City of Ute Regular Council Meeting June 9, 2025 – City Hall 6:00pm – Monday The Ute City Council met with Mayor Henschen in regular, open session on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 6pm in the Council Chambers with the following council members present: Josh Gotto, Sue Kelm, Matt Leitz, Ryan Pithan. Absent: Jimmy Carlson. Also Present: City Clerk Megan Peitsch, Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson, Part Time Public Works Shannon Hahn, Deputy Clerk Denise Dunahoo, Custodian Micah Peitsch. The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Mayor Henschen. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to approve the agenda. All Ayes. MC Public Forum had no speakers. Mayor Henschen reported that two building permits had been approved: 209 E 2nd St – Screen room addition; 101 S Day St (New Water Tower) – addition of antenna equipment and small electric cabinet. Public Works Superintendent LCarlson shared a general update. Well Project continues and possible well locations were shared. Trees marked for removal in the right of way is expected to begin late June. Main St. will have signs at the entrances stating fresh asphalt and that motorcycles need to use kickstand pucks. Holes will be filled in the fall by the asphalt company. City Clerk Peitsch presented the following financial reports for the month of May: Cash Report, Treasurer’s Report, Outstanding Transactions, Budget by Function, Bank Reconciliation for Bank 1, and Tax Liabilities. Utility Reconciliation for May was also presented. Banyon conversation will occur on July 1. Final Audit Report for FY24 was presented. The Audit for FY25 is scheduled for late July. Receipts for the Month of May totaled: $63,152.73. 001 GENERAL $31,450.17; 110 ROAD USE TAX $3,805.61; 112 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS $932.59; 121 LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX $3,515.76; 600 WATER $17,211.25; 610 SEWER $6,237.35 Motion by Pithan/Kelm to approve the consent agenda consisting of: Approval of May 2025 Bills and Payroll; Approval of City Council Minutes: 5/12/2025 Regular Meeting; Approval of May cash report, treasurer’s report, outstanding transactions, budget by function, bank and utility billing reconciliations, and tax liabilities as presented by City Clerk; Approval of Sparetime Tobacco License. All Ayes. MC Motion by Pithan/Leitz to approve the resolution setting wages for employees for the City of Ute for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 (RESOLUTION #2025-14). FY2026 Wages: Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson $28.00/hr with $4.00 shift differential; City Clerk Megan Peitsch $25.00/hr, PT Public Works Shannon Hahn $13.00/hr, Deputy Clerk Denise Dunahoo $14.00/hr, Custodian Micah Peitsch $10.50/hr, City Council and Mayor are set by Ordinance and remain unchanged. All Ayes. MC Motion by Pithan/Kelm to approve the resolution to create a Personnel Committee. (RESOLUTION #2025-15). All Ayes. MC Motion by Gotto/Pithan to approve the resolution approving filling vacant positions to Mayor’s Committee Appointments for the 2025 Calendar Year for the Personnel Committee (RESOLUTION #2025-16). All Ayes. MC Motion by Pithan/Gotto to approve the resolution amending the Personnel Handbook (RESOLUTION #2025-17). All Ayes. MC Motion by Gotto/Leitz to approve the resolution approving a one-time amendment to vacation roll-over for calendar year 2026 (RESOLUTION #2025-18) All Ayes. MC Mayor Henschen introduced ORDINANCE 234: Amending the Code of Ordinances for the City of Ute, Iowa by amending Title IV, Mental and Physical Health, Chapter 1, Animal Control of the City of Ute, Iowa and Adding 4-2 Urban Chickens. Motion by Pithan/Leitz to approve the second reading in title only. Results of vote: Ayes: Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: JCarlson. Motion carried 4 -0-1. Motion by Pithan/Gotto to waive the third reading and place the ordinance on final passage. Ayes: Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: JCarlson. Motion carried 4-0-1. Motion by Pithan/Leitz to give final approval and direct ordinance to be published. Results of vote: Ayes: Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: JCarlson. Motion carried 4 -0-1. Mayor Henschen introduced ORDINANCE 235: Amending the Municipal Code for the City of Ute, Iowa by Adding a Chapter 10 to Title III Pertaining to Dangerous Buildings. Motion by Leitz/Pithan to approve the first reading in title only. Results of vote: Ayes: Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: JCarlson. Motion carried 4 -0-1. