City of Mount Vernon
June 3, 2024
City Council Minutes
213 1st Street NW
Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314
The Mount Vernon City Council met June 3, 2024, at City Hall, 213 1st Street NW, Mount Vernon, IA. A Zoom option was available. The following Council members were present: Andresen, Engel, Rose, West and Tuerler
Call to Order. At 6:30 p.m. Mayor Thomas M. Wieseler called the meeting to order.
Agenda Additions/Agenda Approval. Motion made by Tuerler, seconded by Andresen to approve the Agenda. Motion carries.
Consent Agenda. Motion made by West, seconded by Engel to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carries.
Approval of City Council Minutes – May 20, 2024 Regular Council Meeting
Approval of Cigarette License – Gary’s Foods
Public Hearing
Public Hearing for an Ordinance Amending Chapter 99.02 Rate of the Mount Vernon Municipal Code. Motion made by Rose, seconded by West to remove this item from the table. Motion carries. Mayor Wieseler opened the public hearing at 6:33 p.m. The amendment to Chapter 99.02 would establish a sewer rate increase of 8% beginning July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. A 3% increase would then continue on July 1, 2026 until June 30, 2030. Additional work will need to be completed at the sewer treatment plant and may cause deviations to the recommended increases in the future. Resident Keith Heubner voiced concern about the City being fiscally responsible and asked Council to stop spending money on things that aren’t needed until sewer, water and roads are fixed. Mayor Wieseler closed the public hearing at 6:36 p.m. Council then acted on the first reading of Ordinance #5-20-2024A.
Public Hearing for and Ordinance Amending Chapter 92.02 Usage Rate of the Mount Vernon Municipal Code. Motion made by Rose, seconded by West to remove this item from the table. Motion carries. Mayor Wieseler opened the public hearing at 6:42 p.m. This amendment extends the annual 3% increase in water rates until June 30, 2030. The increase is needed to repay bonds for the water meter replacement project. Hearing no public comment, Mayor Wieseler closed the public hearing at 6:43 p.m. Council then acted on the first reading of Ordinance #5-20-2024B.
Ordinance Approval/Amendment
Ordinance #5-20-2024A: Amending Chapter 99.02 Rate of the Mount Vernon Municipal Code. Motion made be Rose, seconded by Andresen to remove the item from the table. Motion carries. Motion made by West, seconded by Rose to approve the first reading of Ordinance #5-20-2024A. Roll call all yes. Ordinance passes on its first reading.
Ordinance #5-20-2024B: Amending Chapter 92.02 Usage Rate of the Mount Vernon Municipal Code Motion made be West, seconded by Rose to remove the item from the table. Motion carries. Motion made by Tuerler, seconded by Engel to approve the first reading of Ordinance #5-20-2024B. Roll call all yes. Ordinance passes on its first reading.
Resolutions for Approval
Resolution #6-3-2024A: Ordering Construction of Certain Public Improvements, Approving Preliminary Plans, and Fixing a Date for Hearing Thereon and Taking Bids Therefore for Improvements Known as the Glenn Street Extension. Nosbisch noted that the resolution number on the agenda was incorrect and it should be 6-3-2024A. This resolution outlines the public hearing and bid dates for the Glenn Street extension, which is part of the CHI low-income senior housing project. Motion made by West, seconded by Andresen to approve Resolution #6-3-2024A. Roll call all yes. Resolution passes.
Resolution #5-20-2024D: Approving the Inclusion of Jewish American History Month as a Recognized Commemorative Flag Within the City of Mount Vernon Display of Flags Policy. Councilperson Andresen asked for reconsideration of this resolution. According to Chapter 17.03 (2.), the City Council may override the mayor’s veto within thirty (30) days of said veto. Should the City Council choose to pass resolution #5-20-2024D again, it would need to pass by a two-thirds (four) vote and not a super majority of the members present. Wiesler again stated his reason for vetoing the resolution and felt that the City should wait until the policy had been in place for a year before any changes were made. Council person Andresen gave a brief history of Judaism and said it was an ethnicity, not just a religion. He also felt that the City did not need to wait a year as there was nothing in the policy that stated a timeframe. Former resident Janice Binder spoke in favor of the inclusion of the Jewish American History flag to the policy and resident Keith Heubner spoke against the flag policy as a whole and felt it causes divisiveness in the community. Motion made by Andresen, seconded by Tuerler to override the Mayor’s veto and approve Resolution #5-20-2024D. Roll call voting yes: Rose, Engel and Andresen. Voting no: West, Tuerler. Resolution fails, veto stands.
Mayoral Proclamation
Proclamation Recognizing and Proclaiming the Month of June as Pride Month in Support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Community.
Old Business
Discussion and Consideration of Sculpture Trail Funding Request – Council Action as Needed (tabled on May 6, 2024). Staff will be meeting with the capital project committee of the Park and Rec Board on June 4, 2024. The committee hopes to finalize a recommendation to the entire board in time for their June 11, 2024 meeting. Should the Park and Rec Board reach a consensus at their meeting, the Council could proceed with removing this item from the table on June 17, 2024.
