City of Ute REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING – AMENDED MINUTES – Words removed are crossed out and words added are underlined. Wednesday, January 10, 2024 – City Hall 7:00 p.m. The Ute City Council met with Mayor Henschen in regular, open session on Wednesday, January 10 at 7pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall with the following council members present: Jimmy Carlson, Josh Gotto, Sue Kelm, Matt Leitz, Ryan Pithan. Also Present: City Clerk Megan Peitsch, Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson, Hank Buschmann, Gary Goslar. The regular meeting on Monday January 8, 2024 was postponed due to inclement weather. The agenda was reposted Sunday evening (1/7/24) with the new date and time as well as a sign stating the reason for the postponement. The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by Mayor Henchen. Motion by Gotto/JCarlson to approve the agenda. All Ayes. MC Public Forum had one speaker: Hank Buschmann regarding nuisance and traffic concerns. Mayor Henschen stated that no building permits were approved. He will be working on presenting some ideas to City Council at a subsequent meeting regarding rental property standards common with other cities. Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson gave reports on the Water Tower Project and the Iowa DNR Inspection for the Lagoon. In the coming months, the City will be sending out a letter like it has in the past regarding water softener usage. City Clerk gave reports on the financials for the City, current tax filing status, and utility billing. The Annual Total salaries from calendar year 2023 were as follows: Council Member Jimmy Carlson $800.00, Public Works Supervisor Lonnie Carlson $57,004.57, Council Member Josh Gotto $650.00, Mayor Richard Hageman $1,225.00, Public Works Part-Time Shannon Hahn $3,159.00, Council Member Matt Leitz $800.00, Council Member Becky Miller $675.00, Assistant to City Clerk/City Clerk Megan Peitsch $16,155.50, City Clerk Leah Schwery $27,664.50, City Hall Custodian Tanis Watke $834.00 Motion by Kelm/Gotto to approve the resolution approving Mayor’s Committee Appointments for the 2024 Calendar Year. All Ayes. MC (RESOLUTION # 2024-01) Motion by Kelm/Leitz to approve the resolution setting mileage reimbursement rates for the 2024 calendar year. All Ayes. MC (RESOLUTION # 2024-02) Motion by Gotto/Pithan to approve the resolution authorizing the City Clerk to pay warrants/checks prior to monthly regular council meetings for years 2024-2025. All Ayes. MC (RESOLUTION # 2024-03) Motion by JCarlson/Pithan to approve the resolution designating financial institutions. All Ayes. MC (RESOLTUTION # 2024-04) Motion by Pithan/ Gotto to approve the resolution approving and authorizing public fund investment policy. All Ayes. MC. (RESOLUTION # 2024-05) Motion by Gotto/Kelm to approve the resolution approving the Ute Procurement Policy. All Ayes. MC. (RESOLUTION # 2024-06) Motion by Leitz/JCarlson to approve the resolution approving and adopting the Red Flags Identity Theft Program. All Ayes. MC. (RESOLUTION # 2024-07) Motion by JCarlson/Gotto to approve the resolution approving the conflict of interest policy. All Ayes. MC. (RESOLUTION # 2024-08) Motion by Gotto/Leitz to approve the resolution to designate signers with the authority to open account(s), to deposit and withdraw funds, and to open and have access to safe deposit box(es) at Community Bank. Signers designated are Mayor Henschen, Mayor Pro-tem Ryan Pithan, and City Clerk Megan Peitsch. All Ayes. MC. (RESOLUTION # 2024-09) Motion by Kelm/Gotto to approve renewal of the safe deposit lease at Community Bank. All Ayes. MC. Motion by Gotto/Pithan to approve the SIMPCO signature authorization for CEO change to be signed. All Ayes. MC. Motion by Carlson/Pithan to approve the signing and sending of a termination letter to employee Tanis Watke. All Ayes. MC. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to hire Michelle Carlson as part-time custodian for City Hall for up to 2 hours a week at a rate of $12.00 an hour. JCarlson abstained from the discussion and vote. Ayes-Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nayes – None. Absent – None. Abstain – JCarlson. MC. Motion by Pithan/Carlson to approve and sign the contract with the Ute Senior Center to provide a monthly payment of $140.00 to pay certain utility bills in order to support the public good of providing meals to senior residents. All Ayes. MC. Motion by Gotto/JCarlson to de-obligate FEMA Grant DR4421 – PW1480 – City of Ute - Management Cost. All Ayes. MC. