Minutes

City of Griswold

Regular Council Meeting

Council Chambers, August 4, 2008 6:00 p.m.

 

The Griswold City Council met in regular session at City Hall.  Mayor Putnam called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Council present: Carlisle, Bergstrom, Rink, Shields.  Absent-Wyman (on phone call) 

 

Motion by Rink to approve the agenda; second by Bergstrom.  Approved 4-0.

 

Wyman arrived at 6:03

 

Motion by Shields to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:

a.     Minutes of the July 7 & 21 regular meetings

b.     Claims.

c.     Employees overtime report.

d.     Resolution 6-2008 Resolution Approving Destruction of General City Records.

Second by Bergstrom.  Approved 5-0.

 

Reports:

Community Building.  Verbal report was given by Manager Shiona Putnam

Public Works.  Mitch Kline presented two quotes for a snowplow for his truck.  This plow would be the same as the one on Kevin¹s truck.  The quotes were from Badger Body for $4,124 and Wyman¹s Ford for $4,466 with both including installation.  Motion by Rink to purchase the snowplow from Badger Body for $4,124; second by Wyman.  Approved 5-0.  The storm sewers have been measured and will be submitted to JEO so they can finish the study.  Concrete grinder was used in the 900 block of Whitney to try and relieve the ponding water.  This did not work as they had expected, so will have to knock out the concrete and put it to grade.  Have spoken with Howard Rush about the mowing at the Lagoon.  Howard has done this for $150 in the past, but is requesting $250 this year due to the increase in fuel costs and the additional area.  Moy Bejare asked if Kenny Cousins could mow it for hay at no cost to the city.  Motion by Shields to contact Kenny Cousins to see if he would mow the area at no cost.  If Mr. Cousins declines, hire Howard Rush to mow the area at a cost not to exceed $250; second by Wyman.  Approved 5-0.

City Hall.  Written report submitted by Clerk Dawn Ridlen. 

Library.  Librarian Cindy Miller said in the last council minutes it stated that the Library would hire a structural engineer to inspect the bank building.  Cindy told the council that the Library would not hire a structural engineer until the city has access or the rights to the bank building.  Wyman said he thinks the engineer should look at the building before the city takes ownership to make sure the floor would be able to hold the weight of the bookcases.  Cindy said she would see if they can have access to the bank and would report back at the next meeting.

 

Cost estimates – Mulching of burn pile.  Carlisle said he spoke with Jim Woods of West Central Hay Grinding out of Anita.  His price is $400 an hour and thought it would take anywhere from ½ to ¾ of a day to grind the burn pile.  He requested that a city employee be available with the backhoe to move the pile during the process.  Motion by Wyman to hire West Central Hay Grinding to grind the burn pile at a cost not to exceed $3,000 and to have a city employee available to move the pile.  The mulch is to be available to the public at no cost; second by Carlisle.  Approved 5-0.

 

Purchase of Police Vehicle.  Wyman said he has not received anything from Deter Motors regarding a police vehicle.  The bid from Wyman¹s Ford is for a Crown Victoria for $23,800 less $4,000 for trade in.  Motion by Rink to accept the bid from Wyman¹s Ford; second by Bergstrom.  Shields stated he feels the city should not be in a hurry to purchase a vehicle until a 2nd bid is obtained. Other council members said a 2nd bid had been requested and the company did not submit the bid in the time frame requested.  Motion carried on a 3-2 vote with Wyman and Shields dissenting.

 

Jetting/Televising Sanitary/Storm Sewer lines.  Estimates were received from Municipal Pipe & Tool Co. and Utility Service Group.  The estimates were as follows:

                                                                                    Municipal Pipe & Tool            Utility Service Group

Televising 29,000¹ of sanitary sewer                          $43,500                                   $36,250

Jetting only of 29,000¹ of sanitary sewer                    $18,850                                   $17,400

Televising of 16,000¹ of storm sewers                        $24,000                                   $20,000

Jetting only of 16,000¹ of storm sewers                      $10,400                                   $9,600

Root Cutting & removal                                              $250 per hr.                             $225 per hr.

Root foaming                                                              N/A                                         $1.50 per LF

 

Wyman said he would like to have a work session to discuss how to proceed.  Work session will be held on Thursday, August 7th at 6:00 p.m.

 

Sanitary Sewer Repairs.  Matter set aside to discuss at work session.

 

Well house Repairs.  Kevin Jipsen said only two of the bids were bidding the same type of work.  The other was to inspect the pump and then give the city an estimate for repairs.  The two bids were from Layne-Western for $12,675 and Cahoy Well & Pump Service for $7,708.  Motion by Wyman to accept the bid from Cahoy Well and Pump Service; second by Bergstrom.  Approved 5-0.

 

907 2nd St. clean up.  Shields said he would like approval to rent a 16-½  yard container in addition to the two 20 yd. Containers the council already approved.  His plan is to remove the northern most garage and leave the south garage as long as it is stable.  Concerns were raised regarding the salvageable items found in the house.  The city clerk will check on the legal process to dispose of the salvageable items.  Motion by Rink to approve the rental of an additional 16-½ yd container at a cost of $130; second by Wyman.  Approved 4-1 with Carlisle abstaining.

 

Employee Evaluations.  Matter set aside to the August 7th work session.

 

Verizon Wireless – Cellular antennas.  Verizon Wireless is updating the antennas on the city water tower.  They will also be adding another generator for which they will have to get a building permit and will pay an additional $150 per month rental fee.  Motion by Wyman to approve the updating of the antennas; second by Shields.  Approved 5-0.

 

Auditing Proposals.  Proposals were received from the following:  State of Iowa $7,200-8,000 plus filing fee; Schroer Associates of Council Bluffs $4,500; Muxfeldt & Associates of Harlan $5,750 plus $250 for council presentation and $75.00/hr for accounting services if necessary.  Motion by Shields to accept the proposal from Schroer Associates; second by Wyman.  Approved 5-0.

 

Public Comments.  Janet Reed asked if the city must take bids for anything over $500.  City Clerk Ridlen said no they did not, but it is something the council requested although there is no set policy for requesting bids below the bid threshold.

Vernon Brawdy asked if the snow plow cost included installation, why the city can¹t just get rid of everything in the house located at 907 2nd St. and if employee evaluations are done the same way in other towns.  Council responded that yes the snow plow cost includes installation; the city has to follow the legal process to dispose of city owned property and every town has their own way of doing evaluations and the evaluation forms the council is now using were taken from another town.

 

Messages and Papers from the Mayor.  Mayor Putnam thanked the residents volunteering their time at the yard waste site. 

 

Propositions and Remarks from Council Members.  Carlisle thanked the city employees, Lee Wyman and Phil Rink for getting the police department office cleaned up.

Shields said the council has had complaints about speeding cars on Harrison & Madison St. He spoke with the City of Atlantic Police Dept. and they have a speed trailer the city can use.  The council must make written request and assume liability for damages.  Council agreed to look into this further.

Rink said he has done research on security cameras for the city, but feels there are other projects more important at this time and will not do further research until the need is warranted.

 

Motion by Wyman to adjourn; second by Carlisle.  Approved 5-0; 7:40 p.m.

 

 

 

Jerry Putnam

Mayor

 

 

 

 

Dawn Ridlen

City Clerk