The Paullina City Council met in regular session on June 19, 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: Police Chief Nathan Bremer, Fire Chief Ryan Harper, Superintendent Kelly Top, Deputy Clerk Michelle Wilson, Assistant Clerk Alex Griggs. Guests: Glenda Heithus, Marlin Sjaarda, Abby Hansen, Kris & Jason Wilbur, John Ihle, Roma Kluender & Mwamba Ngeleka (arrived: 6:15pm). Press: Radtke.
Motion by Honkomp; second by Unrau to approve agenda with revisions. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Unrau; second by Murphy to approve minutes from 6/5/23 regular meeting. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Unrau; second by Honkomp to approve payment of claims. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Murphy; second by Honkomp to approve renewal of cigarette permit for Prairie Market. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Murphy; second by Unrau to approve renewal of all tobacco products permit for Casey’s #3730. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Unrau; second by Honkomp to approve renewal of cigarettes/tobacco permit for Dollar General #20191. All ayes. Motion carried.
After much discussion & comments from Abby Hansen, motion by Jones; second by Unrau to table the amended No Parking Zones Ordinance.
Brief discussion of removed agenda items related to food truck permits & animal control. Will be included in a future meeting.
Motion by Heeren; second by Murphy to approve resolution authorizing wage payment for City employees for FY24. Roll call vote: Ayes: Heeren, Honkomp, Jones, Murphy, Unrau. Resolution approved.
Motion by Unrau; second by Murphy to approve resolution hiring outside laborer candidate at $18/hour. Tyler Wilbur will start Tuesday.
Brief discussion on library procedural proposals that will be included at a future meeting.
Motion by Jones; second by Unrau to approve resolution to designate the official City of Paullina websites as cityofpaullina.com & paullinaiowa.gov. All other sites are unofficial & must be discontinued immediately. Roll call: Ayes: Heeren, Honkomp, Jones, Murphy, Unrau. Resolution approved.
Motion by Murphy; second by Honkomp to table appointment of TCA At-Large Board Member until a future meeting. All ayes. Motion carried. After discussion, motion by Unrau; second by Honkomp to table appointing new Programming Committee member until a future meeting. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Murphy; second by Heeren for resolution to approve the indemnification & hold harmless agreement between City & Janet I. Lange for lagoon/dump road access. Ayes: Heeren, Honkomp, Jones, Murphy, Unrau. Resolution approved.
Mayor Ebel Kruse shared that the 14th Annual Paullina Gemboree will be this weekend. Utility Superintendent Top reported on activities of his crew, including drainage issue by CarboTech. Fire Chief Harper shared about the rib cook-off competition & a July 15 golf tournament. He also announced that they received the O’Brien County Community Foundation grant of $7,500 for specialized swiftwater & ice rescue equipment. Police Chief Bremer had no report.
Council Comments: Jones noted a large number of charges on the itemized attorney bill that are tied to a certain person & will further investigate. Discussion of City’s next steps for the E Broadway property determined that an on-site burndown is not advised due to proximity of transmission lines so it will need to be cleared & taken to the dump to safely burn there.
Open opportunity to address the Council: Jason & Kris Wilbur of JW’s spoke about their frustrations from the complexity of the food truck permit process & asked it to be simplified like other towns, especially when they already run a restaurant here in town. Glenda Heithus mentioned that speeding tickets have been given on South Maple & suggested a flier to inform residents of major decisions to be discussed. Abby Hansen asked if affected residents could be contacted in relation to specific ordinance amendments. John Ihle stated he has served 4 years on the programming committee. Mwamba Ngeleka addressed his multiple nuisances at 313 E Broadway that he’s owned for a decade or more. He wants more time (30 days) to re-license the moving truck & trailer he leaves parked there. It was suggested he consider listing the property for sale if he can no longer afford to repair or renovate it to be habitable.
Motion by Murphy; second by Unrau to adjourn at 7:30 p.m. All ayes. Motion carried.
Brenda Ebel Kruse, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Wilson, Deputy City Clerk
Published in O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier July 6, 2023