Hopkinton Council Proceedings

HOPKINTON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS July 13, 2015

Hopkinton City Council met in regular session this date at 7:00 p.m. in the council chambers with Mayor Harris presiding. Present at roll call were: Hucker, Porter, Collmann, & Buckner. Absent: Davis. Also present at the meeting were: Steve Herington, Kelly Bush, Scott & Kris Supple, Bill & Kathy Kraus, Larry Lamont, Bill Dingbaum, Chris Hucker, Annie Fjelstul, Cindy Kemp, Doug Melchert, and Amy Ries.

Month of June, 2015 FUND RECEIPTS EXPENDITURES GENERAL $17,599.64 $25,315.56 ROAD USE TAX $7,046.24 $2,210.68 FIRE ENTERPRISE $15,672.77 $7,047.37 AMBULANCE $2,319.69 PERPETUAL CARE $2.71 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS $729.69 $2,951.52 EMERGENCY $62.43 POOL PROJECT $7,058.11 SEWER FUNDS $14,528.30 $6,366.16 LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX $4,898.90 DEBT SERVICE $435.90

Collmann moved, second by Buckner to approve the July 13, 2015 Agenda and the Consent Agenda including: minutes of the June 8, 2015 council meeting; library board report; utilities report; monthly budget and financial reports; bills approved by finance committee; building permits-Rick Lange/garage, Al Dettbarn/addition; cigarette permits- none; Liquor License-none . Ayes: all. Carried. Steve Herington, Hopkinton EMRS, presented information to the Council in becoming an occasional transport service. Herington stated the department could transport as long as an EMT is present. Of the 29 calls last year, only 3 did not have an EMT responding. If the department is a transport service, this would allow the City to bill for the service and be a source of revenue for the department. He recommended a billing company be used instead of the City doing the billing directly. Currently, there are 5-6 individuals who are interested in becoming an EMT. The cost to take the class is $1,500 plus the cost of books. The County EMS Board has allocated $8,000 for training to be split among departments within the county. There are concerns with billing costs and fees. Clerk was directed to contact PCC, a billing company used by area departments, for additional information to report at the next meeting. Merrill Meese could not attend the meeting, but was available to do a conference call. Council did not feel it was necessary at this time to call him. Annie Fjelstul, Assistant Pool Manager, was present to update the Council on pool operations. There were 37 participants in Red Cross swim lessons with 31 passing. To date, 44 participants have taken private swim lessons. Six adults signed up for adult swimming. Fjelstul recommended the last day for the pool to be open for the season be Sunday, August 16th. That night, they would host a Back to School Bash for their fund raising. Fjelstul asked if the pool could close at 5 p.m. July 24th & 25th for the concerts being held at the Jones County Fair. She and the Head Guard purchased concert tickets for both nights. It is required that either the Assistant Manager or Head Guard work at the pool each day. Collmann moved, second by Porter to close at 5 p.m. July 24th & 25th. Ayes: Hucker, Collmann, Porter; Nays: Buckner. Carried. Hucker moved, second by Collmann to close the pool for the season Sunday, August 16th. Ayes: Hucker, Collmann, Porter; Nays: Buckner. Carried. Apartment owners and Lenox Acres representatives were present to discuss the proposal to increase the monthly sanitation collection fee for apartments. Currently residents living in apartments pay $7/month. The proposed increase is $3 totaling $10/month. As stated at the June meeting, the City is required to pay the contractor per residence, whether apartment or house. City Clerk stated not only does the City have to pay the Contractor, but also pays a monthly fee to Delaware County Solid Waste Commission and Municipal Utilities for billing. City has to be able to cover the current expenses of having sanitation collections. By increasing the apartment rates, will cover the operating expense. After a lengthy discussion the Mayor called for the vote. Hucker moved, second by Collmann to introduce Ordinance #272 entitled, " AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE VI PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, CHAPTER 5, UTILITIES-BILLING CHARGES IN THE HOPKINTON MUNICIPAL CODE OF ORDINANCES". Ayes: all. Carried. Porter moved, second by Collmann to approve the second reading. Ayes: all. Carried. Collmann moved, second by Buckner to waive the third reading. Ayes: all. Carried. Hucker moved, second by Porter to adopt Ordinance #272. Ayes: all. Carried. Mayor Harris declared Ordinance #272 duly adopted and signed approved. Apartment owners asked the Council to consider not charging the garbage rate if an apartment is vacant for a full month. Currently, garbage collection is billed monthly to the apartment resident/owner regardless if vacant or occupied. In order for home residents to discontinue their sanitation charges, the water meter must be disconnected. Because all of the apartments are on a centralized water meter, that option is not possible. There are concerns the Utility Clerk is not notified when someone moves in or out and is difficult to try to keep track of. The apartment owners assured the Council they would follow up with the Utility Clerk and notify her of any changes. Collmann moved, second by Hucker to not charge apartments a garbage fee that are vacant for a full month. Anyone occupying the apartment for a partial month will be billed for the entire month. Ayes: all. Carried. Doug Melchert, updated the Council on the WWTP operations. The new sampler is in operation. Melchert stated they need to add onto the sampling shed so the new sampler can be sheltered. Mayor Harris stated Memorial Park was being used recently and the bathrooms were not opened and asked when the repairs would be done. Melchert stated the utility lines have been marked. Mayor Harris asked when the cover for the basin would be constructed. Melchert stated they have been busy and would get to it when they could. The water line at the cemetery needs to be replaced as well. The Delaware Co. Sherriff's office contacted Mike Feldmann Saturday night, June 20th, to pick up three dogs for kenneling as the owners were incarcerated. City Code states the impoundment fee is $30 and $10/day for feeding & care. It also states the fees must be paid before the animals can be retrieved. Because the owners were still incarcerated, the animals were released to family members June 24th. The bill totaled $70. Council did not feel it was the extended family's responsibility to pay the fees. Council chose to waive the fees. Aaron Wendt did the testing for Red Cross public lessons this year. Testing took five hours to complete. Collmann moved, second by Hucker to pay Wendt $20/hour totaling $100.00. Ayes: all. Carried. In June, there was a break in at the pool. Council reviewed estimates to install surveillance cameras at the pool. The City of Earlville have these & were recommended to the Council. Council asked if Jake Harris, City of Earlville, would look at our pool area to see how many cameras it would take to cover the outdoor part of the pool before the next meeting. Municipal Utilities front door is rusting and needs to be replaced. City's front door leaks water when it rains. Council reviewed estimates from Delhi Lumber and Zephyr Aluminum Products to replace Municipal Utilities front door. Zephyr's estimate also included installing a piece to prevent the water from coming in the City's front door. Hucker moved, second by Collmann to accept Zephyr's estimate of $3,611 to replace HMU's door including labor and $124.00 to install the piece on the City door. Ayes: all. Carried. Nuisance properties were discussed. Two notices were sent to property located at 214 Helen St NE with no response. Council directed Clerk to contact the City Attorney regarding this property to take further action. Fiscal year reports July 1, 2014 thru June 30, 2015 were given to the Council to review by department for the Community Center, Ambulance, Fire Dept., Cemetery, and City including all funds. Clerks Report: Annual exam will be July 22-24th. The Code Book needs to be codified. IA Rural Water provides a free study for water and wastewater rates. Clerk stated this was done in 2009 and requested that another study for wastewater rates be done. Once the study is completed, they will present the information to the Council. Council agreed this would be a good idea. Clerk will begin working with IA Rural to complete the study. Hucker moved, second by Collmann to approve Resolution #01-2016 entitled, "A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE OFFICIAL REPORT FOR MUNICIPAL STREETS AND PARKING FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2014 THRU JUNE 30, 2015". Ayes: all. Carried. Hucker moved, second by Collmann to introduce Ordinance #273 entitled, "AN ORDINANCE RENAMING GROVE STREET SOUTHWEST IN HOPKINTON, IOWA". Ayes: all. Carried. Hucker moved, second by Buckner to approve the first reading. Ayes: all. Carried. Porter moved, second by Collmann to waive the second & third readings. Ayes: all. Carried. Buckner moved, second by Hucker to adopt Ordinance #273. Ayes: all. Carried. Mayor Harris declared Ordinance #273 duly adopted and signed approved. Hucker moved, second by Collmann to introduce Ordinance #274 entitled, "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF HOPKINTON, IOWA, BY REPEALING PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 1 OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF CITY ORDINANCES". Ayes: all. Carried. Porter moved, second by Hucker to approve the first reading. Ayes: all. Carried. Hucker moved, second by Buckner to waive the second & third readings. Ayes: all. Carried. Collmann moved, second by Buckner to adopt Ordinance #274. Ayes: all. Carried. Mayor Harris declared Ordinance #274 duly adopted and signed approved. Council Comments: Mayor Harris was approached by a resident asking if he needed a building permit for a garage on skids. After reviewing the Code, it was a consensus a permit was needed. Mayor Harris will notify the resident. Property located at 306 Helen Street NE is moving a garage. Council directed the Clerk to notify him that a building permit is needed. Council person Porter asked if the Council could review ordinances about chickens. Clerk will have information what other cities have in their Code's regarding chickens. Buckner moved, second by Porter for adjournment at 10:05 p.m.

______Cathy Harris, Mayor ______ATTEST: Amy M. Ries, City Clerk