The Vinton City Council met in regular session on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m.

The city approved the agenda.

May 23rd minutes were received and filed.

Invoices were approved.

The flood buyout houses were officially purchased through the flood buyout program.

The Library board minutes from May 8 and the Airport Commission meeting minutes of May 22nd were received and filed.

Received and filed communications, petitions and remonstrances.

There was a person that needed their lawn mowed, so the city came in to take care of it for $100.

Vinton Today requested that the council and other meetings where the public are in attendance that the microphones be turned on. The mayor requested that they be used at all meetings that take place in city hall.

Committee Reports were given.

The grand re-opening at McDonald's will be on June 24th.

Tami Stark gave a committee report on the General Government Committee which met with the representative of the Census who explained that there will be a need to gear up for the census.

Public Works met to discuss the filling of the position of the conservation opening.

Charlie Garwood, Ted Paxton and Scott Gessinger met with a group that had information about building a facility that would house the city offices, Vinton Police and Fire Departments. The group was able to narrow it down to 3 possible designs. Not many towns have put these entities together to share space to save costs for construction. The idea is to use part of the Braille School property for the placement of the project. Gessinger said that there was a lot of information about what to do and not to do in building a facility like this. Architectural firms represented at the event they attended offered to give them a ballpark figure for what the cost would be if they had a final idea of what they would need at no charge.

There was a public hearing on the need at the airport for snow removal equipment which includes a tractor and snowblower, and a loader, rear tractor plow and broom which would run $277,820. Original estimates thought it would be $320,000. With additional fees the total would be $360,000 The FAA will fund 90% of the cost and the city will only need to cover the remaining 10%.

The airport will be put together plans and specifications for the needed snow removal equipment and begin working on the paperwork to acquire this equipment.

Mark Noe volunteered his time to help to get the old equipment sold to bring in money from that.

The city agreed to move forward to acquire the equipment following necessary grant agreements with the federal aviation administration.

The city approved a contract with the local unit 55 of the IBEW/Union representing the street department.

The committee of Stark, Maynard and Hesson recommended that the work boot allowance will go from $200 to 250, a pay increase of .65 and there will no longer be longevity as of July 2020 for new hires.

A request for remediation grant reimbursement to Fischer Law Firm and Clingman Pharmacy for the cost incurred to fill the holes downtown due to the fire. This is a project covered by a state grant.

The city agreed to transfer funds from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) to debt service and capital projects.

They also agreed to transfer funds from the Special Revenue TIF Funds to Sewer Replacement.

They also agreed to set salaries and compensation for supervision, management and part-time employees.

The council agreed to a professional service agreement with Shive-Hattery for trail improvements ("Little Nevada 5k" project, not the official name, but it just looks like Nevada)

The city also considered permission for Bob Noren to divide his 24-acre lot into one other parcel for someone to potentially build there if they desire. He is just asking to send the request to planning and zoning at this time.

The council also approved the reappointment of Lori Smith to the Library Board and appointed Scott Tandy, Charley Cronk, Amy Edison and Alec Modric to the Library Board.

They also approved permission for part-time city employees to purchase City health insurance at their own cost.

They also set a public safety committee meeting for June 27 as per a request from the police chief, to discuss simulated handguns and traffic solutions.

The lots on Q Ave. were discussed concerning their upkeep and building deadlines.

The council was also impressed with the home in Winters addition. Siding has been added and plans made for more work on the home.

The first money from the motel tax came into the city in the amount of $13.65 which was because something was probably because something was filed late, but the amount should be much larger following this.

The larger interest rate increased the city's income was noted $98,000 has been received so far this year compared to $13,500 for all of last year on the city savings accounts.

Iowa workforce development laborshed presentation was discussed by Nate Hesson. 64% of Vinton Employees live and work in Vinton, 36% of Vinton Employees live outside of Vinton but commute here. 54% of all employees leave Vinton for work outside of Vinton

June 25th, 5:00 p.m. VMCU will be meeting to consider financing.

There will be an opening on the Vinton Municipal Electric Utility Board following the resignation of Jon Kremer. The Mayor invited anyone interested in filling the position to contact him, or Chris Ward or Cindy at City Hall. If you are interested in the position present a bio and what makes you think you'd be a good candidate.

IVinton has reached a total of 650 have signed up as of this morning. Employers, residents anyone interested should sign up.

There was a reminder of the Rockfest at the fairgrounds on Saturday night.




Comments

Submit a Comment

Please refresh the page to leave Comment.

Still seeing this message? Press Ctrl + F5 to do a "Hard Refresh".