The Paullina City Council met in regular session on April 17, 2023 in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 127 S Main St, Paullina, Iowa. Mayor Brenda Ebel Kruse called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call. Council Members present: Steve Heeren, Jay Jones, Jean Unrau, Carol Honkomp, Lexy Murphy. Mayor Ebel Kruse declared a quorum.
Also present: Deputy Clerk Michelle Wilson, Fire Chief Ryan Harper, Library Director Matt Dengler.
Guests: Glenda Heithus, Marlin Sjaarda. Press: Radtke.
Motion by Murphy; second by Honkomp to approve agenda. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Unrau; second by Honkomp to approve minutes from 4/3 regular meeting with addition of Heeren to ayes for SOHS grad banner installation. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Unrau; second by Murphy to approve payment of claims, including additional ones. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Honkomp; second by Murphy to approve applicant Jordan Wulf as Junior member of Fire Dept. All ayes. Motion carried.
Personnel: discussion of assistant clerk role/duties; send police ad to area colleges with criminal justice programs; put cleaning person flier around town & on Facebook.
Motion by Jones; second by Unrau to approve pay $2/hour raise for deputy clerk effective 4/10. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Unrau; second by Heeren to approve immediate start date for summer help Riedemann. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Honkomp; second by Unrau to approve ads for assistant clerk (Marcus News & Golden Shopper).
Motion by Honkomp; second by Unrau to approve fiscal sponsorship of Wonderland Theater for OBCCD grant to install new seats & update flooring/ceiling. All ayes. Motion carried.
Discussion on community beautification. City only doing 4 hanging baskets on Main/Broadway square. Individual pots can be placed in front of businesses who choose to participate in planting & caring for flowers.
Motion by Murphy; second by Jones to allow Kelly Top to lead ash tree removal process with a priority on trimming ones in power lines. All ayes. Motion carried.
Mayor Ebel Kruse explained the lease/rental program for large equipment with AgriVision. Motion by Murphy; second by Heeren to approve entering into this agreement. Ayes: Murphy, Heeren, Unrau. Nays: Honkomp, Jones. Motion carried. Rich Frerk Jr arrived later to give further details & answer questions.
Further discussion/questions over website proposals from Spireworks, Pinnacle, & Marcus News. Mayor Ebel Kruse shared Iowa code regarding a city’s website/content noting that the past website was not up to Iowa Code for multiple reasons. Some Council members received an email from John Ihle with complaints & concerns over ownership of domain & site content, despite the fact he sold the City’s site & domain name (paullinaiowa.com) to the Radtkes of Marcus News last fall without even informing the City, while hosting had been paid through April 2023.
Mayor Ebel Kruse shared statements from Spireworks: “Simply put, if you (the City) purchased the domain name, you own the domain name. As far as ownership of the site & content, you have full ownership of that as well. … In my experience, what happened to you with your old site & domain name, is unheard of. I simply can’t imagine someone doing business that way.” Motion by Jones; second by Unrau to approve Spireworks for a new city website design & hosting. Ayes: Honkomp, Jones, Murphy, Unrau. Nays: Heeren.
Motion by Jones; second by Unrau to approve resolution to accept DGR’s bid recommendation awarding Harold K Scholz Co the contract furnishing 15kV outdoor sheltered aisle switchgear at $795,000. Roll call vote. AYES: Heeren, Honkomp, Jones, Murphy, Unrau. NAYS: None.
Motion by Jones; second by Unrau to approve resolution for task order amendment 3 to the DGR Engineering Master Professional Services Agreement effective April 17, 2023 to develop an Electric Distribution System Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Roll call vote. AYES: Heeren, Honkomp, Jones, Murphy, Unrau. NAYS: None.
Motion by Murphy; second by Honkomp for a resolution to cancel the special assessment on property owned by the City at 403 E Broadway St. AYES: Heeren, Honkomp, Jones, Murphy, Unrau. NAYS: None.
