Hills City Council meets Aug. 12MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETINGOF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILAUGUST 12, 2003Mayor Jim Jellema called the meeting to order at 6:02 P.M. with the following Council members present: Jim Jellema, Linus Svoboda, Dana Dahlquist, and Keith Elbers. Absent: Arlen Leenderts. Employee present: Joanne Goehle, City Treasurer; and Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk. Guests present: Rita Bode-Hills Post Office, Jim Vander Woude-DeWild Grant Reckert & Associates, Wilmer Elbers, Gerald Haak, Ron and Jan Solberg, and Jolene Farley-Hills Crescent. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Dahlquist to approve the July 8th minutes. Motion carried. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Svoboda to approve payment of the July expenditures; and to include the W & N Construction bill of $555.83 pending justification. General $4,602.34; Park $2,354.67; Fire $1,532.71; Street $28,587.83; Legion $1,898.79; Barbershop $553.43; Sewer $2,078.43; Garbage $2,479.36; Recycling $444.00; Water $8,745.56; Baseball $82.38; Softball $302.36. Motion carried. The Council approved payment of $580.72 for building materials for the sandbox at the softball field. The Council asked Jolene Farley to inquire about expenses for publishing the City’s audit report, which was $110 more than last year. TREASURER’S REPORT:General Checking 49,660.90General Fund CD#17947, 2.5%, 12/2/03 234,392.53General Fund CD#17760, 2.5%, 3/15/05 20,477.61Sewer Fund CD#17877, 2.5%, 10/18/03 50,441.78Fire Truck Rep. Fund CD#17710, 1.75%, 1/13/04 20,051.31Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 2,466.56Hills EDA Checking 1.89Southern Hills Apts. Checking 4,945.72Southern Hills CD#17554, 2.5%, 7/20/03 0.00Southern Hills CD#17759, 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,056.71EDA CD#17850, 2.5%, 5/7/05 27,617.27EDA CD#17268, 1.75%, 1/26/04 10,454.41TOTAL $425,650.85A list of delinquent utility accounts was presented to the Council. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Dahlquist to approve of the Treasurer’s report. Motion carried. The Council approved to have a second gate valve installed on the secondary lagoon for approximately $945 plus backhoe and labor. City maintenance will be instructed to seed grass where culverts were installed, and also in the new housing additions owned by Hills EDA.Rita Bode, Hills Post Office, explained to the Council that the Postal Service has plans to replace the box section at their present location, and that once the installation is complete there is no chance of moving to the City Office building. The Council must terminate the lease or evict the Post Office from the American Legion building in order for the Postal Department to begin any relocation process. The Council tabled discussion for the September meeting. Jim Vander Woude appeared before the Council for the purpose of discussing the location of the City’s corporate limits. The Council was in agreement to relocate the corporate limits from the south line of Lots 18 and 19, to the south right-of-way of the former Illinois Central Railroad. A final updated map will be drawn up for Council approval. Jellema informed the Council of a meeting held by Rock County on August 20th at 7:00 P.M. to discuss contract law enforcement services and rates. Jellema, Svoboda and Elbers expressed interest in attending this meeting. The Clerk was instructed to contact the city attorney regarding maintenance of private properties. The Council reviewed proposals for fencing in the City’s compost and tree dump site with costs ranging from $3,400 to $4,665. The Council chose not to purchase the fence. Motion by Dahlquist, seconded by Elbers to approve of Meulebroeck & Taubert’s proposal to audit the 2003 records, not to exceed $3,185.00. Motion carried. The Council approved to have Fall junk pickup, date to be announced. The Council discussed whether to lease or purchase propane tanks in order to advertise for bids. A special meeting will be held on Monday, August 18th at 6:00 P.M. to continue discussion.The Council agreed to allow Glenda Sandstede, caretaker of the American Legion building, the authority to set time slots for rentals on Thanksgiving and Christmas.For an additional $50 the Council approved of Keith Elbers’ request to use the American Legion building for two weeks prior to an auction on October 4th, due to it’s not during a busy rental month. The Council reviewed bids for painting the interior of the American Legion building; but took no action in order to obtain bids for replacing lights in the auditorium prior to painting. Ron and Jan Solberg requested a building permit to move in a home to be located along West North 2nd Street. The home will be inspected for termites. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Dahlquist to approve the permit. Motion carried. Solberg’s withdrew their plans to move in a garage at 208 South Church Avenue. Wilmer Elbers informed the Council that he misplaced the abstract for Park View Third Addition, and that he requested the Recorder’s Office to draft a new abstract. Wilmer Elbers informed the Council of an agreement approximately 30 years prior, the City Council agreed to vacate a small portion of Fifth Street, from the alley proceeding west into Hills Stainless Steel’s property and abutting up to South Water Avenue. Motion by Keith Elbers, seconded by Dana Dahlquist to approve of a Warranty Deed vacating a part of South Water Avenue and West Fifth Street to Betty Elbers. Motion carried. Gerald Haak and Wilmer Elbers presented a bill from AB Excavation for leveling their lots on June 20th (5 hrs. @$100 per hour= $500.00). According to W. Elbers and Haak, city maintenance approved this work and that fill was taken from their property to build Sixth Street, and request payment from the City. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Keith Elbers to pay $250 towards the bill. Motion carried. Tabled discussion regarding utility costs for 2004, to be discussed at the September meeting. Discussed Ward’s health insurance premium increase beginning October 1st by $212 per month. Motion by K. Elbers, seconded D. Dahlquist that the City continue to pay the same dollar amount of $884.32 per month; and that the employee pay his current share plus the $212 increase for a total of $506.78. Any further discussion will be discussed at the budget meeting. Motion carried. Motion by K. Elbers, seconded by D. Dahlquist to adjust the south lot line of Lot 11 in Block 8 of F.C. Finke’s Addition, to allow five feet south of the building and proceed west to the alley (Depot Bldg. a/k/a Patriot Academy, Grand Labs or Barbershop building). Motion carried. The Council agreed to have Martin Township’s files moved into the center meeting room within the American Legion building, in order to allow Elbers Auction Service additional rental space. The City and Community Club will also remove items from Elbers’ offices.The Council will discuss the 2004 proposed budget at the September meeting. The Council reviewed information for purchasing mosquito sprayers, but agreed that it was too late to spray for this season. Various maintenance discussion: Paint the overhead door on the City Offices; patch a hole in the street at Third Street & Elizabeth Avenue; place wood chips around the shelter house in Jacobson Park prior to the Lion’s painting the building; sweep streets; construct metal par signs and install numbers on the disc golf baskets; consider adding campsites and lengthen the current sites at Rez Park.No further discussion, meeting adjourned at 8:55 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(8-21)
