5 days ago
June 10, 2019
Williamsburg City Council Meeting Minutes
Mayor Sandersfeld called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and noted council members McMann, Grier, Zalenski, Marshall and Tornholm were present. Also present, Police Chief Ray Garringer, Public Works Director Brian Portwood, Recreation Director Nichole Winegarden, City Attorney Eric Tindal and City Clerk Nicole Osweiler.
McMann made a motion to approve the agenda, Zalenski seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Mayor Sandersfeld called the public hearing to order for the Recreation Center Lease Agreement at 6:31 p.m. There were many recreation center employees and residents present for the public hearing. Questions were proposed in regards to the new equipment and who is able to utilize it, how memberships will be handled and how this will benefit both parties. Winegarden explained the new equipment was purchased for classes and will be utilized in those classes. Equipment has been set in a separate area for anyone to use at any time for their own personal work out. Memberships will change slightly with more services going to be offered. The new equipment and membership changes were all anticipated to take place starting July 1st as they were budgeted for back in January. Some residents expressed how the memberships were not priced high enough for what is offered at the recreation center to date and feel the change will be well received. The council informed everyone the city will benefit from leasing the recreation by not expensing funds and planning for the future of the facility. 212 Sports Academy LLC will be able to continue the community orientated state of mind, while providing the current services and more. Marshall made a motion to close the public hearing at 6:48; Tornholm seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote
Mayor Sandersfeld called the meeting back to order immediately following the public hearing.
Osweiler did the second reading of Ordinance 35-19: An Ordinance Replacing City Code 92.02- Water Rates for Service.
Osweiler did the second reading of Ordinance 36-19: An Ordinance Replacing City Code 99.04, Paragraph 3- Sewer Rates for Service.
Osweiler did the second reading of Ordinance 37-19: An Ordinance Replacing City Code 106.08- Collection Fees for Disposal of Solid Waste & Recycling.
Motion was made by Grier to approve the consent agenda items; Marshall seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Jordan Meek addressed the council about the sewer back-up in his basement at 105 Sunny Slope. He went into detail in regards to how the back-up occurred along with the steps he had to take to rectify the situation. Portwood explained this property has had this issue prior to Meek owning the property and does not know why this is the only one with the issue. The city will be cameraing their service line and they recommended to Meek to have his done as well to try and determine what the issue is. Meek was also advised to look into a check valve to help prevent this from happening again. Portwood has advised him to talk to the Lillis Insurance, city’s insurance provider, in regards to the issue and have the insurance companies figure out a resolution.
Motion was made by McMann to approve Resolution 60-19: A resolution approving the Recreation Center lease agreement with 212 Sports Academy LLC; Marshall seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: “Ayes”- Zalenski, Grier, Tornholm, Marshall & McMann; and “Nays”- None. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Kristie Wetjen, Chamber President, presented the locations of all the events that will be happening during Stella’s Salute to Freedom on July 4th. She requested for street closures on the square and by the recreation center on July 4th and area at end of pool driveway to south end of pool parking for stage set-up on the 3rd of July. Additional requests include tables and garbage cans from West End pond being moved to the square; extra garbage bags; dumpster for emptying the cans into; electricity turned on in the square park; staff assistance on July 4th; and trees at south drive of rec center removed prior to fireworks. The council will have public works get all of these requests completed prior to the event, except for the removal of the trees at the south drive by the rec center. Portwood will talk with the fire department in regards on how this can be resolved with the fireworks.
Winegarden presented the recreation departments May Report. Winegarden stated “Youth in Motion” last week and the new equipment is slowly starting to come in. General recreation baseball, softball and men’s slow pitch have started. Youth flag football registration has started and will start in August and finish the first week of October. The aquatic center will start group lessons on Monday, June 17th; along with private lessons in the evening. Lap swim is held twice a day Monday thru Friday and water aerobics will be various evenings the month on June. The ten-year-old robot pool vacuum has broken and needs replaced. Motion was made by Tornholm to approve the May recreation department’s report presented by Winegarden; Zalenski seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Motion was made by Tornholm to approve Resolution 63-19: Hiring Seasonal Employees for the 2019 Season at the Aquatic Center; McMann seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: “Ayes”- Marshall, Tornholm, McMann, Grier & Zalenski; and “Nays”- None. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Motion was made by Grier to approve Resolution 64-19: Approving to purchase a commercial vacuum for the Aquatic Center; Zalenski seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: “Ayes”- McMann, Tornholm, Zalenski, Grier & Marshall; and “Nays”- None. Motion passed with a unanimous vote. The council choose to go with the Magnum due to it being the best product for the price.
