City of Ute Regular Council Meeting May 12, 2025 – City Hall 6:00pm – Monday The Ute City Council met with Mayor Henschen in regular, open session on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 6pm in the Council Chambers with the following council members present: Jimmy Carlson, Sue Kelm, Matt Leitz, Ryan Pithan. Absent: Josh Gotto. Also Present: City Clerk Megan Peitsch, Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson. The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Mayor Henschen. Motion by JCarlson/Leitz to approve the agenda. All Ayes. MC Public Forum had no speakers. Mayor Henschen reported that no building permits had been approved and a building permit from Nextlink for equipment on the new water tower was under review. Public Works Superintendent LCarlson shared a general update. JEO should be starting the well project work this month. Wells 3 and 6 are showing some concerning signs and Sargent Drilling is being called to test the wells. The ballpark concession building has been repaired and painted. City Clerk Peitsch presented the following financial reports for the month of April: Cash Report, Treasurer’s Report, Outstanding Transactions, Budget by Function, Bank Reconciliations for Banks 1, 2, and 3, and Tax Liabilities. Utility Reconciliation for April was also presented. Peitsch brought attention the $30 reduction to the approved claims list from last meeting. The claims published in the newspaper minutes contain the correct claims list. The FY24 audit was reviewed and signed by the City. Awaiting the final report from the state auditor’s office. Receipts for the month of April totaled: $103,794.38. 001 General $68,612.45; 006 Library $36.25; 110 Road Use $3,954.80; 112 Employee Benefits $5,684.77; 121 Local Option Sales Tax $3,748.92; 600 Water $15,482.56; 601 Water – Deposits $100.00; 610 Sewer $6,174.63. Motion by Pithan/Leitz to approve the consent agenda consisting of: Approval of April 2025 Bills and Payroll; Approval of City Council Minutes: 4/14/2025 Regular Meeting, 4/21/2025 Special Meeting; Approval of April cash report, treasurer’s report, outstanding transactions, budget by function, bank and utility billing reconciliations as presented by City Clerk; Approval of Ampride II Ute Tobacco License. All Ayes. MC Motion by Leitz/JCarlson to approve the resolution authorizing the transfer of certain funds at the end of fiscal year 2025 (RESOLUTION #2025 -13). 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 Leitz/Kelm to approve the first reading in title only. Results of Vote: Ayes - JCarlson, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays - None. Absent - Gotto. Motion carried 4-0-1. Discussion was held on new trees in the right of way. No action taken. No sealed bids were received for the library desk. Discussion was held on how to dispose of the desk. Motion by Pithan/Kelm to donate the desk to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ute. All Ayes. MC Motion by Pithan/Kelm to approve the reduction of sewer charges request from Advanced Crop Solutions for a water leak that did not enter the sewer. All Ayes. MC Motion by Leitz/Pithan to approve sending violation letters for residents with unregistered animals. All Ayes. MC Motion by JCarlson/Kelm to approve adding a $25 late fee to the unpaid crushed concrete customer invoice from 1/27/25. All Ayes. MC Discussion was held on procedure for unfinished or changed building permits. No action taken. Discussion was held on adding a dangerous building ordinance. Clerk will add the ordinance to the next meeting. Discussion was held on the new supreme court ruling for performance reviews. Clerk will add a resolution creating a personnel committee for the next meeting. Motion by Leitz/Kelm to adopt new performance review metric form. All Ayes. MC Discussion on wages for FY26 was held. Motion by Pithan/Leitz to have a 7.5% wage increase for PW Superintendent and City Clerk, rounded to the nearest whole dollar; and a 0.50 cent increase for Deputy Clerk, Part Time PW Assistant, and City Hall Custodian listed on the wage resolution at the next meeting. Results of Vote: Ayes - Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays - None. Absent - Gotto. Abstain – JCarlson, Conflict of Interest. MC 3-0-0-1 Discussion was held on a one time increase to vacation roll-over. Clerk will add a resolution for this one time roll-over to the next meeting. Clerk presented the 2018 Council Code of Ethics and the need for updated signatures. All council members in attendance and Mayor signed. Gotto will need to sign at a later date. Concerns have been raised about the upcoming switch to gWorks Cloud. Council reviewed the proposals and 5 year price comparisons between Banyon and gWorks. Motion by Leitz/Pithan to approve switching from gWorks accounting software systems to Banyon software systems. All Ayes. MC The City of Ute has hired Triple C Pest Control to spray for mosquitos starting Tuesday May 20 just before dusk, weather permitting. Spraying will continue every Tuesday for 16 weeks. Call City Hall to be added to the 2025 pre-spray notification list. City Hall will be closed Monday May 26, 2025 for Memorial Day Next Regular Council Meeting is Monday June 9, 2025 at 6pm at City Hall. Motion by JCarlson/Leitz to adjourn at 7:24pm. All Ayes. MC Submitted by: Megan Peitsch, City Clerk April Claims Report For May Meeting Vendor, Reference Amount Acco, Water Chemicals $835.90 Badger Meter, Meter Hosting$31.49 Barco, Street Paint$347.15 Bc’s Ampride Truck Plaza, Fire Dept Fuel$192.78 Bomgaars, Supplies$128.03 Chn Garbage Service, Garbage Pick Up$2,400.10 Cory Abbott, Ballfield Bldg Repair$950.00 Crary Huff, Legal Services$1,974.00 Denison Do It Best Hardware, Ballfield Bldg Paint$119.97 Eftps Irs, Fed/Fica Tax$1,532.64 Foundation Analytical Lab, Water Testing$37.50 Incontrol Electronics, Fire Door Dues$17.00 Ipers, Ipers-Regula$1,149.57 Jessen Automotive, Fire Air Filter$76.98 Lonnie Carlson, Reimbursement$155.88 Mac’s Chevrolet, Inc, Repair$9.98 Mapleton Press, Publishing $167.24 Midamerican Energy, Electric $1,688.00 New Cooperative Inc, Sweeper Oil$107.80 Iowa Department Of Revenue, April 2025 Wet Tax$868.73 Iowa Department Of Revenue, State W/H Tax$174.51 Storey Kenworthy-Matt Parrott, Checks And Notices$997.13 Usda, Loan 91-04 May 2025$2,578.00 Usda, Loan 91-06 May 2025$2,565.00 Usps, Postage$9.68 Ute Senior Citizens, May Senior Meals Contract$140.00 Visual Edge, Copier Lease$24.86 Wellmark, Health Insurance$1,148.59 Windstream, Phone/Internet $412.40 Wipco, Sewer Electric$40.00 Accounts Payable Total$20,880.91 Payroll Checks$5,777.89 ***** Report Total *****$26,658.80 General $12,372.18 Library Fund (Gen) $186.34 Road Use Tax $820.37 Employee Benefits $574.30 Water$9,955.96 Sewer$2,749.65 Total Funds$26,658.80 MP5-22-25