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to approve sponsoring the Ute Town and Country grant application for Monona County Foundation to remodel bathrooms to be more accessible. JCarlson abstained from discussion and voting. Ayes – Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nayes- None. Absent – None. Abstain – JCarlson. MC. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to approve $250 in dues to Monona County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP). Kelm abstained from vote. Ayes – JCarlson, Gotto, Leitz, Pithan. Nayes – None. Absent – None. Abstain – Kelm. MC. Motion by Leitz/Gotto to move General Fund CD at UBI maturing 1/17/2024 to Community Bank for a 9 Month CD at 5.4% All Ayes. MC. Motion by Gotto/Pithan to reinvest the Water CD, cashed out last month in the amount of $70,127.98, at UBI for a 5-month term at 4.85%. A shorter term was needed as Water Fund CD may be needed for Water Tower bills depending on timing of grant money received. All Ayes. MC. Mayor Henschen introduced Ordinance 226: Ordinance to Amend the Ute Municipal Code, 2017, Title VI – Physical Environment Chapter 5 Utilities -Billing Charges, Section 6-5-8 WATER RATES. Motion by JCarlson/Gotto to approve the second reading in title only. Results of vote: Ayes: JCarlson, Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Miller, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried 5-0-0. Mayor Henschen introduced Ordinance 227: Ordinance to Amend the Ute Municipal Code, 2017, Title VI – Physical Environment Chapter 5 Utilities – Billing Charges, Section 6-5-10 RATE OF SEWER RENT AND MANNER OF PAYMENT. Motion by Leitz/Pithan to approve the second reading in title only. Results of vote: Ayes: JCarlson, Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Miller, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: None. Motion carried 5-0-0. Mayor Henschen introduced Ordinance 228: Ordinance to Amend the Ute Municipal Code, 2017, Title II – Policy and Administration, Chapter 3 Powers and Duties of Municipal Officers, Section 2-3-10 POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. Motion by Leitz/Pithan to approve the second reading in title only. Results of vote: Ayes: Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Miller, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain – JCarlson. Motion carried 5-0-0-1. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to approve the consent agenda consisting of: approval of December 2023 Bills and Payroll; approval of City Council Minutes of 12/4/2023 Regular Meeting; approval of Pay App 4 Group A (Maguire Iron); approval of Pay App 4 Group B (King Construction), approval of Mayor signing GAX draw #6 from CDBG. Ayes- JCarlson, Gotto, Kelm, Leitz. Nayes – None. Absent – None. Abstain – Pithan. MC. Discussion was held on recodifying the Ute Municipal Code. City Clerk will present list of updates needed and quotes on cost at the next regular meeting. Discussion was held on the Public Works Pay Policy. City Clerk will write up an amendment to the personnel policy handbook and resolution adding a shift differential for weekdays 7pm – 7am and weekends in the amount of $10 for the Public Works Supervisor to be presented and voted on at the next regular meeting. Discussion was held on scheduling a city council work session for the FY25 budget. The City Council will hold a work session on Wednesday January 24, 2024 at 7pm at City Hall. This is an open session meeting that will have no action taken at it and only the FY25 budget as a discussion item. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to move to Closed Session for a legal discussion with legal representation. All Ayes. MC. John Hines from Crary Huff law firm was present by phone due to inclement weather. Closed pursuant to Code of Iowa §21.5(1) to discuss strategy with legal counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent and where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the government. City Council entered into closed session at 8:48pm. The detailed minutes and recording have been sealed in accordance with Iowa Code 25.1(5). City Council returned to open session at 9:14pm. Pet License applications due January 31, 2023 Drainage Election – Saturday January 20, 2024, 9am – Noon at City Hall Next Regular Meeting set for Monday, February 5, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall Motion by Gotto/JCarlson to adjourn at 9:15pm. All Ayes. MC. Submitted By: Megan Peitsch, City Clerk MP4-4-24
