City of Newton City Council met July 5

By East Central Reporter Reports

Aug 11, 2022

City of Newton City Council met July 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. *CALL TO ORDER: Joshua J. Kuhl, Mayor

Mayor Joshua J. Kuhl called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Alderman Marlene Harris.

Pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Alderman Marlene Harris.

3. ROLL CALL: Rosetta York, City Clerk

Physically present: Gayle Glumac, Larry Brooks, RJ Lindemann and Marlene Harris

Also present: Attorney William Heap and Clerk Rosetta York

Not Present: David Brown, Eric Blake and Treasurer Melissa Brooks

4. ADOPT OR AMEND AGENDA:

Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Harris, to adopt the proposed agenda.

Ayes: Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann, Harris

Nays: None

5. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES of June 21, 2022. Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Harris, to approve the minutes of the June 21, 2022 of the Newton City Council.

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Harris, Glumac

Nays: None

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Fire Chief Gary Lindemann Fire Chief Gary Lindemann:

Asked about the disabled/broken fire hydrant by Charles Schackmann’s place on 810th Ave. That is the only source of water in that area for the Fire Department. Tyler Weber said he has finally received the parts to repair it and will get it scheduled soon. The parts were on backorder.

Fire Chief said he used the hydrant out by Frank Ayers during the fair. He had to fill a truck. He cranked the hydrant open in about seven turns and I couldn't get any water and closed it back up. He opened it and a bunch of scale and rust, rusty water coming out of it. He wants to know if the City is still following a flushing schedule. Tyler said the City tries to flush the hydrants at least once a year. The Mayor requested the Water department Committee Chairman follow up on developing a routine schedule to flush the hydrants.

Gary also asked if the boat ramp is still in the plans by the Eagle Trail Riverwalk. The Mayor asked Marlene and Gayle to have Milano & Grunloh Engineer to draw plans for the ramp.

7. COMMITTEE REPORTS OR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS: Mayor Kuhl: Personnel Committee Monday, June 27, 2022 at 5:30 PM Present: Gayle Glumac, Rosetta M. York, Joshua J. Kuhl, Marlene Harris, RJ Lindemann, Melissa Brooks, Larry Brooks, David Brown and Brad Benfield • Personnel Committee Meeting called to order at 5:30 PM.

• The committee went into executive session to discuss personnel.

• Came out of executive session at 5:48 PM.

• Gayle asked if there could be quarterly meeting with Department Heads to improve communications. The Mayor asked her to contact Eric and organize it. The meeting adjourned at 5:52 PM.

Lindemann: Finance/Audit Committee Meeting Monday, June 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM Present: Joshua Kuhl, Rosetta M. York, Gayle Glumac, Marlene Harris, Melissa Brooks, Larry Brooks, David Brown, Matt Tarr and RJ Lindemann

• Meeting was called to order at 5:57 p.m.

• Appropriations were put in front of the committee and opened for discussion. They will be available to the public from July 5 - July 18.

• A discussion was had as to whether or not the city would contract out its fuel supply across several months to keep prices consistent. It was decided to disregard this and proceed on a month-to-month basis, playing the market and searching for the lowest price each month.

• Fees for environmental inspections regarding the riverwalk may be coming up. These fees should be reimbursable through the grant we have with the state. Meeting was adjourned at 6:17 p.m.

8. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Open Bids for the sale of the used 2009 Chevy Impala. The bids were opened in the order they were received.

1. Joseph Moore- $400.00

2. Emergency Remarketing, Brett Patti - $669.18

3. Randy Urfer - $1,175.00

4. David Benney - $3,500.00

B. Consider and act on awarding the bid to purchase the 2009 Chevy Impala. Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Harris, authorize awarding the bid to David Benney for $3,500.00 for the NPD 2009 Impala Chevy. Ayes: Lindemann, Harris, Glumac, Brooks

Nays: None

C. Consider and act on the Mayor’s appointment of Department Heads, effective May 1, 2022. (The present Department Heads remain in their positions.)

Water Treatment Plant & Water Tyler Weber

Waste Water Treatment Facility Brent Benefiel

Electric Department Matt Tarr

Streets& Alleys Josh Ochs

Parks & Cemetery Brad Benefiel

Police Department Riley Britton

Utility Collections Brenda Phillips

Motion was made by Glumac, seconded by Brooks, authorize the Mayor’s appointment of Department Heads, effective May 1, 2022.

Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann,

Nays: None

D. Consider and act on a $ .90 per hour raise for Department Heads effective May 1, 2022.

Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, authorize a $ .90 per hour raise for Department Heads effective May 1, 2022.

Ayes: Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann, Harris

Nays: None

E. Consider and act on a $.50 per hour raise for part-time clerical employees effective May 1, 2022.

Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, authorize a $.50 per hour raise for part-time clerical employees effective May 1, 2022.

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Harris, Glumac

Nays: None

F. Consider and act on 22-13 City Ordinance - Repeal Sections 6-1-1 Through 6-1-3 of Chapter 6 Building Regulations and to Substitute therefor the International Residential Code, 2015 Edition. (A copy of the 2015 International Resident Code is in the City Clerk’s office.)

Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Lindemann, to pass 22-13 City Ordinance - Repeal Sections 6-1-1 Through 6-1-3 of Chapter 6 Building Regulations and to Substitute therefor the International Residential Code, 2015 Edition. (A copy of the 2015 International Resident Code is in the City Clerk’s office.)

Ayes: Lindemann, Harris, Glumac, Brooks

Nays: None

Shannon Woodard: “Essentially, the Sludge building is complete. Brent and I did a final inspection of that today. He's using it. It's working out well. There’s a piece of quarter trim that was bent during construction. They had reorder it and it finally came in. They got that on. It still needs aluminum gutters that they were waiting on because the corner piece wasn't on. The chain link fence around the open storage area for fall protection which is on backorder. So as soon as that gets here, he'll be ready to install it. But essentially, it's complete and he's using it and we're still withholding about $12,000 until it is complete.”

G. Consider and act on Sludge Storage Building - Pay Estimate #1 due Grunloh Building, Inc in the amount of $200,535.81.

Motion was made by Brooks, seconded by Lindemann, authorize payment for Sludge Storage Building - Pay Estimate #1 due Grunloh Building, Inc in the amount of $200,535.81.

Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brooks. Lindemann

Nays: None

H. Consider and act on authorizing the City Hall renovations for material and labor in the amount of $24,128.58.

Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to authorize City Hall renovations for material and labor in the amount of $24,128.58.

Ayes: Glumac, Brooks. Lindemann, Harris

Nays: None

9. NEW BUSINESS: None

10.STATEMENTS:

Council Members:

Glumac: “Just appreciate all the city workers working during all this heat and having the pool open.”

Brooks: “The Flowers around town look good.”

RJ Lindemann: “Happy 4th of July. America is awesome. I think you should all think that as well. That's all I have to say.”

Harris: “I had a complaint about the new senior complex. One of the surrounding people. It's getting water backed up into their yard, almost into their garage, she said. I did address that with Josh. He said that he's going to try to keep an eye on it. She's supposed to call him whenever it starts to back up so they could go out and actually see what's going on. But he said that the contractors out there have no control over it. It basically is the engineers and it's like, you know.”

City Attorney: No comments

City Clerk: 1 Police Department PO #2022-04

Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Glumac, to authorize Police Department PO #2022-04 for $48,190.00.00 to Morrow Brothers Ford INC.

Ayes: Brooks, Lindemann, Harris, Glumac

Nays: None

Mayor Kuhl: “Thank you to all the city employees. First and foremost, Matt and his team for the flags. There was a great scene, you guys out first thing this morning, getting those back down. I want to extend a large thank you to Tyler and the water department for being able to give up a guy and help out the park. We're short staffed currently out there and I do appreciate that. I know Brad did, too. So, thank you very much for doing that. Other than that, stay safe during the heat.”

11. NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 6:00 PM

SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Public Hearing for Appropriations before the July 19, 2022 council meeting at 5:45 P.M.

12. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Litigation and Potential Litigation

Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to go out of open session and into closed session to discuss litigation and potential litigation pursuant to the exceptions section of the Open Meetings Act pertaining to those areas of discussion.

Ayes: Lindemann, Harris, Glumac, Brooks

Nays: None

Open session suspended at 6:30 PM.

Motion was made by Harris, seconded by Lindemann, to go out of closed session and back into open session.

Ayes: Harris, Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann

Nays: None

Open session resumed at 6:59 PM.

Mayor Kuhl announced that during closed session the council discussed litigation and potential litigation.

13.ADJOURNMENT

Motion was made by Lindemann, seconded by Glumac, to adjourn the meeting.

Ayes: Glumac, Brooks, Lindemann, Harris

Nays: None