East Central Reporter

City of Altamont City Council met July 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Council of the City of Altamont met in regular session at 6:00 pm on July 22, 2024, in the Council Room of the Municipal Building. The following members were present: Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Mike Walker; Commissioner Tayler Polk; Commissioner Terry White; Commissioner Jason Rippetoe. Also present – Mark Hoskins, Altamont News; Bill Durbin; Dwight Homann; Gale Warner; Janet Voelker; Rich Frailey; Sheryl Marble; Inga Herboth; Lee Beckman, Milano & Grunloh Engineers and Sarah Stephen, City Clerk. One vacant Council position remains. 

The Omnibus Vote Agenda comprised of prior meeting minutes and payment of bills, was approved on a motion by Commissioner White and seconded by Commissioner Polk. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. (Attachment 1)

Lee Beckman, Milano & Grunloh Engineers provided project updates. 

Sheryl Marble addressed the Council concerning the recent action to open Wurl Lane to one-way traffic. She stated she and other residents along Wurl Lane were given an easement from Hillard & Betty Morris in 1992. The easement holders were never contacted at the time Morris’s dedicated Wurl Lane to the City. She believes this makes the dedication invalid. Her solution is to barricade Wurl Lane at the end of the two easements. 

Inga Herboth expressed her objection to the recycling program only accepting cardboard and the increase in garbage rates. She asked Council to search for another recycling alternative, possibly Waste Management, that would accept more items and have a recycling container available at all times. Commissioner White explained the rates have been low for over a decade and Altamont is the last community to move to automated garbage collection. He will consult Waste Management about their recycling program. 

Council Approved Ordinance VA-1763; Commercial Use of 208A North Tenth St on a motion by Commissioner Rippetoe and seconded by Commissioner White. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. Council concurred with Zoning Board recommendation to deny commercial use at the location of 208A North Tenth St, which is zoned residential. 

Council Approved Publishing of Request for Alternate Proposal Regarding Sale of 107 North Main St on a motion by Commissioner Rippetoe. Motion seconded by Commissioner White. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, abstained; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. Proposals are due into the City Clerk’s office by 9:00 am August 08, 2024. 

Council Approved Ordinance 796-24; Awarding Contract for Sanitation Services to DBS on a motion by Commissioner White and seconded by Commissioner Polk. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. The contract is for a five year term and begins automated garbage collection. 

Council approved Ordinance 797-24; Amending Ordinance 557-14 and 491-11 Relative to Service Charges for the Collection of Garbage on a motion by Commissioner White and seconded by Commissioner Rippetoe. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. The new rate will be $13.50 per month beginning with the August 20 – September 20, 2024 billing, payable in September. 

Council Approved Ordinance 798-24; Adopting Procedures for Electronic Attendance at Meetings of the City. Commissioner Rippetoe motioned for approval. Commissioner Polk seconded. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. 

Council Approved Ordinance 799-24; Fiscal Year Ending 2025 Appropriation. Commissioner Polk motioned for approval. Commissioner White seconded. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. The total appropriation is $7,731,779. 

Council Approved Payment to DKSK Properties (Kremer Pharmacy) for Masonry Repair in the Amount of $11,327.00. Commissioner Polk motioned for approval. Commissioner Rippetoe seconded. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes. 

Commissioner White reported the reservoir is running over the spillway after the 1’ rain. 

Commissioner Rippetoe reported Dillon Meier completed the apprentice lineman training. 

Commissioner Polk reported an excellent job has been done on the many stumps that have been ground. Roads are being patched and sidewalk replacement is being planned. On Tuesday will be the walk-thru for ITEP grant sidewalk replacement project to be done after the water main replacement. 

Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker reported a meeting is planned Friday to go thru the checklist for the OSLAD grant regarding Gilbert Park improvements. The Altamont School has decided they would prefer having diamond B restructured for the girls ACHS games, as the diamond has lighting and they can host evening events. 

Clerk Stephen reported a meeting was held Wednesday, July 17th, with WEIU and several local businesses to discuss featuring Altamont in their “This is Our Story” edition. The community investment needs to be a minimum of $10,000. 10-12 story tellers will be needed for the feature. A red carpet event will be held for the debute. 

The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Commissioner White and seconded by Commissioner Polk. Members voted as follows: Commissioner White, yes; Commissioner Polk, yes; Commissioner Rippetoe, yes; Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Walker, yes..

https://www.altamontil.net/images/forms/2024_Council.pdf#page=47