City of Ute Regular Council Meeting September 8, 2025 – City Hall 6:00pm – Monday The Ute City Council met with Mayor Henschen in regular, open session on Monday, September 8, 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 (via phone due to IRWA conference), and citizen Norman Carlson for public forum. The meeting was called to order at 6pm by Mayor Henschen. Motion Gotto/Leitz to approve the agenda. All Ayes. MC. Barbie Carstensen was not present to speak. No discussion or action. Public Forum had one speaker: Norman Carlson – grass clippings on sidewalks/streets. Mayor Henschen gave a general update on nuisance abatement progress. Public Works Superintendent Lonnie Carlson shared a general update. He is currently at the Iowa Rural Water (IRWA) conference in Okoboji. The City hosted a training recently and it went very well. City Clerk Megan Peitsch presented the following financial reports for the month of July that are now processed in Banyon to compare to the Excel reports presented at the last meeting: Cash Report, Bank Reconciliations Checking and Water CD, Treasurer’s Report, and Budget by Function. The following financial reports for the month of August were also presented: Cash Report, Bank Reconciliation for Checking, Treasurer’s Report, Budget by Function, and UB Reconciliation. UB reconciliation was done in gWorks as UB was tracked in both gWorks and Banyon for this month. UB reconciliation will be different in Banyon and Peitsch is working on creating a new process and documentation. Receipts for the month of August totaled: $161,224.06 ; 001 GENERAL $7,544.82; 110 ROAD USE TAX $3,865.36; 121 LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX $3,040.05; 303 WATER TOWER PROJECT $122,435.81; 600 WATER $17,4783.98, 601 WATER DEPOSITS ($100.00); 610 SEWER $6,954.04. Motion by Pithan/JCarlson to remove the “July 2025 Ambulance Bills” from the consent agenda approval as there were no bills to approve. Bill approval and reconciliation will start with August statement. All Ayes. MC. Motion by Pithan/Leitz to approve the consent agenda consisting of: Approval of Aug 2025 Bills and Payroll; Approval of City Council Minutes: 8/11/2025 Regular Meeting; Approval of July Banyon cash report, August cash report, outstanding transactions, July Banyon bank reconciliations, August bank and utility billing reconciliations, tax liabilities, July and August Budget by Function, and July and August Treasurer’s Report; Approval of Sparetime Liquor Application (Class C). All Ayes. MC. Mayor Henschen introduced ORDINANCE 236: AN ORDINANCE ADDING TO THE UTE MUNICIPAL CODE, 2017, TITLE II-POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 11 – DEBT SET OFF PROGRAM. Motion by Leitz/Gotto to approve the first reading in title only. Results of vote: Ayes: JCarlson, Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Motion carried 5-0. Motion by Pithan/JCarlson to waive the second and third readings, and place the ordinance on final passage. Ayes: JCarlson, Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Motion carried 5-0. Motion by JCarlson/Pithan to give final approval and direct ordinance to be published. Results of vote: Ayes: JCarlson, Gotto, Kelm, Leitz, Pithan. Nays: None. Motion carried 5-0. Motion by Leitz/JCarlson to approve the resolution setting Ambulance Stipends for FY2026 (RESOLUTION #2025-24) FY2026 Stipends are set at $40 per call for the following members: Patti Gregerson, Mona Pithan, James Henschen, Dave Gregerson, Tyson Goslar, Robbie Gustin, Angie Kroll, Tina Bernholtz, Jennifer Points, Brent Kelm, Katelyn Leisinger, Whitney Gustin, Ashley Seieroe, Carter Huisinga, Lisa Pithan. Bryce Meeves $40 per call plus one extra stipend of $40 per month for ambulance maintenance. Becky Miller $40 per call plus one extra stipend of $40 per month for billing work. Sue Kelm $40 per call plus one extra stipend of $40 per month for state run reporting. Results of Vote: