance # 30 regarding sewer improvement charges by dwelling unit. Aye: Leuenberger, K. Schmitt, P. Schmitt, Glass Schroeder. Motion carried.
Discussed were open gym for basketball and walkers. Council agreed to have both available for area residents this winter. The internet service at the Community Center was discussed and it was agreed that the current cost with Mediacom is unaffordable. Other options will be researched. Sale of the rock around the old lagoon was discussed. Quotes were received from three contractors to remove the trees, level site, burn and bury debris from the area between the lagoons. Motion by P. Schmitt, second by Leuenberger to approve sale of rock to Rausch Construction for $ 50.00 per load and to accept his quote to remove trees between the lagoons in the amount of $ 5250.00. Aye: Schroeder, K. Schmitt, P. Schmitt, Leuenberger and Glass. Motion carried. The vacation of the north 30’ of 3rd St. was discussed. This is an 80’ street that extends to the front of the adjacent homes. The homeowners have agreed to pay the cost of a survey and all legal fees to vacate the north 30’ of a portion of this street and to have that property deeded to the adjacent property owners.
Building permit from Leonard Nolte at 205 Grove Street was discussed. Motion by Glass, second by Schroeder to approve the permit as presented. Aye: Schroeder, K. Schmitt, P. Schmitt, Leuenberger and Glass. Motion carried.
Motion by P. Schmitt, second by Glass to approve a $ 500.00 request for funding to the Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund for 2024. Aye: K. Schmitt, Leuenberger, Glass, Schroeder, P. Schmitt. Motion carried.
Information was received from the Winneshiek Energy District.
Motion by Glass, second by Schroeder to adjourn. Aye: P. Schmitt, K. Schmitt, Schroeder, Glass and Leuenberger. Motion carried; meeting adjourned at 7:24 P.M.
__________________________________________
Paul Herold, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________________
Michele Elsbernd, City Clerk/Treasurer