CITY OF LENOX

A regular meeting of the Lenox City Council was called to order by Mayor Douglas on March 28, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall with the following council members answering roll call: Bowman, Nelson, Tull, Cruz; Zabel was absent. Staff present was City Administrator, Allison Kitzman, City Clerk, Dawne Bowman; Tom Christensen, Don and Jake Cox and Colleen Larimer was also present.

Bowman made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Cruz, all ayes, motion carried. Nelson made a motion to approve 03/14/22 meeting minutes, seconded by Bowman, all ayes, motion carried. Nelson made a motion to approve 3/24/22 special meeting minutes, seconded by Tull, all ayes, motion carried. Tull made a motion to approve the payment of bills, seconded by Nelson, all ayes, motion carried.

At 5:30 PM Bowman opened a Public Hearing on Budget Amendment FY22 #2, seconded by Cruz. There were no comments heard from the public. Bowman closed the Public Hearing at 5:31 PM, seconded by Tull.

Tull made a motion to approve Resolution 22- 17 Adopting Budget Amendment FY22 #2, seconded by Cruz; roll call votes, all ayes, motion carried.

Tom Christensen was present to discuss an increase in garbage rates. Christensen is proposing a $0 increase, which would be $25 for cost of living and $25 for his landfill fees that are increasing. The current garbage rate is $15.40, which will increase to $15.90. There is a city charge $1.67, a fuel charge that varies with the price of fuel each month, and an $8.80 landfill surcharge fee. Kitzman mentioned that with this increase, the garbage rate to the customer will increase from $17.07 to $17.57 plus the fuel charge.

Bowman made a motion to approve Resolution 22- 18 Increasing Monthly Garbage Rate, seconded by Nelson, all ayes, motion carried.

Tom Christensen also discussed the city wide clean up. Bowman made a motion to approve the City Wide Clean Up date of May 9th - May 16th, seconded by Tull, all ayes, motion carried.

Kitzman discussed offering tire disposal during the city wide clean up. Petersen Tire is willing to donate up to $250 for this and the city would pay approximately $5 per tire after that. This would be for normal sized car and pick up tires only. There was a discussion on how to monitor what types of tires people are trying to dispose of. Nelson suggested having residents put their unwanted tires on the curb and have Petersen Tire pick them up during daytime hours during the city wide clean up as opposed to having a trailer parked at the city- wide cleanup site. Kitzman will contact Petersen Tire. This will be on the next agenda.

Don and Jake Cox were present to discuss their application for livestock (chickens) inside city limits. Cox presented the council with a few examples of what the proposed chicken houses would look like and discussed a couple different locations for the chicken houses. Bowman concerned of the precedence set if chickens were allowed inside city limits; however, mentioned he had no doubt that Cox would maintain the houses. There was a discussion on other residential properties in city limits that currently have chickens that were not approved through the Council, which is violating our current city ordinance. Kitzman discussed that allowing Cox to have chickens does not allow everyone else that asks for permission to have them. Each property is different and the stipulations can be different with each property. Tull made a motion to approve the application from Don Cox for livestock (chickens) inside city limits for the following reasons; Cox property is on the edge of town, with at least 200' from any residential house, the chicken houses will be enclosed and not allowed outside of the house and he will have no more than 25 chickens, seconded by Cruz, all ayes, motion carried.

Kitzman discussed quotes from Commercial Roof Coatings, LLC for City Hall, Library and the Pool buildings. The quotes were as follows: City Hall ($22,340), Library ($11,100) and Pool buildings, bathhouse ($4,500) and smaller building ($1,440) for a total of $39,380. Kitzman mentioned that is in the current budget. Bowman made a motion to approve quotes from Commercial Roof Coatings, LLC for City Hall, Library, and Pool buildings, seconded by Tull, all ayes, motion carried.

Kitzman discussed an insurance increase of $3,517.40 per year for all city buildings, equipment and vehicles. Cruz made a motion to approve Property Insurance Renewal with EMC Insurance, seconded by Tull, all ayes, motion carried.

Kitzman presented the council with information on ARPA Funds (COVID Relief funds), stipulations on using these funds, and the process for spending these funds. The City of Lenox has been awarded $206,993.87 in ARPA funds, in which $106,843.69 was received in 2021 and the remaining to be received at a later date. Kitzman would like the opinion of the public on uses for these funds, pending guidelines. Mayor Douglas suggested putting ideas together, maybe 3 or 4, and having the public vote. Kitzman mentioned a few ideas for the funds have been lining the sewer system and Fire Dept. Rescue Rig, which would be less than $60,000. LMU has also asked to use a portion of the funds on their water project. Nelson has volunteered to serve on the committee with Zabel.

Nelson motioned to adjourn the meeting, Tull seconded, all ayes, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:35 P.M.