This story has been updated from the January 25 print version to  correct costs and schedules of the Aeration Project.

By Mari Radtke

Just before the approval of certain consent agenda items at the January 16 regular Paullina Council meeting, Mayor Marlin Sjaarda opened the floor to public comments. Glenda Heithus offered commentary on at least two decisions made by council during her absence from the January 2 meeting. Heithus ran an unsuccessful bid for a council seat during the 2023 election season and is the only candidate who regularly attended the meetings. The first issue Heithus brought to the attention of council is about the council’s decision to not choose “O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier,” which she referred to as “Paullina Times” as the city’s publication of records. She said, “I knew that when, I knew this was going to happen because I talked to someone before about this before and knew this was going to happen sooner or later, to the  “Paullina Times.” And also the website got axed before and namely because they do not like the people running it.”

The second issue Heithus addressed was the selection of the bank depositories. Each year the council selects the banks and sets deposit limits where its money can go. Council routinely selected Security State Bank, Iowa State Bank, both of which have staffed locations in Paullina, and Primghar Savings Bank of Primghar which has no physical presence in Paullina. Hiethus wanted to know why American State Bank in Granville, which has a machine and owns property in Paullina, was not selected. She noted that American State Bank has property and is a member of the chamber but was not selected.

In Sjaarda’s organization of how the council meetings would be run on January 2 he said any item could be addressed but council would make no responses. They held true to the first two concerns brought by Heithus.

The final issue brought to council by Heithus was a rumor she’d heard about “fire department” money. She implored council to find the money she believed to be in the general fund from year’s past instead of with the fire department and get it into the fire department fund “for when they are able to build” that new building.

A public hearing to consider the Paullina Lagoon Aeration project was opened. No written or spoken comments were entered into the record. The hearing closed properly and the council proceeded to discuss the project and its cost. Ben Groen, Beck Engineering attended to provide insight into the project. Groen gave an overview of the two bids submitted and informed the council of his knowledge and experience with each of the bidders, King Construction of Wall Lake and Cleringa Excavating of Alton, Iowa. Two types of aeration systems were considered, a flotation system and a submerged system. Groen had no preference for which system. He also indicated that the two different types of systems were utilized fairly evenly throughout communities. King Construction was the low bid for both system types. Council had to decide to move forward or not with the project on January 16. They would also need to decide which system type to use. Paullina currently has a submerged system. Floating is considered to have easier maintenance, but has a higher cost. The bid submitted by King Construction for the floating system is $341,043.00. With their base bid of $141,684.50 the total cost is 482,727.50. The submerged system bid is $293,092.00. With the added base bid amount a submerged system will cost the city $434,776.50. The bids are good for 30 days.

This project had originally been bid in May 2022 with all bids being rejected. Mayor Sjaarda asked what the urgency is now to do the projects.

Groen explained the city’s DNR permit for effluent release and that the aerators are part of controlling that release. “Technically right now, with the number of aerators not working the lagoons are not operating per the permit,” explained Groen.

Utility Superintendent Kelly Top explained the system has been “limping along.” He further reported that DNR staff he’s worked with recognize the age of the system and have not pushed too hard for upgrades.

The American Resuce Plan funds (ARPA) are designated to this project as required by the Act. The projects funded by ARPA funds must be completed by the end of 2026. The city’s ARPA funds are $134,000. The city would have to come up with approximately another $350,000 to pay for the project.

No decision or award for the project was made. Council will address the project at its next meeting since the bids are good for 30 days. No timeline was given by Beck Engineering.

The Urban Renewal report was approved by council and they were given the 2023 Annual Financial Report. Wilson reported that the city spent overbudget on 3 items. Urban Renewal reimbursements were underbudgeted. 

Tyler Wilbur was given a $.50 per hour raise as per hiring terms for reaching 6-months of satisfactory employment. Michelle Wilson was officially given the $2.00 per hour raise as agreed for performing satisfactorily in her position as City Clerk. The raise will be retroactive to the date of her appointment.

A schedule for the 2025 budget process was discussed. Three departments have submitted their budget request, fire, police and library. The police request is $261,729.47 and includes vehicle replacement funds. The fire department is requesting $112,330.00. The library budget request is $79,556.00 with anticipated income from other sources being $17,350.00.

Sjaarda expressed hopefulness that the other departments would have their budgets in by February 5,the next meeting. He said they would evaluate at that time if any special meetings in February would be necessary. The deadline to submit the budget is April 30, 2024.