Motion by Murphy; second by Heeren to table property clearing approval until written bids can be shared with Council. All ayes. Motion carried.
Reports: Mayor Ebel Kruse shared that the City of Sheldon reimbursed Officer Morton’s training for $2800. Van Beek & Biery have classes/tests this week & next. City crews used 300,000 pounds of sand & salt from the County. That bill will likely be larger than what was budgeted. The quotes for street repair in the packet were for budget planning. Top’s report of activities was provided. Wilson shared that seasonal rate adjustments are being calculated for all accounts to reflect on next bill.
Fire Chief Ryan Harper spoke of busy season already due to extremely dry conditions. Plans to patch concrete driveway in front of the station. He’s recruiting more new members/equipment to grow the dept.
Library Director Matt Dengler informed the Council of a possible agreement coming from Archer’s Library to serve their patrons from here since their library building is no longer functional. The Library Board will lead that process along with the State.
Council comments: Honkomp said Primghar’s Council wants a workshop soon to further discuss sharing Clerk duties & crew coverage. Unrau asked about updated tech on existing computers.
Open opportunity to address the Council: Heithus spoke about a power pole & tree behind her home that needs to be checked by the City crew. She also shared about a $2000 grant from POET’s Ashton location. Radtke spoke up for a records request for a copy of the full email exchange with Spireworks. Mayor Ebel Kruse obliged & will send after the meeting.
Murphy motioned to adjourn. Unrau second. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:16 pm.
Brenda Ebel Kruse, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Wilson, Deputy Clerk
Published in the O’Brien County Bell-Times-Courier April 27, 2023

CITY CLAIMS REPORT-
4/17/23
CLAIMS REPORT
VENDOR
REFERENCE AMOUNT A&M Laundry
Mats, towels, mop 41.5
AT&T Mobility
March Bill 41.41
BoundTree Med
Vacuum splint set 699.99
CENEX
March Bill 1,341.74
Cherokee Reg Med
Paramedic Assist 175
Environmental Eqpt & Svc
Fuel pump 187.17
Frank Dunn
High-perf pothole patch 1,898.00 Hydraulic Solutions
Cable 55.65
IA Info Inc
Police Officer Ads 232.56
M. Wilson
IMFOA fees 52.68
Mid-American Energy
March Bill 174.04
NWIA Solid Waste
March Bill 1,557.74
NWICC
Firefighter CPR 30
OBCED
Donation FY 2022-2023 1,182.72
Office of State Auditor
Audit Filing Fees FY20 & FY21 425
OC Area Health
Megamover 29.22
Paullina Fire Dept
AgState Donation Fall 2022 500
Titan Machinery
Service Call/Electrical 1,120.00
Town&Country Disposal
March Bill 5,980.25
Zub’s Shop
New backhoe tires 668.39
GENERAL TOTAL $16,393.06
Mid-American Energy
March Bill 435.35
Paullina Bldg Center
Grinding wheel; drill bit; blade 92
Prairie Market
employee food 15.89
Zub’s Shop
New backhoe tires 668.39
WATER UT FUND TOTAL $1,211.63
Foundation Analytical Lab
Wastewater Test 231
Paullina Bldg Center Grinding wheel; drill bit; blade 92
Prairie Market
employee food 15.89
Zub’s Shop
New backhoe tires 668.4
SEWER UT FUND TOTAL $1,007.29
A&M Laundry
Mats, towels, mop 24.94
CENEX
March Bill 172.91
MRES
March Bill 31,320.02
Paullina Bldg Center
Grinding wheel; drill bit; blade 92
Prairie Market
employee food 15.89
RESCO
LED fix 2,760.00
Zub’s Shop
New backhoe tires 668.38
ELECTRIC UT FUND TOTAL 35,054.14
Accounts Payable Total 53,666.12
Published in the O’Brien County Bell-Times-Courier April 27, 2023