Mayor Kay Gifford called the Council Meeting to order. Roll call showed council members present were: Patrick Nelson, Nancy Kuehl, Bruce Engelke, and Tyler Draper. Absent: Johanna Homan. Others present were: Abby Nelson, Nancy Hill, Mari Radtke, Rich Van Beek, Brent Koppie, Kenny Frank and Amanda Vanderhoff.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Draper to approve the agenda, previous minutes, and clerk’s report. Roll call: Ayes – Nelson, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Absent: Homan. All in favor. Motion carried.
No Guests.
No Public Comments.
Council asked a few questions on the bills. A motion was made by Engelke seconded by Draper to pay the bills. Roll call: Ayes – Nelson, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Absent: Homan. All in favor. Motion carried.
Economic Development Report was given by Nelson. The new website should be ready by February. The Board is working on new ideas for a commercial abatement plan. They will try to have 2 members for the Community Fund Board by next month.
Library report was given by Director Nancy Hill. Nancy read through her report. They have had steady attendance and the city sign has been used frequently. The library will be participating in the golf on Saturday for Hometown Christmas. The Board is currently looking for one new board member. Cruz Electric is replacing the interior lights for the MidAmerican rebate program. A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Engelke to approve Jeremy Schatz to the Library Board. All in favor. Motion carried.
Fire and Ambulance Report was given by the city clerk. There were 11 ambulance calls and 1 fire call. There will be elections for officers at the regular January meeting.
Police Report was moved to the end of the meeting.
Communications and topics for discussion:
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Kuehl to keep the length of the no interest loan agreement with the County at 5 years. Roll call: Ayes – Nelson, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Absent: Homan. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Draper seconded by Engelke to approve the liquor license for Main Market. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Kuehl to approve a donation to Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. for $470.00. Roll call: Ayes – Nelson, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Absent: Homan. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Engelke to approve the appointments of Jill Jurgensen, Rebecca Webster, Ed Johannsen, Liz Peters, and Savanna Sickelka to the RL Johannsen Board. All in favor. Motion carried.
The budget workshop will be held on December 18th at 6:00 pm.
Standing Committee Reports:
Water – 2,001,056 gallons in at the tower. The new part for the water tower was delivered.
Streets – Council discussed the bridge on North Oak Street. The flood washed out material underneath the bridge. This will be further discussed at the budget workshop. Council received its first bid for road repairs from Fuller and Sons. Still waiting on a bid from Blacktop Services.
Sanitation (sewer) – 1,596,000 gallons into the ponds.
Town Property – No report.
Park – The clerk explained to council the city owned lot that was thought to be the Arboretum was actually the lot to the south that the city relinquished back to the Steinert Estate in 2011. Council received 3 bids for snow removal at the park 1. Rich Schuknecht: $100/per; 2. Draper: 0-3” – $75.00/per, 3” and above – $100.00/per; 3. Gordy Richter: under 2” – $20.00/per, 2-5” – $40.00/per, and 5” and above $80.00/per. A motion was made by Draper seconded by Engelke to approve Gordy Richter’s bid. Roll call: Ayes – Nelson, Kuehl, Engelke, and Draper. Absent: Homan. All in favor. Motion carried.
Weeds and Debris – Clerk will contact AgState about vehicles parked on Northside of gravel lot.
Lights – MidAmerican is working on the lamp post lights that are not working on 2nd street.
Sanitary Service (garbage) – No Report.
Police Report was given by Chief Brent Koppie. Chief Koppie introduced Officer Kenny Frank. Jared Johnson from the O’Brien County EMS was able to provide 2 radios for the officers from the 911 Fund, the department received a donation of additional used tasers and United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association donated 2 stop sticks to the department. Chief Koppie discussed introducing a K9 policy to the department. Cain Junkman, a current part-time officer, has a dog that has been certified for drug searches, the department would like to start utilizing this service. This will be addressed at the next meeting. A proposed 28E agreement to provide police services to Calumet was discussed with council. Calumet has agreed to pay $10,000.00 a year for these proposed services. The clerk will contact the city attorney to get the agreement prepared for the next council meeting.
