City Council Regular Meeting Minutes

A regular meeting of the Lenox City Council was called to order by Mayor Douglas on May 13, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall with the following council members answering roll call: Bowman, Ramsey, Vogel, Custer and Borland. Staff present was City Administrator, Allison Kitzman, City Clerk, Dawne Bowman and Quent Dalton. Other visitors were Sherri Bolinger, Tom Christensen, Deputy Lynn, Jamie Bramman, Owen Junker, Jaycee Fitzgerald, Keaton England and Colleen Larimer.

Bowman made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Custer, all ayes, motion carried.

Borland made a motion to approve 4/22/19 meeting minutes, seconded by Ramsey, all ayes, motion carried. Vogel made a motion to approve the payment of the bills, seconded by Borland, all ayes, motion carried. Custer made a motion to approve the 2019 April Clerk Treasurer Report, seconded by Ramsey, all ayes, motion carried.

Borland made a motion to re-appoint Heather Samo and Cody Adams for Park/Rec/Pool Board for term of 2 years, ending 6/2010, seconded by Bowman, all ayes, motion carried.

Custer made a motion to approve Casey's General Store #2834 Cigarette/Tobacco/Nicotine/Vapor Permit, seconded by Vogel, all ayes, motion carried.

Kitzman discussed angle parking in front of Ace Hardware. Bowman mentioned a manhole in front of the building. Ramsey added that he had not been in contact with Lenox Municipal Utilities regarding any utilities that could be affected. Ramsey also stated that the parking and sidewalk would be in conjunction with Pursuit of Independence's angle parking.

At 5:35 PM a Public Hearing was held for the purpose of an application for a Bed and Breakfast located at 306 North Elm Street. There were no comments heard from the public. At 5:36 PM Custer made a motion to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Ramsey, all ayes, motion carried.

Custer made a motion to approve 1st reading of Ordinance 385 Amending Angle Parking on City Streets, pending notification of Lenox Municipal Utilities, seconded by Bowman. Roll call votes-Custer, Vogel, Borland, Bowman ayes, Ramsey abstained, motion carried.

Sherri Bolinger presented information about the Lead worthy class and the Capturing Kids Hearts program. Owen Junker, Jaycee Fitzgerald and Keaton England presented speeches about Who Is My Why? Who Is My Who? and Whose Who Am I?

Borland made a motion to approve application for Bed and Breakfast located at 306 North Elm Street, seconded by Ramsey, all ayes, motion carried.

Jamie Bramman with Thams Agency was present to discuss health insurance renewal. There was a discussion held on HMO coverage, which would be a savings to the City, as well as the employees; however, there is no out-of-network coverage unless it's an emergency. Kitzman has spoken with all employees to make sure everyone's doctors are in the network. Mayor Douglas discussed the savings to the City and added trying it for a year to see how it works for everyone. Custer made a motion to approve Option #1 Complete Blue 4000 HMO health insurance renewal, seconded by Ramsey, all ayes, motion carried.

Tom Christensen was present to discuss a $.40 garbage increase per customer, per month. Christensen mentioned he had not received an increase in 4 years. Borland made a motion to approve a $.40 increase in garbage, per customer, per month, seconded by Ramsey, all ayes, motion carried. This increase will take effect with the July 2019 billing.

Kitzman discussed TIF rebate for Precision, as the Taylor County Auditor overpaid in TIF funds to the City by $15,848.98. Kitzman added 3 options for taking care of this; 1. City could write a check back to the County for the funds and next year when we receive TIF funds, the City would keep them and not refund to Precision, 2. City could also forfeit TIF funds for the next year and a half until repayment is covered, or 3. County can take the excess funds off the balance of the TIF and proceed as normal. Vogel made a motion to approve Option #3, pending approval from the auditors, otherwise Option #2, seconded by Bowman, all ayes, motion carried.

Ramsey made a motion to approve Madison Peterson and Makinna Fitzgerald as Co-Managers for the 2019 pool season at a wage of $9.50 per hour, seconded by Bowman, all ayes, motion carried.

Kitzman discussed the DNR Lenox Wastewater Treatment Facility Inspection Report. Quent Dalton was also present and mentioned that everything seems to be going well with the new system; however, the utilities have tripled and there is more specialized reporting that has to be done. Kitzman added that this new SAGR system requires a Grade II, in which Blake Horton is currently working on.

Custer made a motion to approve purchase of Lastec 721 XRT Pull Behind mower for golf course in the amount of $21,500, seconded by Bowman, all ayes, motion carried. Kitzman mentioned this will replace the Progressive Pull Behind mower and be paid from LOST funds in July 2019.

Kitzman discussed the website design and maintenance agreement with Steven Brown. Kitzman state that the agreement consists of complete set up and website design for the 1st year at a rate of $1,190 and unlimited changes/updates, weekly theme, plugin and core updates, weekly backup files and data base, weekly spam removal, malware removal, website security improvements, with job turnaround time of 4-8 hours for $765 per year following. It was the consensus of the Council to move forward with this agreement.

Ramsey moved to adjourn the meeting, Borland seconded, all ayes, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:40 P.M.