City of Ute Regular Council Meeting January 12, 2026 – City Hall 6:00pm – Monday The Ute City Council met with Mayor Henschen in regular, open session on Monday, January 12, 2026 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, Leanne Thies – Library. The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Mayor Henschen. Motion by Gotto/Pithan to approve the agenda as posted. All Ayes. MC Mayor Henschen declared this the time and place for the public hearing on the on the Not to Exceed $55,000 General Obligation Capital Loan Notes authorization of a Loan Agreement and the issuance of Notes to evidence the obligation of the City thereof and opened the public hearing at 6:00pm. No written correspondence or verbal comments were received. No comments were made during this time. Motion by JCarlson/Pithan to close the public hearing at 6:01pm. All Ayes. MC Motion by Gotto/Pithan to approve the resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action on the Not to Exceed $55,000 General Obligation Capital Loan Notes (RESOLUTION #2026-01). All Ayes. MC Motion by Leitz/Pithan to approve the resolution declaring an official intent under Treasury Regulation 1.150-2 to issue debt to reimburse the City for certain original expenditures paid in connection with specified Projects (RESOLUTION #2026-02). All Ayes. MC Library Board Member Leanne Thies presented a request on behalf of the Library Board to amend Library Ordinances 5-1-3 and 5-1-4.2 regarding the requirement of all board members to be residents of the City of Ute. The Board would like to have this changed to allow 2 members of the Library Board to reside within 15 miles of the City of Ute. Clerk will write an ordinance for vote to be presented at the February meeting. No speakers for public forum. Mayor Henschen presented a general report. No building permits were approved. Public Works Superintendent LCarlson gave a general report. Dead/Diseased tree removal in the right of ways is underway. City Clerk Peitsch presented the following December Financial Reports: Cash Report, Bank Reconciliations, Treasurer’s Fund Report, Outstanding Transactions, Budget by Function, Tax Liabilities, Monthly Check Listings, and UB Reconciliation. Receipts for the Month of December totaled: $48,027.70. FUND 001 General $14,054.29; 006 Library $920.00; 110 Road Use Tax $3,750.70; 121 Local Option Sales Tax $6,559.60; 600 Water $15,598.84; 601 Water Deposit $100.00; 602 Water Sinking $105.92; 603 Water Short Lived $307.51; 610 Sewer $6,630.84 Motion by Pithan/Gotto to approve the consent agenda consisting of: Approval of December 2025 Bills and Payroll; Approval of City Council Minutes: 12/08/2025 Regular Meeting; Approval of all presented financial reports; Yearly Resolutions: a resolution approving Mayor’s Committee Appointments for the 2026 Calendar Year (RESOLUTION #2026-03), a resolution setting mileage reimbursement rates for the 2026 calendar year (RESOLUTION #2026-04), a resolution authorizing City Clerk to pay warrants/checks prior to monthly regular council meetings for calendar year 2026 (RESOLUTION #2026-05), a resolution designating Financial Institutions for 2026 (RESOLUTION #2026-06), a resolution to approve the Red Flag Identity Theft Program (RESOLUTION #2026-07). All Ayes. MC Motion by JCarlson/Kelm to approve the Mayor signing the Crary Huff Law Firm updated engagement agreement. All Ayes. MC Motion by Leitz/Kelm to approve the resolution setting City Attorney Rate for Crary Huff Law Firm (RESOLUTION #2026-08). All Ayes. MC Motion by Pithan/Gotto to approve the resolution to authorize the transfer of certain funds during the Fiscal Year 2026 (RESOLUTION #2026-09). All Ayes. MC The FY27 Budget schedule was presented. No action was taken. A discussion on FY27 budget planning occurred. Discussion of the continued shortage in Sanitation occurred. A rate increase resolution passed in prior to 2023 was never implemented in the system. A possible sanitation (garbage/landfill) increase will be discussed and considered at the next regular meeting. No action was taken. The annual total wages for calendar year 2025 were as follows: City Clerk Megan Peitsch $29,078.76; Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson $59,137.75; Part Time Public Works Assistant Shannon Hahn $2,952.93; Deputy Clerk Denise White-Dunahoo $3,771.03; Custodian Micah Peitsch $927.27; Mayor James Henschen $1,000.00; Council Member Jimmy Carlson $600.00; Council Member Josh Gotto $625.00; Council Member Matt Leitz $675.00; Council Member Ryan Pithan $600.00; Council Member and Ambulance Sue Kelm $825.00; Ambulance Patti Gregerson $120.00; Ambulance Becky Miller $200.00; Ambulance Bryce Meeves $160.00; Ambulance Jennifer Points $160.00; Ambulance Lisa Pithan $40.00. TOTAL 2025 EMPLOYEE WAGES: $100,872.74. Motion by Gotto/Kelm to approve the reduction of sewer charge request for 321 S Lars for a water leak that did not enter the sewer. All Ayes. MC Pet License applications are due January 31, 2026. Forms are available outside City Hall and on the city website. Next Regular Council Meeting is Monday February 9, 2026 at 6pm at City Hall. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to adjourn at 7:06pm. All Ayes. MC Submitted by: Megan Peitsch, City Clerk December 2025 Claims For January Meeting Vendor, Description Amount Acco, Chemicals$523.80 Ampride Truck Plaza, Snow Plow Repair $504.89 Badger Meter, Meter Hosting $31.49 Bomgaars, Supplies $279.37 Chn Garbage Service, Garbage Pickup $2,400.10 Community Bank, Safety Deposit Box Rent $35.00 Crary Huff, Legal $315.00 Dunlap Plumbing & Heating, Post Office Furnance Repair$442.65 Eftps Irs, Vendor Liability $1,818.72 Foundation Analytical Lab, Water And Wastewater Testing $367.00 Incontrol Electronics, Fire Door Dues $17.00 Iowa Department Of Revenue, Vendor Liability $193.61 Iowa Department Of Revenue, Dec 2025 Wet Tax $793.73 Iowa Unemployment, Qtr 4 2025 Unemployment $23.63 Ipers, Vendor Liability $1,200.66 Lonnie Carlson, Mileage And Supplies Reimbursement $140.82 Mapleton Press, Publishing $165.58 Megan Peitsch, Mileage Reimbursement $42.00 Metering & Technology Solution, Water Meter Supplies $2,335.32 Midamerican Energy, Electric $2,108.79 Monona County Landfill, Jan - June 2026 Assessment Landfill $8,450.00 New Cooperative Inc, Diesel $934.24 New Cooperative Inc, Fire Station Service $79.50 North American Truck & Trailer, Snow Blade Repair$705.80 Quill, Office Supplies$129.35 Auditor Of The State, Fy2025 Audit $23,943.00 Team Lab, Lagoon Supplies$962.50 Usda, Loan 98491 Jan 2026 Payment $2,578.00 Usda, Loan 28492 Jan 2026 Payment $2,565.00 Ute Senior Citizens, Jan 2026 Senior Meal Contract $140.00 Visual Edge, Copier Lease $97.78 Wellmark, Health Insurance $1,148.59 Wex, Fuel$331.29 Windstream, Phone/Internet$411.73 Wipco, Sewer Electric $40.00 Accounts Payable$56,255.94 Payroll Checks $7,034.59 Total Disbursements$63,290.53 ********** General $47,178.27 Library $195.63 Water $11,234.78 Sewer $3,281.73 Road Use $825.83 Employee Benefits $574.29 Total All Funds $63,290.53 MP1-22-26