Winegarden approached the council to hire a league coordinator/intro to flag football instructor for the flag football league at the rate of $500 for the season. She went over what the coordinator would be in charge of. She also advised them to start thinking about advertising for a fall softball league coordinator; the league starts mid-August and runs for six weeks. The council discussed trying to find a league coordinator for each sport, one for all the leagues, or contracting Winegarden out for assistance. Winegarden expressed she is willing to help with the transition to ensure it goes smoothly and leagues continue to strive, along with the aquatic center. Nikki Vance, assistant recreation director, informed the council she has been putting together step-by-step instructions for each league to help with whomever takes them over. Motion was made by Grier to approve to start advertising for a league coordinator/intro to flag football instructor, McMann seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote. The park and recreation commission will be meeting to discuss how to move forward with the recreation leagues amongst other changes with the transition in the coming weeks.
Portwood presented the public works report for May. Locates, mowing and street sweeping are continually being worked on. Replaced and repaired four water meters. Brush pile at compost site has been chipped. Storm clean-up has been completed for the most part. New signs are up at the compost site. Storm drains have been cleaned and some asphalt patching has been done. Replaced and repaired float at South Trunk lift stations. The pilot study was switched from well 5 to well 7. Grier inquired about the timeframe for new water meters. Portwood will have to look into this more in regards to the type of meter and brand. Motion was made by Tornholm to approve public work’s May report presented by Portwood; McMann seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Portwood and Osweiler spoke with Nathan Miller from IIW in regards to the request to temporary remove the embargo on State Street bridge in the fall, similar to the state. They were informed that is not an option but seasonal permits could be granted for each vehicle that will be over the weight limit. There are seven standard vehicles that could be granted permits through city hall; but anything outside of the standard would have to be reviewed by IIW for the permit. The council discussed this option and listened to input from the Circle J Elevator. A meeting will be set-up with IIW, Circle J Elevator and the city for a more detailed discussion in regards to the embargo and permit before a decision is made by the council.
Motion was made by McMann to approve Resolution 61-19: Approving a pump maintenance contract with Mississippi Valley Pump to perform yearly maintenance on the lift station pumps; Zalenski seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: “Ayes”- Tornholm, Grier, Zalenski, McMann & Marshall; and “Nays”- None. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Motion was made by Grier to approve Resolution 62-19: Approving removal of threes at three locations by contractor; McMann seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: “Ayes”- McMann, Marshall, Grier, Tornholm & Zalenski; and “Nays”- None. Motion passed with a unanimous vote. The council choose to go with Custom Tree Service due to them being the low bid.
Windstream submitted a proposed placement of fiber to city hall with it starting at Highland St/Hwy 149 and E Walnut St to alley behind city hall west of Court St. Motion was made by Marshall to approve the proposed placement of fiber to city hall and use of city right of way; McMann seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The council discussed how repurposing the funds from the school demolition project to help with Oak Street and State Street bridge will affect the water and sewer projects. Tindal explained how the fund will be refunded once the financing for Oak Street is finalized and why John Danos recommended this additional repurposing of funds. Motion was made by Grier to approve Resolution 65-19: Taking additional action on proposal to enter into a General Obligation Corporate Purpose Loan Agreement; Tornholm seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken: “Ayes”- Marshall, Grier, Tornholm, Zalenski & McMann; and “Nays”- None. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Resolution 66-19: Approving the Wages and Salaries for City Employees for FY20 was tabled until the next council meeting. A discussion took place in regards to include or not include the recreation center employees with the lease being approved. Osweiler will remove the recreation center employees for the next council meeting.
The council reviewed Resolution 67-19: Approving patch work on East State Street. Portwood discussed not replacing the surface with concrete but using asphalt to keep the surface consistence with its current material. The council voted to take no action on Resolution 67-19.
Motion was made by Marshall to set the public hearing for the Triplex Ordinance 38-19 for June 24th at 6:30 p.m. in city hall; McMann seconded the motion. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Mayor Sandersfeld discussed the condition of North Street and the need for rock on it, along with the need for dust control. Dust control is also needed along the tennis courts and alley in the 400 block of Chatham. A discussion took place about the different types of dust control and how using a newer type is more expensive at first but will be cheaper over the years, along with more effective. The council approved for Portwood to use the new type of dust control in the areas discussed along with rock on North Street as long as he stays within the budget.
Motion was made by Grier, seconded by McMann to adjourn the meeting at 8:46 p.m. Motion passed with a unanimous vote. The council will meet next for their regular scheduled council meeting on June 24, 2019, following the public hearings at 6:30 p.m. in Williamsburg City Hall.
Nicole Osweiler, City Clerk ... See MoreSee Less
