City of Ute Regular Council Meeting August 11, 2025 – City Hall 6:00pm – Monday The Ute City Council met with Mayor Henschen, in regular, open session on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 6pm in the Council Chambers 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. The meeting was called to order at 6pm by Mayor Henschen. Pithan asked to strike item #8 as VFW will not be renewing their liquor license for now. Motion by JCarlson/Leitz to approve the agenda with #8 “Approval of Ute VFW License Application (Class C) pending dram shop review” removed. All Ayes. MC No visitors were present for the dog bite complaint. Council reviewed the formal written dog bite complaint from Emily Head. Motion by JCarlson/Leitz to declare that the dog meets the definition of a vicious dog according to Ute Municipal Code 4-1-8 and order the removal of the dog from City limits. All Ayes. MC Public Forum had no speakers. Mayor Henschen reported that one building permit had been approved: 620 Smith St (New Deck). Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson shared a general update. The section of 4th Street in front 402 E 4th St across from the park, will be closed on Friday August 15th for the Autism walk. The old Water Tower has been removed and ground restoration work is ongoing and will continue this fall. Windstream has been in discussion to lay fiber next year to each house. City Clerk Megan Peitsch presented the following financial reports for the month of July: Cash Report (Excel), Outstanding Transactions (Excel), Bank Reconciliation for Banks 1 and 3 (Excel), Utility Reconciliation, and tax liabilities. The conversion to Banyon is not yet complete. Utility bills were still processed in gWorks, while all General Ledger items went through Banyon. There was an issue with the bank setup in Banyon, so all financial reports are in Excel at this time until the history is combined and the reports fully setup. Treasurer’s report and Budget by Function reports are currently unavailable in any format as they require the history converted. Council will receive accounting software reports for the month of July once the conversion is complete. Budget is currently not exceeded in any category due to it being the beginning of the current fiscal year. The FY25 Street Finance Report was presented. Receipts for the month of July totaled: $86,911.10. 001 General $10,238.05; 110 Road Use Tax $3,692.46; 112 Employee Benefits $93.09; 121 Local Option Sales Tax $4,345.79; 600 Water $61,549.32; 601 Water Deposits $100.00; 610 Sewer $6,892.39. Motion by Gotto/Pithan to approve the consent agenda consisting of: Approval of July 2025 Bills and Payroll; Approval of City Council Minutes: 7/14/2025 Regular Meeting; Approval of July cash report (Excel), outstanding transactions, bank (Excel) and utility billing reconciliations, tax liabilities, and FY25 Street Finance Report. Treasurer’s report and budget by function will be presented next month once the reports are built in Banyon. All Ayes. MC Motion by Leitz/Gotto to approve the resolution approving the City of Ute assuming custody of the Ute Ambulance General Checking Account of the City of Ute, Iowa (RESOLUTION #2025-21). All Ayes. MC Motion by Gotto/JCarlson to approve the resolution designating public depository and authorizing withdrawal of municipal public (RESOLUTION #2025-22). Authorized signers for Ute Ambulance account will be Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem, and City Clerk. All Ayes. MC Motion by JCarlson/Pithan to approve the resolution regarding assessment of unpaid utility bill to property (RESOLUTION #2025-23). All Ayes. MC City Clerk Peitsch gave an update on the status of addressing the ambulance audit comments. Payroll and wage amendment is awaiting the Ambulance bylaws before writing. These will be at the next meeting. No action needed at this time. Motion by Pithan/Gotto to approve the payment of $500 to the Ute Community Club that was received as a donation from New Cooperative for the public purpose of partially reimbursing the paid balance of the bounce houses for Ute Fun Days at the Ute Park. All Ayes. MC Motion by Leitz/JCarlson to approve sending a nuisance abatement letter to the property owner of 103 S Riddle regarding violations. All Ayes. MC Discussion was held on the ongoing nuisance abatement for 119 E 1st St. City will begin nuisance abatement next week. No action taken. Motion by Leitz/JCarlson to approve a request from Sparetime to close a section of Main Street on Saturday Aug 16 for karaoke. All Ayes. MC Discussion was held on the possibility of removing the non-treated ash trees in the right-of-way all at once instead of over time. Clerk will bring information on a general obligation bond and what that impact would be. Discussion was held on the Ute Senior Center regarding the new meals provided and the Center potentially closing. City Clerk will obtain a copy of the contract at the bank and will reach out to her contacts regarding different options. Next regular council meeting is Monday September 8, 2025 at 6pm at City Hall. Motion by JCarlson/Kelm to adjourn at 6:50pm. All Ayes. MC Submitted by: Megan Peitsch, City Clerk July 2025 Claims For Aug Meeting Vendor, CommentAmount Eftps Irs, Vendor Liability$1,436.74 Ipers, Vendor Liability$1,106.79 Iowa Department Of Revenue, Vendor Liability$168.50 Wipco, Sewer Electric$40.00 Visual Edge, Copier Lease$92.50 Midamerican Energy, Electric$28.26 Incontrol Electronics, Fire Door Dues $17.00 Community Bank, Nsf Service Charge Water Bill $6.00 Wellmark, Health Insurance$1,148.59 Windstream, Phone/Internet$334.91 Windstream, Phone/Internet $77.15 Visual Edge, Copier Lease$20.06 Midamerican Energy, Electric $1,878.06 Usda, Loan 98491 Payment $2,578.00 Usda, Loan 98492 $2,565.00 New Cooperative Inc, Propane Contract Approved 7-14-25$2,310.00 Acs, Move Equipment Water Tower $3,528.67 Badger Meter, Hosting And Meter Service Agreement$799.49 Bomgaars, Supplies$223.23 Chn Garbage Service, Garbage Pickup$2,400.10 Foundation Analytical Lab, Water Testing$466.00 Iowa Dept Of Natural Resources, Npdes Wastewater Permit Fy26 $210.00 Iowa One Call, Water Locates$29.80 John Deere Financial, Tractor Parts$35.67 Mapleton Press, Publishing$125.76 Mark Haubirch, Park Ash Tree Treatment $2,541.00 Moores Portables & Pumping, Port-A-Pot $160.00 Ute Senior Citizens, Senior Meal Contract Aug 2025$140.00 Wex, Fuel $389.04 Accounts Payable$24,856.32 Payroll Checks$6,278.77 Total Disbursements$31,135.09 ****** General$14,633.23 Library Fund (Gen)$178.61 Road Use Tax$819.64 Employee Benefits$574.30 Water$12,762.94 Water Capital Project$19.75 Sewer$2,146.62 Total Funds$31,135.09 MP8-21-25
