December 9, 2019

The Monroe City Council met on December 9, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. and was held at the Monroe Public Library.  Iowa State University Students were in attendance to give a brief presentation on the Monroe Comprehensive Plan updates they have been working on.  This plan is designed to go from 2019 to 2039.  The final presentation will be made at Iowa State University on December 19, 2019, at noon.  Professor Mercy Shenge, along with students Alec Gustafson, Collin Baker, Jason Becker, Laurel Stelter, Elijah Green and Parker Walsh were in attendance.  Once the new plan is approved, it will be available on www.MonroeIA.com for viewing. 

At 7:19 p.m.  Mayor Duinink called the official meeting to order.  Council Members in attendance were: Nate Bradbury, Jean Goemaat, Jeff Hegwood and Andrea Steenhoek.  Jen St. Peter was absent from the meeting. City employees in attendance were: Kim Thomas, Jeff Timmins, and Nicholas Chambers.   Visitors at the meeting were: Jenni Edwards, Shauna Carlson, and Jamie Pearson.  

Council Member Goemaat moved and was seconded by Council Member Hegwood to approve the consent agenda.  Motion carried 4-0.  Items on the agenda included the clerk and treasurer report and bills and minutes from the November meeting. 

Chief Chambers announced that GTSB will go from December 13^th to January 1^st, and Officer Matt Schneider will go to the academy January 2^nd. Mayor Duinink stated he will be attending a meeting on Thursday, December 12^th at the high school for discussions on a school resource officer.  Director Timmins stated that the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project is finishing up and that they have been assisting with cleaning up the city hall mess.

Council Member Steenhoek moved and was seconded by Hegwood to approve RESOLUTION NO. 52-2019. A resolution allowing for the transfer of funds within the City of Monroe.  Motion carried 4-0.   

Hegwood moved and was seconded by Steenhoek to approve the 3^rd and final reading of AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO THE OPERATING BUDGET PREPARATION.  Motion carried 4-0.  This ordinance reflects the legislative changes due to amendments to the Code of Iowa regarding the public notice and approval process for adopting tax levies prior to adoption of the city’s annual budget.  ORDINANCE NO. 293. Signed: Douglas P. Duinink, Mayor and Attested By: Kim Thomas, City Clerk. A full copy of the 3 page ordinance can be seen at www.MonroeIA.com or the Monroe City Hall. 

Hegwood moved and was seconded by Steenhoek to approve the 3^rd and final reading of AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA, BY AMENDING PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO CONFLICT OF INTEREST.  BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA: SECTION 1. SUBSECTIONS MODIFIED. Subsections 10, 11 and 12 of Section 5.07 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monroe, Iowa, are repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: 10. Cumulative Purchases.  Contracts not otherwise permitted by this section, for the purchase of goods or services that benefit a city officer or employee, if purchases benefiting that officer or employee do not exceed a cumulative total purchase price of $6,000.00 in a fiscal year. (Code of Iowa, Sec 362.5 – 3.j) 11. Franchise Agreements. Franchise agreements between the City and a utility and contracts entered into by the City for the provision of essential City utility services. (Code of Iowa, Sec 362.5 – 3k) 12. Third Party Contracts. A contract that is a bond, note or other obligation of the City and the contract is not required directly from the City but is acquired in a transaction with a third party who may or may not be the original underwriter, purchaser, or oblige of the contract. (Code of Iowa, Sec 362.5-3l) SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. If any section, provision or part of this ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.  SECTION 3. WHEN EFFECTIVE. This ordinance shall be in effect from and after its final passage, approval and publication as provided by law.  PASSED AND APPROVED this 9^th day of December, 2019.  ORDINANCE NO. 294. Signed: Douglas P. Duinink, Mayor and attested by: Kim Thomas, City Clerk.  Motion carried 4-0. 

Hegwood moved and was seconded by Steenhoek to approve the 2^nd reading of AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA, BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 69.08 OF CHAPTER 69 AND TO SUSPEND THE RULES REQUIRING AN ORDINANCE BE VOTED FOR PASSAGE AT TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS PRIOR TO THE 3^RD AND FINAL PASSAGE READING.  Motion carried 4-0.  Hegwood moved and was seconded by Steenhoek to approve the 3^rd and final reading on AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA, BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 69.08 OF CHAPTER 69.  BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA. SECTION 1. 69.08 NO PARKING ZONES is amended by adding 13 to the end of this section as follows: 13. Jasper Street on the west side, from the corner of West Iowa Street to West Washington Street.  SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. SECTION 2. If any section, provision or part of this ordinance shall be invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 3. WHEN EFFECTIVE. This ordinance shall be in effect from and after its final passage, approval and publication as provided by law.  PASSED AND APPROVED this 9^th day of December, 2019.  ORDINANCE NO. 295. Signed: Douglas P. Duinink, Mayor and attested by: Kim Thomas, City Clerk.  Motion carried 4-0. 

    Mayor Duinink announced that he would allow the 2^nd reading of the ordinance for a 3-way stop at Big Blue Stem for vehicles traveling north and south at Meadowlark Drive in The Meadows Development.  Mayor Duinink stated that he would like to have the new council consider this ordinance as well as the old do to complaints from both sides of the residents living there.  Hegwood moved and was seconded by Bradbury to approve the 2^nd reading of AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA, BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 65.02 OF CHAPTER 65.  Upon roll call vote, ayes – Hegwood, Bradbury, Goemaat, nays – Steenhoek.  Motion carried 3-1 on the 2^nd reading of an ordinance for the 3-way stop for vehicles traveling north and south on Big Blue Stem stopping at Meadowlark Drive.  The 3^rd and final ordinance will be the January 13^th meeting.  

Steenhoek moved and was seconded by Hegwood to approve the 1^st reading of AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF MONROE, IOWA, BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 65.02 OF CHAPTER 65. This ordinance will require vehicles traveling south on South York Street to stop at West South Street and vehicles traveling north on South York Street to stop at West South Street.  Motion carried 4-0. 

Steenhoek moved and was seconded by Goemaat to approve the 8^th pay request to Woodruff Construction, LLC for the Wastewater Treatment Project in the amount of $340,270.31 and accept change order #2 for a total contract decrease of $5,010.40.  Motion carried 4-0.  The project is 89% complete.

The council was in agreement to hire another public works employee and continue the mowing of city property.     Thomas will advertise for the position. 

Steenhoek moved and was seconded by Hegwood to accept the public improvements for the Meadows at Monroe Plat 2 and make the final payment to Eminent Development for the amount of $1116.63. Motion carried 4-0.

Thomas gave an update on construction and insurance information from the sewer backup that happened at city hall on Thanksgiving Day.   After the city had the sewer line televised, it appears that the backup was caused by hitting the service line to the church when the installation of the new service line for the east lagoon was installed.  The city insurance company and Woodruff Construction are both aware of the damage.  EMC will work with Woodruff Construction on getting all the claims paid. 

There was no budget workshop scheduled.  The council was in agreement to wait for the new council members at the January meeting.

During open forum Mayor Duinink thanked Jeff Hegwood and Nate Bradbury for their years of service and presented them each with a plaque.  A thank you to public works and the Old Settlers Committee for getting all the Christmas lights up was mentioned.  Steenhoek moved and was seconded by Goemaat to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m.  Motion carried 4-0.  Jean Goemaat and Stacie McCoy were sworn in after the meeting was adjourned.    A full copy of the minutes may be seen at www.MonroeIA.com or the Monroe City Hall.

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Douglas P. Duinink, Mayor

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Kim K. Thomas, City Clerk

November 2019 Bills