February Council Minutes
February 1, 2022
Those Present: DeLoy Kunz, Greg Kunz, Trenton Morrell, Tee Steadman, Mayor Steve Waechtler, Maintenance Supervisor Shane Clark, City Clerk Lynette Smith, Thomas Hayes
Meeting called to order: 7:00 pm Invocation: Council President Greg Kunz
The Council entertained a motion from councilor Greg Kunz to approve the published agenda and was seconded by councilor DeLoy Kunz. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
The minutes from January 11, 2022, were read aloud by Clerk Smith. Councilor Tee Steadman made the motion to accept the minutes as read. Councilor Greg Kunz seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Keller Associates sent an email advising about the septage hauling and dumping. They said that our lagoons do have the capacity to accept the dumping and try it and see how the lagoons react. The Mayor suggested to allow it on a trial basis and to make sure it is filtered before dumping. Shane said he will ask about using a manhole in the wintertime because the road down to the ponds is really steep and difficult to maintain. Councilors would like to charge more than they paid to Paris. Councilor DeLoy Kunz made the motion to charge them $350 per load and to try it on a 6-month trial basis to see how our ponds react. Councilor Tee Steadman seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Thomas Hayes came before the council and apologized for his statements he made on FaceBook concerning the roads and almost being hit in the schoolbus. He did apologize the next day on his page and didn’t mean it to be directed to anyone personally but is just concerned with the safety of driving kids on the bus. He wondered what the cities policy is on plowing and removing slush off the roads. He felt like there were two days when it warmed up after the storms around Christmas that the slush should have been removed before it froze. The City does not have a policy for plowing slush but go out when there is 2” or more of snow accumulated. Councilor Tee Steadman mentioned how nice it is to drive on the highway that is bared off and everyone takes it for granted when you go off the highways and expect all the backroads to be bared off too. He said the ice melt that the highway uses gets on the vehicles and then drips off all the way up the roads and that creates ruts on the roads too. There are many factors about the condition of the roads and its not for lack of try from the City employee’s. It’s difficult to get out and plow before everyone starts driving on them too. The guys were commended for their efforts and are much appreciated despite the complaints. The Mayor and Council also commended Thom for coming to council to discuss things in person.
Councilor DeLoy Kunz asked if a building permit application was submitted up Stringtown and it was confirmed that they had given a building permit to the Peck’s. He also commended Shane and Alan for their work in the city and on the roads and that it is a hard line of work to try and keep anyone happy when plowing.
Councilor Tee Steadman said that he spoke with Officer Martinez and he has ordered some belly chains and leg irons to have on hand if he needs to arrest and transport anyone. They should be delivered later this week. Martinez is also working on getting a price for a better radio to use in the car so that other officers and dispatch can get a hold of him. He also would like to increase his hours to 55 hours per month to help do more patrolling. The council agreed to pay him for 55 hours instead of 50 per month.
Police Report: There were 20 contacts for the month of January.
Maintenance Report: Shane gave his report for the month of January and stated that he and Alan had a grave opening for Georgia Morrell, they fixed a sewer line at Jordan Rasmussen’s that had a tree root growing into it and they upgraded the blade on the plow.
Office Business: There are 18 delinquent water and sewer accounts for the month of January. Lynette said that the guys may need to do some digging to shut people off because some think we won’t shut them off in the winter and so they just don’t pay. The signs with the F-word have been noticed by more citizens around town and would like them taken down. It looks bad on our City and our community when you drive past them. The Mayor will go and visit with them to see if they will take them down and use other signs without the language. Lynette also noted that as the administrator of the FaceBook page that she will not approve any posts that will cause any controversy or give people a reason to complain about the City or it’s employee’s. The council agreed and the Mayor suggested trying to post and have others post things that are uplifting on the page and help turn peoples perspectives to happy thoughts. The banks don’t have the signature cards ready yet but when they do, Lynette will notify everyone to go in and sign.
The chair entertained a motion from Councilor Tee Steadman for the council to approve checks and vouchers for the month of January 2022 in the amount of $13,585.54 in the general fund, $37,675.85 in the water fund, and $79,374.24 in the sewer fund, with all funds totaling $130,635.63. Councilor Trenton Morrell 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 February 2022 council meeting at 8:05 pm. Councilor Trenton Morrell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion carried the council.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynette Smith
City Clerk-Treasurer