Minutes

City of Griswold

Regular Council Meeting

Council Chambers, March 3, 2008, 6:00 p.m.

 

The Griswold City Council met in regular session at City Hall.  Mayor Putnam called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Council present: Wyman, Bergstrom, Carlisle, Shields and Rink.

 

Motion by Rink to approve the agenda with the removal of the Community Building; second by Shields.  Approved 5-0.

 

Motion by Rink to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:

a.     Minutes of the February 4 & 18 regular meetings.

b.     Claims.

c.     Employees overtime report.

Second by Bergstrom.  Approved 5-0.

 

Reports:

Public Works.  Mitch Kline presented the council with a training schedule for certification in waste water, water treatment and water distribution.  Motion by Shields to authorize Mitch to attend the training sessions at a cost of $375.00 per session and to approve lodging, meals and mileage costs to attend the training; second by Wyman.  Approved 5-0.

City Hall.  Written report given by Clerk Ridlen.  Ridlen requested approval to attend the International Institute of Municipal Clerks annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, May 18-23.  As President of the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association, she would be representing Iowa in the opening ceremonies. The association will cover the lodging and travel cost for the conference.  Ridlen told the council she is applying for a grant to cover the registration fee of $510.00, but wanted to know if the city would pay the registration fee if she did not receive the grant.  Motion by Rink to authorize the City Clerk to attend the IIMC annual conference on May 18-23 and to pay the registration fee of $510.00 if she is not awarded a grant to cover the cost; second by Wyman.  Approved 5-0.

Library.  No report given.

 

Committee Reports.  Public Works committee: Rink reported that he met with Kevin and Mitch to look at three areas of ponding water.  The three areas were North Street by the Jeanne Shadden residence; Whitney St. at the east corner of Hwy. 48, and the Whitney and Mills St. intersection. 

Public Safety committee: Rink said he met with Rescue Captain Julie Kline to discuss concerns with the response time of the department.  He said that Julie is aware of the problem is working on getting it corrected.

 

Public hearing on proposed budget for FY 2008-09.  Mayor Putnam opened the public hearing on the proposed budget for FY2008-09.  Rink asked the City Clerk to compare the current tax levy to the proposed levy for FY 2008-09.  Ridlen said the current levy is $13.98 per thousand and the proposed levy for FY 2008-09 would be $13.65 a difference of $0.33 per thousand.  There being no other written or oral comments, Mayor Putnam closed the public hearing.

 

Employee Health Insurance.  The City Clerk informed the council that while waiting for price quotes from other carriers, she was notified by True North on February 20th that the renewal deadline for Blue Cross/Blue Shield was that same day and they needed a decision on what plan the city wanted to go with otherwise they would lose their group insurance.  After speaking with some of the council, it was agreed to go with the higher deductible plan at an increase of $85.22 per month.  This would only be until the city could review quotes from the other carriers at which time they could stay with the current plan or switch to another carrier.  Clerk Ridlen said she suggested at the time to have the city cover the increase in premium, as the employees were not able to be included in the decision.  Shields stated that the previous council had set $661.61 as the cityıs share of the premium and the increase was the responsibility of the employee.  After a brief discussion, it was agreed to stay with the $661.61 cap and have the employees pay the $85.22 per month increase.

 

Resolution 4-2008 adopting the budget for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2009.   Motion by Shields to adopt Resolution 4-2008; second by Wyman.  Roll call: Ayes-Carlisle, Rink, Bergstrom, Shields, Wyman.  Nays-none.  Resolution 4-2008 adopted.

 

Hours of operation for Sewer Plant.  Rink said he would like to see the sewer plant open so citizens can have somewhere to take their yard waste.  Council members Shields and Wyman informed him that a company had been hired to clean up the area at the sewer plant so that the city could have a separate area for tree limbs and compost pile.  Rink said the city may need look at hiring a part-time person for Saturday and Sunday to keep people from taking inappropriate items down to the sewer plant.  Matter will be placed on next agenda for further discussion.

 

Propositions and Remarks from Council Members.  Shields said he was contacted by Shirley Ward regarding the culvert at the end of her driveway.  Shields questioned who was responsible for the maintenance of the culvert.  It was agreed to have Shirley contact the State as it is on the State highway.

Carlisle said he and Wyman went around and took pictures of ditches and the creeks around town in need of cleaning & maintenance.  He would like the council to discuss the matter at the next meeting.  He also reported that Phil Rink has agreed to sit on the Cass County Conservation Board.  Carlisle asked the council to review the 28E agreement with the county and make any corrections or changes so it can be sent to the city attorney for review.

Rink said he has asked the City Clerk to send a copy of the city budget and last audit to an auditing firm to see if they would be interested in performing an audit for the city.  He is against having the state perform the required audit and realizes that the city will need to send out request for proposals to other firms.

Mitch informed the council that the sirens will be tested the 2nd Monday of every month at 1:00 p.m.

 

Motion by Wyman to adjourn; second by Rink.  Approved 5-0; 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Jerry Putnam

Mayor

 

 

 

 

Dawn Ridlen, CMC

City Clerk