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to waive the second and third readings, and place the ordinance on final passage. Ayes: Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: JCarlson. Motion carried 4-0-1. Motion by Gotto/Pithan to give final approval and direct ordinance to be published. Results of vote: Ayes: Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Absent: JCarlson. Motion carried 4 -0-1. Motion by Leitz/Gotto to approve sending the presented letter in regards to the unpaid concrete customer invoice from 1/27/2025. All Ayes. MC Employee performance reviews were held in open session for the following employees: City Clerk Megan Peitsch, Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson, Part Time Public Works Shannon Hahn, Part Time Deputy Clerk Denise Dunahoo, City Hall Custodian Micah Peitsch. The new State fireworks law is now in effect. Our fireworks ordinance will need to be updated to include allowed hours for fireworks on July 3rd to be extended one hour to now state between the hours of 9am and 11pm. No action taken as state law will be followed. Ordinance will be updated in recodification. FY2024 Audit Comments were discussed and an action plan was created. Utility rate changes and payroll changes will be independently reviewed and signed by an elected official at the next council meeting following the change. Payroll reports at the council meeting will be signed by an elected official to provide historical verification that timecards were checked to match paid out hours. Journal edits will be signed by both clerks, and all journals from the previous month will be reviewed and signed off at each council meeting by an elected official. Clerk will attend June ambulance meeting to further discuss details of ambulance processes. Discussion was held on the old water tower removal and needed street closures in late July. No action taken. Motion by Leitz/Gotto to approve the water balance adjustment as presented for 500 S Monona Ave. All Ayes. MC Discussion was held on the follow-up for the nuisance abatement for 501 S Padley. This will be revisited next month. Quote for new server at City Hall was unavailable at meeting time and will be discussed at the next meeting. Next regular council meeting will be Monday, July 14, 2025 at 6pm at City Hall. Motion by Gotto/Leitz to adjourn at 7:19pm. All Ayes. MC Submitted by: Megan Peitsch, City Clerk Claims Report for May 2025 Vendor,ReferenceAmount Amazon Business, Night Walk Supplies$73.54 Badger Meter, Meter Hosting$31.49 Bomgaars, Supplies$593.50 Chn Garbage Service, Garbage Pick Up$3,329.17 Crary Huff, Legal Services$126.00 Eftps Irs, Fed/Fica Tax$1,519.82 Foundation Analytical Lab, Water Testing$37.50 Heartland Backflow Inc, Sewer Testing$170.00 Incontrol Electronics, Fire Door Dues$17.00 Iowa Dept Of Natural Resources,Operator Permits Fy26$120.00 Ipers, Ipers-Regula$1,151.78 M&E Plastic Repair Llc, Slide Repair$970.00 Mapleton Press, Publishing$138.51 Midamerican Energy, Electric$1,583.63 Monona County Landfill, Landfill Fees$8,450.00 New Cooperative Inc, Tank Rent Water Generator$442.21 Riteway, Ub Postcards$422.04 Iowa Department Of Revenue, Wet Tax May 2025$946.56 Iowa Department Of Revenue, State W/H Tax$168.36 Team Lab, Lagoon Supplies$962.50 Disbursing Officer, Usps, Post Office Repair$211.32 Usda, Loan 91-04 June 2025 $2,578.00 Usda, Loan 91-06 June 2025$2,565.00 Ute Senior Citizens, June Senior Meals Contract$140.00 Visual Edge, Copier Lease$92.50 Wellmark, Health Insurance$1,148.59 Wex, Fuel$993.48 Windstream, Phone/Internet$412.40 Wipco, Sewer Electric$40.00 Accounts Payable Total$31,334.90 Payroll Checks$5,685.84 ***** Report Total *****$37,020.74 General$22,373.32 LIBRARY FUND (GEN)$239.85 ROAD USE TAX$819.05 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS$574.30 WATER $9,151.07 SEWER $3,863.15 TOTAL FUNDS$37,020.74 MP6-19-25
