March 7, 2016

Posted: March 17, 2016

Present: Meyer, Lienau, Langreck, Holthaus, Beckman.
Absent: None.

Don Dilaura, Brian Zweibohmer, Karl Schroeder, Ken Witt, along with Zak Kriener from the Ossian Bee were present during the meeting.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor Green called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.

Motion was made by Meyer and seconded by Holthaus to conduct the public hearing for the 2016 Budget, motion carried. Mayor Green asked if anyone present had any questions or comments. There were no written comments or objections submitted, nor were there any comments or objections from those present. Meyer made a motion to close the public hearing seconded by Holthaus, carried.

Ken Witt addressed the council requesting information regarding properties whose owners were notified about nuisance violations on their premises. Discussion followed.

Karl Schroeder told the Mayor and Council he had concerns with rental properties only having one exit and suggested the Council consider putting regulations in place for rental properties. Discussion followed. Mayor Green indicated he will check with the State Fire Marshall and the City of Decorah for their input.

Officer Hageman gave the police report noting: investigations being conducted, citations and a simple arrest were made and their plan to emphasize slowing traffic down concentrating on one street a month by using warnings and citations.

Mayor Green reported on animal control issues along with his intentions to continue contributing an article to the Ossian Bee every so often to give residents an insight as to what is happening in the City.

On behalf of the City, Joe Kriener submitted a grant application to Black Hills Energy for trees in Carey’s Park.

Kriener noted the grant was approved and reviewed the tree planting plan for the park with the Mayor & Council Holthaus made a motion approving the following consent items, February 1, 2016 council minutes, clerk’s reports and the monthly bills, seconded by Meyer, carried

The Mayor and Council discussed the City’s participation in the proposed joint-community recreation program introduced at the February 1st council meeting. Lienau made a motion authorizing the City’s participation in the joint-community recreation program and to contribute $5,000.00 to the program, seconded by Meyer, carried.

A discussion involving the FY2017 Budget included: no pickup will be purchased, cost estimates to make repairs to the log cabin in Carey’s Park are needed, review the plans and cost estimate for the pavilion in Carey’s Park, contact contractors for estimates to install new lighting in the community center/library building, contact contractors for estimates to install three windows in the community center meeting room, seek options to make repairs to the street at the intersection of Mary and Brooks Streets, continue working with the City’s engineers to improve sewer flow out of Reilly’s Addition. Discussion on payroll practices and wages were tabled until the April 4th council meeting.

Beckman made a motion introducing Resolution #564, a resolution approving the FY2017 Budget, seconded by Langreck. The Mayor put the question on the motion and the following named Council Members voted:
Ayes: Holthaus, Langreck, Lienau, Beckman, Meyer.
Nays: None.
Whereupon the Mayor declared said motion approved.

It was the consensus of the Council to continue offering two years of complimentary water and sewer to new “main street” store front businesses.

Lienau made a motion setting a public hearing date and time for April 4, 2016 at 5:00 p.m., for the purpose of amending the FY16 Budget, seconded by Langreck, carried.

Meyer made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Lienau. Carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.