Friday, August 26, 2011

News Items August 29, 2011

1. NEXT MEETING: The next council meeting is September 6 at 6:00 pm.

2. JOINT MEETING: Council will meet with the trustees on September 12 at 6:00 pm to discuss upcoming labor negotiations for FY beginning July 1, 2012. One question is who to use as the city’s negotiator. Jim Hanks of the Ahlers Firm has been our negotiator since 2003.

FYI—The current labor contract is in your packet and I suggest you review it for potential changes.

3. SOUTH Y PAVING: The contractor started paving on Thursday, August 25 and completed 1,475’. Weather permitting, they are hoping to pave the remainder of the street within two days.

4. STORM SEWER PROJECTS: The Underground Company is working on final grading at the West and East Candle Ridge Ponds, and starting tree removal and initial grading work at Iowa for the construction of the headwall.

5. SIMPSON HOMECOMING: Simpson’s Homecoming is October 8 and they have applied for a noise permit for a band playing in the Hillman Hall parking lot (C St at Clinton) from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Chief Steve Bonnett approved the permit as no complaints were received last year.

6. SOAP BOX DERBY: There is a group in the community researching the possibility of hosting a Soap Box Derby race in Indianola (possibly) next July. They are looking at potential streets and will talk to residents about blocking their street for one day. We are also checking. A request will be brought to council in the next several weeks once details have been worked out.

7. WAL MART SIGNAL: Finance Director Jean Furler reports the IDOT approved Urban Systems Traffic Engineering Program funds for the traffic signal detector loops at Highway 65/69 and Apple Drive (Wal-Mart). Council approved the $13,000 expense on May 16 and USTEP will pay about $7,300 of the cost. The project will be complete by the end of September.

8. RECYCLING: City Clerk Diana Bowlin received quotes on August 3 from three haulers to provide recycling service for calendar years 12, 13 and 14. McCoy is the apparent low quote and if the current bins are maintained, the monthly cost will remain at $2.75 for residential customers. However, if we switch to the 96-gallon toters, the monthly cost would rise to $3.85 for residential customers. The additional cost is due to purchasing the new toters.

9. PALIN EVENT: Sara Palin is hosting a political event on September 3 at the Balloon Field from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and our Police/Fire Depts are preparing for a potential of up to 15,000 visitors. They are working with organizers, County Sheriff’s Dept and State Troopers.

10. HOMECOMING PARADE: The annual Homecoming Parade will be held on September 8 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

11. BIMONTHLY UPDATE: Staff is currently looking at combining the bimonthly update and biannual activity guide into a quarterly magazine style publication. Combining the two publications would result in more pages of content being distributed to the public on annual basis for the same amount of expenditures. In addition, Park and Recreation would be able to promote their activities twice as often as they do now. The issues would be set up as seasonal issues (winter, spring, summer, and fall) and would be based on a similar format that West Des Moines is currently using for their city publication. Staff is planning on bringing a recommendation to a September meeting.

Friday, August 19, 2011

News Items - 08-22-11

NEWS ITEMS


TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Tim
DATE: August 18, 2011


1. NEXT MEETING: The next council meeting is Tuesday September 6 at 6:00 pm due to Labor Day on the 5th.

2. SPECIAL MEETING: There will be a special council meeting in the council chambers Monday August 22 at 4:00 pm for final consideration of the ordinance re-districting wards and establishing precincts as required by Iowa Code 42.4.

3. WELLNESS CENTER: Seven project manager proposals were reviewed by the subcommittee (Chuck Burgin, Vicky Foresman, John Sirianni, Mike Teigland and myself) on the 17th. While all were very capable, they were narrowed to Ball Team, Hansen Company and Story Construction. Interviews will take place on August 30 and a recommendation presented to council on September 6.

4. COMP PLAN UPDATE: Indianola’s “draft” Comprehensive Plan Update can be viewed on the web site at: indianolaiowa.gov under the “I Want To” tab and “View the Comp Plan”.

5. CITY/COUNTY PAVING: Community Development Director Chuck Burgin and I met with County Supervisor Dean Yordi and IDA Executive Director Jerry Kelley on the 17th to begin dialogue on potential joint projects. Dean reported that the county will review their capital plan in the next several weeks.

