October Meeting Minutes
October 4, 2023
Those Present: Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Tee Steadman, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, Maintenance Hadley Wright, City Clerk Lynette Smith, excused were DeLoy Kunz and Mayor Stephan Waechtler
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Council President Greg Kunz
The Council entertained a motion from councilor Tee Steadman to approve the published agenda and was seconded by councilor Trenton Morrell. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from September 5, 2023, were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilor Trenton Morrell made the motion to accept the minutes as read and Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council. Minutes from the special meeting on September 14, 2023, were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilor Trenton Morrell made the motion to accept the minutes as read and Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The City will host another Trunk or Treat for those wishing to participate on October 31st at 5:00 pm. Clerk Smith will post flyers and get some ready to hand out to all the students at the Elementary school.
Discussion on whether to close the cemetery or not, depending on year or set a limit? Was decided to wait each year and maybe once it gets around two feet of snow to close it. Shane and Hadley will start to let the Mortuary’s know that it is a possibility we will be closed during the winter months depending on snow and frost each year so they can be prepared.
Marty Nate has been following up on ways to list who is buried in our cemetery and to utilize the board that Jake Smith made for his Senior Project. She can get a banner made to put in between the glass and wood and would be sun proof for about $180. She can also get the map digitized but is concerned about taking the only copy out of the City Hall. It was decided to get it digitized since we do have a backup copy at Shane and Hadley’s office too. She suggested having a binder up there to alphabetize and keep in a weather proof box. The only concern is how to keep the banner or binder updated. Marty is going to continue to look into options of how other cemeteries handle things and will keep the council updated.
There was discussion on getting a plow truck for the City before winter comes and how another big plow truck would help to save on the little truck and since we have two full time employee’s each can be in a truck and utilize their time better. Ordinance #113 – Mayor’s Salary cannot be passed at this time for him to forego his salary for the rest of his term due to the Ordinance must be published 75 days prior to a General Election. The next option for that would be the May election and we would need a new plow truck before then. Shane has been looking on the classifieds and the council approved for him and Hadley to go and look into it.
Fall cleanup dates were set for October 24th-26th. Council President Greg Kunz will contact Hennings about bringing out 2 dumpsters and 1 bin for metal on those dates.
Police Report: Sheriff Heslington was not available for the meeting.
Councilor Tee Steadman asked if we can enforce citizens to clean up or rebuild their buildings once they have been demolished if it’s something they have gotten a building permit for. Needs to be looked in to.
Councilor Trenton Morrell would like to get Corey Krantz email to follow up with him about writing an Ordinance to input a school zone along the highway like they have in Montpelier. The school zone would go from 5th Street to 3rd Street along Main Street and would be required to slow down in the morning, lunch and afternoon when school is let out. He would also like to talk to Sheriff Heslington about grants and will follow up on the citation funds coming back to the City.
Maintenance Report: Shane gave his report for the month of September and stated that he and Hadley have installed water services to Con Vouros barn, Prestige Technologies came for the annual maintenance and have ordered some internal parts for the smaller PRV’s. They had to replace the brass valves and do some plumbing. They winterized the land app, got approval for Keller’s to do the annual report, did some road patch and placed some sod at the cemetery. They serviced the side by side and cleaned up the old chlorinator building. He spoke with Chris Banks about grants for the water system and Chris has been unable to find us some at this time. He also spoke with Addison Ochsenbein and he didn’t have any new news on the grant but there is $50 million available to small cities so we are hopeful. He also recommended that we update our transportation plans as it helps to have newer ones available for grant applications.
Office Business: There are 15 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of September. Next meeting date has a conflict with the elections being held in our building so it will be moved to the following evening on Wednesday, November 8th. There was an incident when shutting off a citizens services due to delinquency and the Sheriff was notified. Councilor Tee Steadman will follow up with the Sheriff to see what was done.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Trenton Morrell for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of September 2023 in the amount of $17,102.43 in the general fund, $12,494.77 in the water fund, and $19,290.24 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $48,887.44. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and motion carried the council.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Tee Steadman that council adjourns from the October 2023 council meeting at 8:35 pm. Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer