The Archer Council heard a few upkeep requests from Bill Engeltjkes. Engelktjes noted to Council that the flag flying in the City Park was tattered and should be replaced. He suggested other regular maintenance needs such as keeping the garbage emptied and weeds,
Brad Veit, Iowa Lakes Rural Water (ILWR), provided an update to Council about the Archer wastewater financial performance for the past year. Net income was positive at the end of the 2023 fiscal year. ILRW Net income was negative more than $6500 in 2022. It ended 2023 with a net income of $13,731.36. The retained earnings grew by just over $24,000. Long tem liabilities fell by nearly $18,000.
A lengthy discussion with Library Board President Katie Morgan followed. She shared a draft agreement with Primghar library that resulted from a June 26 meeting between the two library boards. All cities in Iowa are required to provide library services for their citizens. Many smaller communities contract with nearby communities to provide the service. Since the closure of the Archer library facilty in February Archer residents have had mobile service provided by Archer Library Director Annee Carlson. Discussions with nearby libraries began almost immediately. The leading arrangement for Archer is with Primghar. Some questions remain for council members and after much discussion, Councilman Stephen Meyer requested that a meeting with representatives of Archer and Primghar Library boards and Archer City Council meet together to discuss remaining questions and concerns of how a shared employee might work. Councilman Troy Iedema doesn’t see how paying personnel working all hours at the Primghar Library would benefit Archer residents. He suggested paying that library more money directly and the pay an employee as the choose. The O’Brien County Board of Supervisors funded half of the spring allotment to the Archer library. The logic behind the decision was that Carlson is providing services to Archer residents but there is no facility. Council took no action about library director’s wages noting that is a library board decision.
Council had been discussing terminating the lease with Brad Puhrmann for the space in the old school building. The lease is automatically renewed each July 1. The lease binds the city to maintenance and repairs of the library and community room areas of the building. According to City Attorney Micah Schreurs, the city must also maintain insurance. Since a new lease is in effect Puhrmann must agree to end the lease. Discussion between attorneys and insurance companies continues about liability for the damage in February.
Although Archer is not in a flood plain, the city has been approved for flood insurance coverage. Any property owner may now apply to purchase flood insurance from the federal government.
The purchase of swings for the City Park was approved, and a review of the Emergency Operation Plan received many comments from Meyer and Councilwoman Vanessa Harig.
City Clerk Sandy Fritz said she would make necessary adjustments to the City Budget after Council reviewed Ambulance contracts. Initially it was believed that Sheldon Ambulance was the only contracting entity for that service. Fritz reported that Archer also holds ambulance service contracts with Sanborn and Primghar. Current call rates are $380 per call with annual increases of $10.