A motion was made by Engelke seconded by Draper to adjourn. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Mayor Kay Gifford
Amanda Vanderhoff, City ClerkPublished in O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier December 19, 2024

Sutherland, Iowa
Bills 12/09/2024

GENERAL
R.L. Johannsen
rent $700.00
Marcus New
legals $351.06
Visual Edge IT
copier $27.29
Smith, Grigg, Shea, & Klinker
fees $561.50
USPS
mailing fee $350.00
Westel
serv. $171.15
Well Fargo
copier $79.00
POLICE
Verizon
cell $61.14
Iowa Public Safety
Oct/Dec $300.00
Mapleton Police Department
equip $300.00
AlphaWireless
spls $25.00
CarGo
fuel $147.24 – Oct/Nov
Zubs
repair $438.58
fuel $167.47
Westel
serv. $38.04
Amazon
equip $366.85
DetectaChem
spls $204.57
One Office Solution
spls $334.99
WATER
MidAmerican Energy
service $40.34
Verizon
cell $17.05
IRWA
membership fees $305.00
Foundation
labs $16.50
Westel
serv $39.46
Security State Bank
loan rural water $10,495.92
Team Lab
chem $467.00
SCE
107 4th St/ 506 Main St $4,042.49
USABlueBook
parts $608.07
Osceola Rural
water $4,395.27
SEWER
MidAmerican Energy
serv $14.10
Verizon
cell $17.05
State Revolving Loan
lagoon $6,265.00
$341.25
Team Lab
chem $467.00
GARBAGE
Town & Country
contract $5,826.70
NW IA Area Solid Waste
tonnage $2,467.50 – Oct/Nov
PARK
Mid American
serv $38.64
BB $30.73
SL $10.00
Fall Zone Construction
install $1,462.95
Team Lab
chem $467.00
Sweeney’s Farm
spls $416.97
LIBRARY
MidAmerican
service $175.00
Baker & Taylor
books $50.72
Leaf
copier $128.25
Westel
serv. $69.89
Gina Kiehn
labor $175.00
Valley Glass
repair $423.00
BF&S
application $99.08
Dustin Thill
mileage $32.00
Main Market
spls $69.63
ROAD USE TAX
MidAmerican Energy
St Lights $1,650.80
Shop $157.46
Verizon
cell $17.04
Sutherland Implement
equip $876.00
Zubs
fuel $203.79
Westel
serv. $149.62
Team Lab
chem $467.00
Etherell
repair $299.62
Main Market
spls $7.48
Sweeney’s Farm
spls $66.98
FIRE AND AMBULANCE
MidAmerican
service $116.62
Verizon
cell $40.01
Orange City Health
assist $147.00
CRMC
assist $525.00 – Oct/Nov
Zubs
fuel $164.89
Main Market
spls $23.98
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Wellmark Bl Cross
health ins
RV $1,075.14 per month
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 December 19, 2024
TOTAL EXPENSES $48,119.08
General Fund $3,541.18
Road Use Tax $5,833.38
Economic Development $-
Insurance $-
TIF $-
Police Fund $9,498.33
Water Fund $7,612.21
City Sign $-
Employee Benefits $2,264.65
Sewer Fund $5,313.87
Garbage Fund $7,115.92
Lib Cap Impr $-
Library Fund $5,534.64
Fire & Ambulance Fund $1,110.98
$-
Park Fund $293.92
Emergency Fund $-
Water Meter Project $- TOTAL REVENUES $66,522.31
General Fund $3,134.34
Road Use Tax $7,499.46
Economic Development $-
Debt Service $2,971.27
Tax Inc. Finance $9,888.91
Police Fund $16,378.34
Community $7,638.58
Insurance $5,191.44
Employee Benefits $624.75
Water Fund $4,343.85 Sewer Fund $3,894.14 Garbage Fund $1,997.00 Lib Cap Impr $- Library Fund $1,126.82 Library Reserve $20.00 Fire & Ambulance Fund $- Fire & Ambulance Reserve $800.00 Park Fund $877.41
Franchise Tax $-
City Sign $136.00
Published in O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier December 19, 2024a