Government : City Council Notes 12/12/24

The city council met on Thursday night. Present were Ron Hessenius, Tami Stark-Mahood, Zach Parmater, Wesley Recker, and Andrew Elwick. Mayor Bud Maynard and Council Member Rylie Pflughaupt were absent. Also present was City Administrator Chris Ward.

The meeting began promptly at 7:00 p.m. and can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/@CityofVintonIA

Following a call to order, roll call and pledge of allegiance, the agenda and consent agenda were up for approval. Following a discussion of the Sanitary Survey of Public Water Supply from the DNR and water pressure discussed in the report and the use of booster pumps there is some question as to if these are allowed. Ward will check into this. City invoices were also approved.

The council approved the minutes from November 25, 2024 and can be seen here.

Under filling communications, petitions and remonstrances, Ward said that he had received a letter from the After Dark Tourism who would like to speak to the council again.

Committee Reports, Hessenius reported on a work session held prior to the meeting concerning parking spaces for 303 1st Ave. or Horst Physical Therapy, he said there will be another Work Session to determine when it will be done. Meeting was set for December 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Cory Nesbitt, School Resource Officer with the Vinton Police Department, School Resource Officer, gave an update. The position has been in effect going on its seventh year. He explained that Officer West was the first to lead the program so it has been an easy transition. He attempts to be in every school in the county at least once a week. the department did Holiday with a Cop this weekend at Theisen's.

He's enjoyed the work in the schools. He loves the interaction with the kids. He said there are three parts to his job, law enforcement, public safety educator, informal counselor. He said in his job is that he can go from a counseling session to the criminal incident as needed. He said there is a lot to learn in the juvenile aspect. He trained at ILEA and did a 40 hour class in Minnesota to transfer into the School Resource Officer program. He's encouraged the part-time officers to pop into the schools during the day.

Approval was given for the pay estimate #10 to Woodruff Construction for the WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant) improvements. A change order #3 for the WWTP improvements of $5,064.73 was tabled.

A quote was also approved from TEAM Services for Contract Drilling Services, part of the 3rd St. Sewer project.

A capital improvements plan was approved for the Vinton Veterans Memorial Airport so that the airport can qualify to receive federal and state grants.

The council discussed a farm lease managed by Iowa Land Management. Jeremy Sills addressed the council concerning the lease. The current tenant, Miller Farm next to the wastewater treatment plant. He said that with the renovations at the plant, about 12.59 acres of good tillable farmland has been lost. The current rental price is $380 per acre, and he is proposing a rental reduction of $350 with the current renter.

The council then discussed the shared wall at 112 E. 4th St., Benton County Title. Dan McCann spoke to the council, as the owner of the building. It was a former interior wall shared with the Fischer building. When the fire happened, he said they've maintained it and cleaned it up to make it more appealing. There is discussion as whether the city would continue to share ownership of the outside of the wall.McCann would like to place a stairway on the outside of the wall as a fire escape. There is a plan to put a first responders mural up to honor those who had responded to the fire at the location and some sort of fire escape.

Hessenius suggested having a meeting to discuss the future of the lot. There was a plan to create a park there and approval given at one point for the lot where Clinman Pharmacy used to sit. Other ideas are now being floated considering parking, or to sell the former Fischer lot to a new owner.

Ward said that the discussion for the meeting was just the wall and whether to quit claim it McCann.

The city approved a letter to Congresswoman Ashley Hinson expressing approval by the council to move the emergency services facilities out of the flood plain to the corner of the Braille School property next to 13th St. and Highway 218. The letter seeks financial support for the project through the CPF (Community Project Funding).

City Clerk, Melissa Schwan shared on behalf of the Pocket Park Committee that they would like to return to speak with the council concerning the property next to the Benton County Title building that was part of the earlier discussion.

Ward has been contacted by Alliant Energy requesting that the city pass a "Dark Fiber Resolution." This would allow the company to sell space on their fiber optic line to another internet provider. The company's line runs through town. Ward talked with Matt Storm of iVinton and will be talking with his board. The city attorney will be looking at the agreement. Alliant would like to provide internet to businesses.

Ward also addressed the Benton County Board of Supervisors concerning speed limit signs and the board would like to have the city pave the road in front of the sewer plant.

December 19, 5:00 p.m. there will be a meeting with the council, Hobart's, their attorneys as well as the city attorney concerning the Braille School Property. Ward explained that at the end of this month the development agreement for the Braille School property comes to an end. Ward explained that the city could take back the agreement, extend it or come up with another plan.

Stark-Mahood said that there was a list of the things that the city agreed to take care of and they have completed their requirements. The council will meet on Wednesday night December 18, 2024 5:00 p.m.

Stark-Mahood asked the Chief of Police if any vehicles have been removed and if there has been any progress in general. Chief Paxton said that they have been working on the roof but nothing else has been accomplished.

The meeting was then adjourned.