Ayes: JCarlson, Gotto, Leitz. Nays: None. Abstain due to conflict of interest: Kelm, Pithan. Motion carried 3-0-2. Motion by Pithan/Gotto to proceed with the General Obligation Loan process for the removal of ash trees right of way. All Ayes. MC. Discussion was held on an update regarding last month’s Senior Citizen Center concern. The City is not listed in any contracts and the senior center is handing the discussions with Connections. Motion by Gotto/JCarlson to approve two additional weeks of mosquito spraying to finish off the season. Spraying for the two additional weeks will be on Monday 9/15 and Monday 9/22 after dark. All Ayes. MC. Discussion was held on the current practice of calling disconnect notices, extensions, and the delays it causes in the office for end of the month closeouts, bill printing, and mailing. Motion by JCarlson/Pithan to approve following our municipal code and having the mailed disconnect notice be the only notification with no phone calls and shut off at 9am in the system to allow for timely processing. All Ayes. MC. Clerk will include this decision on website, Facebook, and written on disconnect notices. Motion by Pithan/JCarlson to approve the Public Works Superintendent going with the lowest bid for the street restoration projects under $10,000. Projects include: Old water tower corner, section of Main St blow-out, street repair near 220 E 6th, street repair near 420 E 4th St. All Ayes. MC. Motion by Gotto/Kelm to send a letter to the property owner of W 2nd St/Briggs Ave/Railway St regarding weeds, right of way obstruction, and junk vehicles. All Ayes. MC Discussion was held on chickens. Letters will be going out to known properties with chickens that do not have a permit. Website and Facebook will also have information. All residents will be given 30 days from the date of the letters and website posting to submit their permit applications to avoid fines. Next regular council meeting is Monday, October 13, 2025 at 6pm at City Hall. Motion by Kelm/Leitz to adjourn at 6:58pm. All Ayes. MC Submitted By: Megan Peitsch, City Clerk Aug 2025 Claims For Sept Meeting Vendor, Comment Amount Acs, Trend Micro 1Yr/Remote Access$303.96 Amazon Business, Supplies$136.16 Babel, Jason, Utility Billing Deposit Refund$29.96 Badger Meter, Meter Hosting $31.38 Chn Garbage Service, Garbage Pick-Up $2,400.10 Community Club, Reimburse Bouncy House From Donation$500.00 Crary Huff, Legal $1,248.00 Eftps Irs, Aug 2025 Fica $2,630.07 Foundation Analytical Lab, Water Testing $682.50 Goslar Construction, Water Tower Removal $25,000.00 Incontrol Electronics, Fire Door Dues $17.00 Iowa Department Of Revenue, July 2025 Wet Tax $1,089.62 Iowa Department Of Revenue, Aug 2025 State W/H $299.70 Ipers, Aug 2025 Ipers $1,956.42 Jeo Consulting Group, Well Engineering Per$13,275.00 Knee, Ben, Utility Billing Credit Refund $1.37 Lansink Repair And Hardware, Row Tree Removal $10,860.00 Mapleton Press, Publishing $129.95 Marx Dust Control, Oil Road$2,550.00 Metering & Technology Solution, Beacon Conversion $1,736.00 Midamerican Energy, Electric $1,861.53 Miller, Madison, Ub Dep Refund Check Reissue $100.00 Monona County Treasurer, Drainage Tax Fy26 $144.00 Moores Portables & Pumping, Port-A-Pot Aug 2025 $160.00 Stinn Backhoe & Plumbing, Fire Hydrant Extensions $360.00 Usda, Loan Wep-1-1 Sept 2025 Payment $2,578.00 Usda, Loan Wep-2-1 Sept 2025 Payment$2,565.00 Usps, Certified Letters$20.96 Ute Senior Citizens, Sept 2025 Senior Meal Contract $140.00 Visual Edge, Copier Lease$97.78 Wellmark, Health Insurance $1,148.59 Wex, Fuel$282.31 Windstream, Phone/Internet $412.06 Wipco, Sewer Electric$40.00 Accounts Payable$74,787.42 Payroll Checks$6,379.64 Total Disbursements$81,167.06 ******** General$28,075.23 Library Fund (Gen)$175.83 Road Use Tax $819.31 Employee Benefits $574.30 Water$35,584.43 Water Deposits$100.00 Water Capital Project $13,905.00 Sewer$1,932.96 Total Funds$81,167.06 MP9-18-25
