The Elma City Council meeting was opened at 7:00 P.M. by Mayor Steven in the former school building cafeteria. Meeting was opened with roll call: TJ Granahan, present, Tom Platte, present, Randy Thoren, present, Jerry Haar, present, Emily Ptacek, absent.
Mayor Steven requested that Jason Passmore of Howard County Economic Development be added to the agenda as item 1a.
TJ moved the agenda, with the addition of 1 item be approved, second Jerry, carried.
TJ moved the minutes of the January 8th meeting be approved, second Jerry, carried.
TJ discussed a two items with the claims that he had issues with. One being that Dennis had not been taking some lunch breaks like he is supposed to and that there is a spending limit of $100 without committee approval for Farmland Hardware. Specific questions for the Farmland bill were about chargers and batteries. TJ requested copies of the Farmland bills for the past 3 years. It was also argued that there would be times when Dennis might work through a lunch break in an emergency or urgent situation as in moving snow, however, that is to be approved by a councilman. Tom moved the claims be approved, second Randy. Tom, Randy and Jerry, aye, TJ, nay, carried.
TJ read aloud Resolution 021218 setting the date of public hearing for the approval of the fiscal year 2018-19 budget. The City Council will hold a public hearing at 7:15 P.M. on March 12, 2018 in the former Elma Elementary School building, Elma, Iowa. Notice of public hearing will be published once in the Riceville Recorder, a newspaper of general circulation in the City, not more than twenty days or less than 10 days before the meeting of the City Council at which the budget for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 will be approved. TJ moved Resolution 021218 be approved, second Tom. Mayor Steven asked for a roll call vote. Vote is as follows. TJ Granahan, aye, Tom Platte, aye, Randy Thoren, aye, Jerry Haar, aye, Emily Ptacek, absent. Vote passes.
Jason Passmore of Howard County Economic Development gave the Council an update of what’s happened in the past year and reminded the Council that Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund still has money available for housing rehab projects. HCED is available to help with small business loans and non-profits also.
Tom read aloud Resolution 021218-1 to approve the Annual Urban Renewal Report for the Fiscal Year 2016-17. TJ moved resolution 021218-1be approved, second Randy. Mayor Steven asked for a roll call vote. Vote is as follows. TJ Granahan, aye, Tom Platte, aye, Randy Thoren, aye, Jerry Haar, aye, Emily Ptacek, absent. Vote passes.
Discussion was on leasing the lots on the 300 block of Oak Street to Peoples Savings Bank for the use of solar energy. Discussion was to lease the lots for $300 a year to be re-examined every 5 years. Randy moved to lease the lots for $300 a year to be re-examined every 5 years to Peoples Savings Bank, second Jerry, motion carried.
Randy read aloud Resolution 201218-2 to approve the lease to Peoples Savings Bank for the use of the empty lot on the 300 block of Oak Street for solar The lease will be for $300.00 a year to be re-examined every 5 years. Tom moved resolution 201218-2 be approved, second TJ. Mayor Steven asked for a roll call vote. Vote is as follows. TJ Granahan, aye, Tom Platte, aye, Randy Thoren, aye, Jerry Haar, aye, Emily Ptacek, absent. Vote passes.
Dennis brought some building specs for the sewer plant for the Council to have for informational purposes. He is still waiting on the DNR to let him know what can be done to keep the sewer plant from freezing.
Shannon has served on the Regional Housing Authority Board for the last 3 years and her appointment was up on December 31, 2018. She has agreed to serve on it again, with the new term starting January 1, 2018. TJ approved appointing Shannon Gebel to serve on the Regional Housing Authority Board, second Randy, motion carried.
Discussion on the school building was that the City will need to procure for any future work on the school building. Diana Thompson from Upper Explorerland will be coming on Wednesday to talk with the committee and help with the procurement process. TJ also discussed that he will not be able to supervise open gym every Sunday and that we should find volunteers to help supervise so that the gym can be open.
Mayor Steven discussed that he had a request to put a shelter on the property by the well house that is used for the tractor pull. The shelter would measure 30x50x10 feet. The City would be able to use the shelter for storage when not in use for the tractor pull. This item will be on the March agenda for the Council to approve.
Mayor Steven had no further comments.
TJ moved the meeting be adjourned, second Tom, meeting adjourned.