Motions for Approval
Consideration of Claims List – Motion to Approve. Motion made by Rose, seconded by Tuerler to approve the Claims List. Motion carries.
UMB BANK 2018 GO LOAN NOTE 517,917.50
UMB BANK 2019 GO LOAN NOTE 235,787.50
UMB BANK 2014 GO LOAN NOTE 213,862.50
UMB BANK 2022 GO LOAN NOTE 123,238.75
PAYROLL CLAIMS 122,044.48
UMB BANK 2013A GO LOAN NOTE 96,783.75
IOWA FINANCE AUTHORITY SRF BOND PAYMENT 94,610.00
MIDWEST DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TIF REBATE-SMH PHASE 1 93,472.04
JEO CONSULTING DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE-LOST III 68,702.00
BBAJ INC TIF REBATE-STONEBROOK PH 1 53,757.17
BBAJ INC TIF REBATE-STONEBROOK PH 3 38,357.83
BBAJ INC TIF REBATE-STONEBROOK PH 2A 28,022.93
MIDWEST DEVELOPMENT COMPANY TIF REBATE-SMH PHASE 2 9,698.89
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC 4TH STREET NW RECONSTRUCTION 8,214.01
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC COTTONWOOD LMI PROJECT 7,502.00
TYLER TECHNOLOGIES SOFTWARE SUPPORT-ALL DEPTS 7,367.62
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC 2022 SANI SEWER INVESTIGATION 7,191.44
ALLIANT ENERGY ENERGY USAGE-SEW 4,464.02
LINN CO-OP OIL CO FUEL-PW 4,246.35
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC REMOTE READ METER PROJECT 2,831.11
SANDRY FIRE SUPPLY LLC AIR PACK TESTING-FD 2,436.75
CURTIS ENGLISH PORTABLE RR RENTALS-P&REC 2,115.00
MOUNT VERNON ACE HARDWARE SUPPLIES-ALL DEPTS 2,073.21
RICHARD BURROUGHS CEMETERY MAINT 2,020.00
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC PW STORAGE BUILDINGS 1,634.00
MOUNT VERNON, CITY OF PERPETUAL CARE-CEM LOT SALES 1,260.00
SUE ASTLEY RETAINING WALL/SUPPLIES-MVHPC 1,122.56
MOUNT VERNON, CITY OF START UP CASH-K9 GOLF OUTING 1,000.00
CAUSE TEAM UNIFORMS-POOL 990.00
AHLERS & COONEY P.C. LEGAL FEES-2024 GO BONDS 982.50
CATERPILLAR FINANCIAL SERVICES GENERATOR-PD 949.39
NIGHT SHIFT LLC CLEANING SERVICE-CITY HALL 904.15
NIGHT SHIFT LLC CLEANING SERVICE-PD 867.84
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SYSTEMS INSURANCE CLAIMS-ALL DEPTS 744.96
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC STREET MISC ENGINEERING 708.50
HAWKEYE FIRE & SAFETY EXTINGUISHER MAINT-ALL DEPTS 622.50
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC KWIK STAR SITE PLAN 537.00
MECHANICSVILLE TELEPHONE PHONE/INTERNET-LBC 447.07
MEDIACOM PHONE/INTERNET-CITY HALL 423.73
TASC FSA ADMIN FEE-ALL DEPTS 420.56
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SYSTEMS INSURANCE CLAIMS-ALL DEPTS 399.46
MECHANICSVILLE TELEPHONE PHONE/INTERNET-PD 378.62
AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-POOL 373.71
CAUSE TEAM UNIFORMS-ALL DEPTS 369.50
MEDIACOM PHONE/INTERNET-SEW 349.40
AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-POOL 334.18
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SYSTEMS INSURANCE CLAIMS-ALL DEPTS 330.00
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY TRAINING-ALL DEPTS 320.00
IOWA PRISON INDUSTRIES SIGNS-RUT 318.76
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC LBC GENERATOR 316.50
MEDIACOM PHONE/INTERNET-PW 315.22
KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS MAINT PLAN/COPIES-P&A 282.81
BAUMAN AND COMPANY UNIFORMS-ALL DEPTS 250.79
CENTRAL IOWA DISTRIBUTING SUPPLIES-POOL 222.04
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC CITY GENERAL ENGINEERING 220.00
BAUMAN AND COMPANY UNIFORMS-ALL DEPTS 204.00
RC TECH CAMERA SERVICE-SW 186.50
US CELLULAR CELL PHONE-P&REC,WAT,SEW 166.90
CAUSE TEAM UNIFORMS-ALL DEPTS 160.00
RYAN CROCK UNIFORMS-PW 160.00
MOUNT VERNON BANK & TRUST CO DEPOSIT SLIPS-P&A 150.17
CENTRAL IOWA DISTRIBUTING SUPPLIES-LBC 139.00
THOMAS M WIESELER MILEAGE/SUBSCRIPTION-P&A 132.95
KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS MAINT PLAN/COPIES-LBC 130.38
MOUNT VERNON ACE HARDWARE SUPPLIES-FD 111.99
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC FENCE & EASEMENT REVIEW 110.00
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS INC SUBSCRIPTION-PD 110.00
AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-LBC 109.99
MECHANICSVILLE TELEPHONE PHONE/INTERNET-POOL 108.77
IOWA ONE CALL LOCATES-WAT,SEW 88.20
AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-LBC 84.49
PROFESSIONAL WINDOW CLEANING WINDOW CLEANING-CITY HALL 80.00
