Sutherland, Iowa City Council Meeting – July 1, 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, Nancy Kuehl, and Bruce Engelke. Tyler Draper and Johanna Homan were absent. Others present were: Elaine French, Nancy Hill, Cain Junkman, Jill Jurgensen, Leah Morris, Kaylee Bandstra, Mari Radtke, Brent Koppie, Rich Van Beek and Amanda Vanderhoff.
A motion was made by Kuehl seconded by Engelke to approve the agenda and previous minutes. All in favor. Motion carried.
Leah Morris gave a presentation of the new city website to council. Leah went over the new features of the website. Leah and Economic Development are hoping to be able to launch the new site in a couple weeks. Council thanked Leah for her donated time in creating the new website.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Engelke to pay the bills. Roll call: Ayes – Nelson, Kuehl, and Engelke. Absent: Draper and Homan. Motion carried.
Economic Development report was given by Patrick Nelson. The board is discussing an update to the Spruce Up Sutherland program. They will have more information in October. The board has been discussing the issue of abandoned houses/buildings in Sutherland. They discussed with council their next step in contacting the owners. The alfalfa at the industrial park is ready. The clerk will contact the attorney on how the alfalfa can be sold.
Library report was given by Director Nancy Hill. The board is looking for 2 new members. Richard Radtke resigned after serving 8 years. The library has started to ord yard tree was removed. The tree was hollow. The board plans to move the flagpole over to where the tree stood.
Fire and Ambulance report was provided by Chief Rich Van Beek. They had 9 ambulance calls and 0 fire calls. Pro-Hydro will be testing the tanks and Chief Van Beek will order the bunker gear from the O’Brien County Foundation Grant. Firefighter 1 training will start this fall.
Police report was given by Chief Brent Koppie. Chief Koppie provided council with the statistics from June. There was 14 citations and 20 warnings given.
Communications and topics for discussion:
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Kuehl to approve the liquor license for the R.L. Johannsen Center. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Engelke to approve closing the east side of the parking lot at the park on August 30, 2025 from 10 am – 1pm for a tractor drive. All in favor. Motion carried.
The fireworks ordinance was reviewed by council. The ordinance will be changed to comply with the new state law, but council wanted to table further changes to the ordinance until the next meeting.
A motion was made by Engelke seconded by Nelson to set the date for the budget amendment to August 4, 2025. All in favor. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Kuehl to approve Resolution 2025-23: Resolution Approving Wages for City a Employee for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Roll call: Ayes – Engelke, Nelson, and Kuehl. Absent: Draper and Homan. Motion carried.
Standing Committee Reports:

Water – 2,365,240 gallons in at the tower.
Streets – Rich will start patching the streets.
Sanitation (sewer) – 4,325,000 gallons at the ponds.
Town Property – The city is hiring R1 Excavating and Bird Seed, LLC to fill in the stump holes and reseed. Nick thought they would start mid-August. The speed sign on M12 will be installed soon and council told Rich to order the snowblower.
Park – The sidewalk at the park is finished. 4 trees from the park were removed.
Weeds and Debris – The clerk will put out a notice for bids on mowing nuisance properties in Sutherland.
Lights –No report.
Sanitary Landfill – No report.
A motion was made by Nelson seconded by Engelke to adjourn. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Mayor Kay Gifford
Amanda Vanderhoff, City Clerk

Sutherland, Iowa Bills 7/7/2025

GENERAL
R.L. Johannsenrent $700.00
Westel serv $350.14
May/Jun
Visual IT copier $24.14
Smith, Grigg, Shea & Klinker
legal fees $504.00
Wells Fargo copier $158.00 May/June
Main Market spls $2.98
Marcus New legals $222.75
Trenton
Lawn Care 510 W 1st $175.00
IA Dept of Inspection & Appeals license $151.50
POLICE
Verizon cell $101.16
Westel serv $76.20
May/June
Zub fuel $502.91
May/June Amazon spls $19.97
PAMCH MMPI $255.00
WATER
MidAmerican Energy service $39.17
Verizon cell $17.05
DNR Annual fee $168.38
Westel serv $79.04 May/June
Foundation labs $16.50
Osceola Co Rural
water $10,572.84
May/June
USPS utility mailing/CCR $198.24
Marcus New CCR $220.25
ClerkBooks postcards $79.00
SEWER
MidAmerican Energy serv $160.29
Verizon cell $17.05
USPS utility mailing $105.84
Foundation labs $145.25
ClerkBooks postcards $79.00
Rehab Systems repair $1,500.00
GARBAGE
Town and Country
contract $5,826.70
NW IA Area Solid Waste
tonnage $1,527.54 – May
PARK
Mid American serv $39.64
BB $40.90
SL $10.00
Zub fuel $174.66
May/June
Bird Seed, LLC grass $182.00
Amazon equip $156.85
LIBRARY
MidAmerican service $205.00
Baker & Taylor books $50.16
Westel serv $150.40
May/June
Leaf copier $163.50
Amazon spls $772.74
Mark Pump repair $161.76
Main Market spls $84.07
Menards spls $95.95
May/June
Pye Barker Fire
inspect/spls $470.00
ROAD USE TAX
MidAmerican Energy
St Lights $1,594.33
Shop $194.66
Verizon cell $17.05
Sweeney Farm & Home
spls $1,820.69
Westel serv. $299.47
May/June
Zub fuel $489.01
May/June
Main Market spls $15.83
Menards spls $152.24
USPS tree notice $92.40
Fuller & Sons paving $70,000.00
Schwebach Tree Service
removal $38,593.75
FIRE AND AMBULANCE
MidAmerican service $145.28
Verizon cell $40.01
Bound Tree spls $77.77
Westel serv $180.84
May/June
Bound Tree spls $206.56
CRMC assist $175.00
Zub fuel $296.05
May/June
Main Market $51.08
Fire Hose Direct spls $136.38

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Wellmark Bl Cross health ins
RV $1,075.14 per month
IMWCA work comp $5,415.00
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
One Office Solution spls $51.92
Wix website $410.75
VOLUNTEER FEES
Landon Lenhart $290.00
Luke Lenhart $80.00
Mark Shriver $20.00
Gail Mauer $50.00
Sheri Drefke $210.00
Walter Kummerfeld $10.00
Brian Gunnerson $30.00
Steve Loshman $90.00
Bianca Shriver $150.00
Scott Waggoner $80.00
Devon Jones $70.00
Rich Van Beek $200.00
Blake Morris $70.00
Josh Ries $80.00
Landon Lenhart $290.00