I will contact Dean the first of October to continue discussions. Depending on progress and potential projects, a recommendation will be brought to council in our 5-year Capital Plan.

6. SOUTH Y: The sub grading is estimated at 95% complete as of August 19. Weather permitting, finish trim and paving main line should be completed Friday August 26.

Liquidated damages are $600/day and there are 60 working days (excludes weekends and rain days). 41.5 working days have been used thus far.

MidAmerican Energy serves South Y and will install the 8 street lights for $38,454 and charge $11.27/light/month forever. However, the city can pay $26.25/light/ month indefinitely with no initial payment for the infrastructure. When calculating interest on $38,454, the payback would take 34 years if paying the $26.25/light/month. A recommendation will be on the September 6 agenda.

7. JOINT COUNCIL/TRUSTEES: Another reminder of the joint council/trustee meeting on September 12 to discuss upcoming labor negotiations (see packet for union contract) and items of mutual interest.

8. WAY-FINDING SIGNS: Glen Cowan submitted the signage plan to the IDOT and they indicated some problems with one of the colors, a few places listed on some of the signs, straight forward arrows, and lettering font. The committee will meet with Shive Hattery to discuss how to address the IDOT comments/issues. The signs will be ordered once DOT gives their approval.

9. BRUSH: The Street Dept picked up brush from around 125 homes due to the August 6-7 & 11th storms. Our thanks to the crew!!

10. LIABILITY CLAIMS: Three claims have been submitted along with a fourth inquiry regarding the August 8th incident when a tree branch fell on an electric line at Iowa and “E” Street. When the branch fell it acted as a conductor between the 13.2 Kv and 4 Kv circuits and raised the voltage on the 4 kv system. The resulting power surge damaged electrical appliances in neighborhood homes.

This is a primary reason the Board of Trustees continue to invest in the underground conversion project and the on-going tree trimming program.

The Iowa Community Insurance Pool is not finding Electric Department negligence or liability.

11. STORMWATER REPAIRS: To date, all pipe on E. Euclid, E. Girard, S. Buxton and W. Boston has been completed. The contractor intends to start the W. Iowa area next week. Streets, driveways and sidewalks are completed on Euclid and Girard, and a portion on Boston. Grading of drainage areas and detention ponds still need to be completed. The project appears to be on schedule with minimal changes.

12. UTILITY BILLING: Billing Clerk Lindsey Offenburger reports 204 customers receive their bill online and 1329 are registered to pay online. The numbers are growing but we are working to get more online bills to reduce paper and postage.

13. MEMORIAL POOL: Recreation Superintendent Doug Bylund has compared the expensed and revenues from January – August of this year and 2010.

Revenues Expenses
2011: $157,756.82 2011: $141,829.46
2010: $159,125.32 2010: $150,498.26

The revenues are only through August 17, and there is still 9 days the pool will be open which gives potential for increased revenue.

Friday, August 12, 2011

News Items August 15, 2011

1. 15th STREET: Steve Bonnett and Brian Seymour have approved temporary parking on the west side of 15th Street on August 19 for the Indianola Community School’s first football game. They are unable to use Simpson since it is still under construction.

2. SIDEWALK PROGRAM: According to Community Development Office Manager Mindi Robinson, 90 sidewalk letters were mailed on the 11th to advise homeowners that a contractor has been hired to complete the necessary repairs. The letter also provides their cost. May Construction Company is the low bid contractor and will begin work no sooner than August 29. Homeowners who complete their sidewalk repairs prior to that date will not be charged by the city.

3. TIF Committee: A committee comprised of Pam Pepper, Grant Johnson, Mike Coppess and Jean Furler is meeting August 23 to review the three city urban renewal areas. A report will be brought to the September committee meeting.

4. Fire Bays: At the last committee meeting a question was asked regarding how much additional space would be added for just adding bays. Brian indicated an additional 3,000 sq. ft. would be added to the current 5,486’ now. Also, Mike Allen of Shive-Hattery indicates there would NOT be a reduction in costs due to past improvements.