Sutherland, Iowa City Council Meeting – June 3, 2024 – 7:00 PM – 110 Ash Street
Meeting Room
Mayor Kay Gifford called the council meeting to order. Roll call showed councilmembers present were Patrick Nelson, Johanna Homan, Nancy Kuehl, Bruce Engelke, and Tyler Draper. Others present were: Kiana Johnson, Richard Radtke, Todd Sohn, Dennis Templer, Bri Brands, Rich Van Beek and Amanda Vanderhoff.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Homan to approve the agenda, previous minutes and the clerk’s report. Roll call: Ayes: – Nelson, Homan, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Motion carried.
Kiana Johnson from O’Brien County Economic Development presented the council with their 2024 Annual Report. She thanked the City of Sutherland for their continued support and contributions.
Dennis Templer was present to ask the council to consider changing the ordinance to allow chickens. This change in ordinance was also discussed at the May meeting. The clerk presented Paullina’s ordinance and informed council on her discussion with the city attorney. Council was in agreement that they would be willing to allow chickens following Paullina’s ordinance with a couple changes. The clerk will prepare the new ordinance for council to consider at the July meeting.
There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Draper to pay the bills. Roll call: Ayes: – Nelson, Homan, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Motion carried.
Economic Development report was given by Nelson. A motion was made by Homan seconded by Draper to approve Jill Jurgenson to the Economic Development Board. All in favor. Motion carried. They did not have enough members to hold a meeting in May. Council member Nelson said they are looking for new members.
There was no library report.
Chief Mark Shriver was not present. Mayor Gifford informed council there were 12 ambulance calls and 2 fires call, 1 being a mutual aid call.
Police Report: There have been no applicants for the police position. The City of Sutherland offered the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Department financial reimbursement to provide law enforcement. Sheriff Bruce Devereaux declined. So other options for police service were discussed.
Communications and topics for discussion:
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Draper to approve Resolution 2024-23: Resolution to Transfer Funds from the Emergency Fund into the General Account for Fiscal Year End. Roll call: Ayes: – Engelke, Draper, Nelson, Kuehl, and Homan. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Draper seconded by Homan to approve Resolution 2024-24: Resolution Approving Wages for City Employees for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Roll call: Ayes: – Engelke, Draper, Nelson, Kuehl, and Homan. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Engelke seconded by Draper to approve Resolution 2024-25: Resolution to Authorize the City of Sutherland to Enter into a Contract and Convey Real Estate Owned by The City of Sutherland and Fixing a Date and the Hearing Thereof. Roll call: Ayes: – Nelson, Homan, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Homan to approve Stacey Zimmer to the Northwest Iowa Regional Housing Authority for a term of 3 years. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Standing Committee Reports:
Water – 2,052,035 gallons in at the tower. Rich started flushing the hydrants this week.
Streets and sidewalks – Rich would like to meet with the street committee on street repairs. The clerk will call Sweeney’s Farm and Home about the sidewalks outside of the business.
Sanitation (sewer) – 10,904,000 gallons at the ponds. Council discussed sump pumps hooked into the sewer system.
Town Property – No report.
Park – The park was awarded the O’Brien County Foundation Grant for a new slide at the park to replace the old tornado slide. The clerk will make calls to see who is maintaining the Arboretum.
Weeds and Debris – The clerk continues to send out letters to residents. Council discussed tree branches hanging over the streets.
Lights – MidAmerican is doing another outage on June 5th.
Sanitary Landfill –No report.
A motion was made by Engelke seconded by Draper to adjourn. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Mayor Kay Gifford
Amanda Vanderhoff, City Clerk
Published in O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier June 13, 2024

TOTAL EXPENSES $53,900.73
General Fund $4,379.19
Road Use Tax $15,783.12
Economic Development $230.00
Insurance $-
TIF $-
Police Fund $4,911.81
Water Fund $7,623.56
City Sign $-
Employee Benefits $2,186.77
Sewer Fund $2,698.48 Garbage Fund $8,301.50 Lib Cap Impr $- Library Fund $3,306.99 Fire & Ambulance Fund $2,418.21 $-
Park Fund $2,061.10
Emergency Fund $-
Water Meter Project $-
TOTAL REVENUES $94,593.36
General Fund $19,635.71
Road Use Tax $7,163.10
Economic Development $3,650.28
Debt Service $2,332.89
Tax Inc. Finance $3,578.92
Police Fund $-
Community $7,682.69
Insurance $3,650.28
Employee Benefits $-
Water Fund $3,081.58 Sewer Fund $2,931.26 Garbage Fund $1,608.20 Lib Cap Impr $381.19 Library Fund $8,424.59 Library Reserve $3,020.00 Fire & Ambulance Fund $5,790.00
Fire & Ambulance Reserve $15,080.00 Park Fund $5,480.17 Franchise Tax $- City Sign $1,102.50 Sutherland, Iowa Bills 6/3/2024
GENERAL
R.L. Johannsen
rent $600.00
Westel
serv $170.18 Apr
Marcus News
ad $513.23
NWIPDC
fees $408.85
ClerkBooks
checks $283.39
Visual IT
copier $13.91
USPS
box fee $120.00
Wells Fargo
copier $79.00
POLICE
Verizon
cell $61.08
Westel
serv $37.74 Apr
Marcus News
ad $297.38
Zub’s
o/c $64.35
fuel $194.10
carwash $28.00
WATER
MidAmerican Energy
service $40.85
Verizon
cell $17.03
Westel
serv $39.03 Apr
Security State Bank
loan rural water $10,495.92
Foundation
labs $16.50
AgState
spls $24.69
Osceola Co Rural
water $4,951.80 – Apr
Foundation
labs $161.75
SEWER
MidAmerican Energy
serv $192.45
Verizon
cell $17.03
Foundation
labs $64.00
SCE
jet main $367.00
Iowa Finance Authority
loans $38,866.25
$9,066.25
AgState
spls $24.69
JJSS
lagoon $350.00
GARBAGE
Town and Country
contract – $5,826.70
PARK
Mid American
serv $39.46
BB $14.95
SL $10.00
AgState
spls $24.69
T-D Tree Service
labor $175.00
Zub’s
fuel $124.77
LIBRARY
MidAmerican
service $211.00
Baker & Taylor
books $67.22
Westel
serv $70.51 Apr
Nancy Hill
mileage $44.00
Elaine French
spls $55.82
Leaf
copier $127.64
Amazon
spls $547.40
Sweeney Farm & Home
spls $96.58
ResourceMate
fees $393.00
Menards
mulch $49.40
LIBRARY CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT
Access Elevator
annual test $579.00
ROAD USE TAX
MidAmerican Energy
St Lights $1,670.17
Shop $292.48
Verizon
cell $17.02
Westel
serv $148.88 Apr
AgState
spls $24.69
AgriVision
spls $14.99
O’Brien Co Engineer
salt/sand $1,914.25
Napa
spls $82.95
Zub’s
tires/spls $826.89
fuel $267.62
FIRE AND AMBULANCE
MidAmerican
service $153.76
Verizon
cell $40.01
Westel
serv $90.54 Apr
Lexipol
classes $382.13
Zub’s
fuel $664.63
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Wellmark Bl Cross
health ins –
RV $1,038.02 per month
IMWCA
work comp premium $5,056.00
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Ahlers & Cooney
services $162.00
DEBT SERVICE
Security State Bank
Streets $12,000.00
Security State Bank
TIF $28,000.00
Published in O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier June 13, 2024