CITY LAUNDERING CO SERVICES-CITY HALL 79.69
HUBSPOT INC PEDDLERS REFUND-P&A 75.00
JOEL DENES UNIFORMS-PW 72.00
PRESTO-X PEST CONTROL-FD 67.10
LYNCH FORD VEHICLE MAINT-PD 63.68
RICKARD SIGN AND DESIGN CORP FIELD SIGN-P&REC 57.50
ALLIANT ENERGY ENERGY USAGE-SEW 51.86
ALLIANT ENERGY ENERGY USAGE-SIRENS 50.30
KONA ICE CTW FOOD VENDOR-P&REC 50.00
CHRISTOPHER BROWN CLEANING SERVICES-FD 45.00
RICKARD SIGN AND DESIGN CORP SPEED TRAILER LOGOS-PD 45.00
ERIN BAKER REFUND-POOL 42.00
MELINDA SNYDER INSTRUCTOR-LBC 40.00
KIECKS UNIFORMS-PD 34.99
LYNCH FORD VEHICLE MAINT-PD 34.95
ALLIANT ENERGY ENERGY USAGE-P&REC 32.41
MARSHA DEWELL MILEAGE-P&A 22.78
AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES SUPPLIES-POOL 21.24
ALLIANT ENERGY ENERGY USAGE-CEM 20.38
KARA GRASTY DALY INSTRUCTOR-LBC 20.00
BETH HLAS INSTRUCTOR-LBC 20.00
TOTAL 1,768,291.82
FUND EXPENSE TOTALS
DEBT SERVICE FUND 1,282,200.00
GENERAL FUND 247,608.17
PAYROLL 122,044.48
LOST III UR & STREETSCAPE 68,702.00
2024 INFRASTRUCTURE 8,459.64
COTTONWOOD LMI PROJECT 7,747.63
SEWER FUND 7,266.79
ARPA LINN COUNTY GRANT 7,191.44
REMOTE READ METER PROJECT 3,076.74
ROAD USE TAX FUND 2,905.03
WATER FUND 2,731.40
SOLID WASTE 2,182.38
PW COLD STORAGE 1,634.00
LBC 1,538.52
PERPETUAL CARE 1,260.00
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS 708.50
STORM WATER FUND 472.99
LOST III COMMUNITY CENTER 316.50
POOL RENOVATIONS 245.61
TOTAL 1,768,291.82
Discussion and Consideration of Engineering Contract for the Hwy 1 IaDOT Reconstruction Project – Council Action as Needed. Staff met with the IaDOT on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 and the project is still progressing on schedule. The IaDOT will complete the reconstruction of Hwy 1 within the same footprint of the existing roadway as long as the City pays for the necessary design contract. Should the City choose to complete projects outside of the scope of reconstruction (turn lanes, lighted crossings, etc), the cost of those improvements would be the responsibility of the City. The estimated fee of $300,000 is equivalent to 10% of the projected IaDOT improvement costs. Motion made by Rose, seconded by Andresen to approve the engineering contract with Veenstra and Kimm for the Hwy 1 IaDOT Reconstruction project. Motion carries.
Discussion and Consideration of Setting a Public Hearing Date for the Adoption of Chapter 28 Cemetery Commission – Council Action as Needed. Staff has been working with representatives from Historic Preservation to create a commission that would advise and recommend improvements and corrective actions to the Mount Vernon Cemetery. After reviewing possible alternatives, this seems to be the most logical and simplistic means forward. This would be a newly formed commission of the City. Motion made by Engel, seconded by West to set the public hearing for Monday, June 17, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
Reports of Mayor/Council/Administrator
Mayor’s Report. Wieseler has been invited by the League of Women Voters to attend an event on June 26th in Lisbon on the “State of the City”. He will be attending human trafficking training with City staff and will also be attending a library webinar.
Council Reports. Rose noted there is a public input session with Planning and Zoning on June 12th regarding assessory dwelling units.
City Administrator’s Report. Full report available on the City website under the June 3, 2024 Council packet.
Closed Session – Pursuant to Chapter 21.5 (1)J, the City Council may enter into closed session, “to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property.” At 7:35 p.m. Tuerler motioned to go into Closed Session, seconded by West. Motion carries. At 7:47 p.m. Engel motioned to come out of Closed Session, seconded by Tuerler. Motion carries. Motion made by Rose, seconded by Andresen to approve the sale of the existing public works property located at 1040 2nd Avenue NW, between the pool and railroad tracks pending approval by the City Attorney within the next 30 days. Motion carries.
As there was no further business to attend to, the meeting adjourned, the time being 7:49 p.m., June 3, 2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Marsha Dewell
City Clerk
Published in the Sun June 13,2024
City of Mount Vernon June 13 2024 minutes
June 13, 2024