February 14th brought...the city council into chambers to conduct business as usual. The meeting began with Tami Stark Mayor Pro-Tem calling the meeting to order promptly at 7:00 p.m. The meeting began with roll call and the pledge of allegiance. The agenda was amended before approval, eliminating item 9.a. Approve engineering services agreement w/Clapsaddle Garber for snow removal equipment acquisition, until all parties that this concerns could be present for the discussion. The agenda was then approved. The Council received and filed the council meeting minutes from January 24th, and after some discussion approved the invoices. The council then received and filed the January revenue & expenditure report. There was some discussion on the 2018 water loss report. Each year there is a certain amount of water that cannot be accounted for in the billing. This would include water used to put out fires, like the downtown fire which took 1 million gallons. Old meters are a big culprit in the water loss for the city.that is not accounted for. After discussion, the water loss report was approved. Under communications, petitions or remonstrances, council member Nathan Edwards reported that he had been receiving complaints about the unfinished house located on the 500 block of W. 16th St. in Vinton. A discussion was held about permits that have expired for this project and what could be done about the situation. The homeowner will be contacted about the issue. Under Committee Reports Nathan Hesson reported to the council an update on VMEU's passing of the iVinton/Broadband/fiber optic utility project. It was met with a lot of excitement by the council. He reported that the project has an extension through the spring of 2020. Hesson thanked VMEU for passing this project. There was a second consideration of an ordinance addition provisions pertaining to bulk water meter rates. They also approved a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an easement agreement with John and Thomas Wiese for the new addition on the south side of town. As part of the agreement, the Weise's wanted the manhole covers to be low enough so that the land could still be farmed and also that they drive extended to 60 ft. The agreement will cost $30,000 for damages but will be a permanent easement and a one time cost. The city voted to agree to this resolution. The city also gave approval for the City Attorning to do the legal work necessary for two properties in the flood buyout program. The next step will be requesting bids to demolish, but the city will entertain that at another meeting. The city approved the City Attorney to go forward with the legal documents necessary. Next on the list was approving the hiring of the new Assistant Parks and Recreation Director, Aaron Hughes from Sargeant Bluff, Iowa a city about 4 hours west of Vinton and a population of 4,200 residents.. Hughes is currently the Recreation Coordinator for the Parks and Rec department there. Boggess said of Hughes, that he's known him from the spring conference last year. "He's very bright and understands the small town vibe and what it takes to make programs work in a community this size. Hughes is originally from Davenport and his wife from Des Moines. Boggess said of Vinton, "Vinton has a reputation across the state with the programs that we offer for a community our size." He said of Hughes he will be a great asset. The council voted to approve the hiring and expect Hughes to begin March 4th. The date for a public hearing for the proposed Fiscal Year 2019-2020 was set for March 14th. A proclamation was approved to declare February 27th as Iowa Honey Bee Day. This was requested of all the Mayors across the state from the President of the Honey Bee Association. The city also received a dividend refund check of around $46,000, higher than last year, because accidents were down across the different departments. Virginia Holsten reported that there was an ice dam at the library causing a little damage but that it is going to be taken care of. Appreciation of the street crew was also shared. The meeting was adjourned. .

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