by Mari Radtke
City Clerk Michelle Wilson reported during the financial reporting part of the regular May 20 meeting that Deputy Clerk Alex Griggs found a $7100.00 imbalance in the cash of the city. Wilson reported that the city’s software won’t allow a correction and that they are working with software tech in how to do that. Wilson further explained that they believe the imbalance has been in place since July 2022, the month when the last City Treasurer resigned. Clerk staff are looking into the imbalance to see if the problem is coming from a fund or if there are utility billing errors.
The also reported some financial conditions of note. The sewer fund is quite low. It just made an annual loan payment that caused it to “overdraw.” The electric fund is in a similar circumstance due to a switchgear project line item for both parts of that project was never created. She has corrected that and true balances will be in place soon.
Scheduled TIF payments were not budgeted into the current year. Making those payments also cause and over budget issue for that account.
The public hearing most recently set for May 6 and rescheduled to May 20 reportedly due to a “publishing issue” is getting another resolution to reschedule. Mayor Marlin Sjaarda reported another publishing issue. The newest resolution calls for the public hearing to accept a construction contract for the switchgear project to be rescheduled to a special meeting on Wednesday May 29 which was passed.
A public hearing for the budget amendment brought no member of the public or any written comments. The budget amendment was approved.
The John Deere lease to purchase contract was discussed. Council could choose to complete the 2-years remaining on the contract and return the equipment but decided that is not cost effective. The could also choose to buyout the lease at $168,471.00. They were given the option to finance over the next 5 years, at the same annual payment, having 0% for three years and a low interest rate for the remaining three averaging 2.9% over the life of the financing. This option includes the extended warranty on the equipment. Councilman Dennis Werkmeister questioned the need for the mini-X, a small excavator, when the city already owns a back hoe. The explanation is that the mini-X can work in more confined spaces. The financing option with all 3 pieces of equipment was selected by council with a vote of 4-1, Werkmeister opposed.
Burying the electric wiring around the school was brought up. A proposed contract was presented to council for that project. It was reported that the district would pay 50% of the labor cost to install all equipment and it would pay 66.67% of all the materials and equipment for the school’s wiring needs as part of the bonding project. Council approved the contract which consisted of a resolution and a cost schedule. Mayor Sjaarda was asked of legal counsel had looked over the contract to which he responded, “yes.” He was asked if the project is paid for from school bond funds to which Sjaarda replied, “no.” The mayor was asked if the school board had approved the contract to which he said he did not know. Clerk Wilson said they started paying their share. (She later amended that to the school has been billed its, not paid).
According to School Superintendent Wade Riley, he has been requesting the contract since January or February. The school board has not approved the contract. Burying the lines has always been part of the school upgrade project and any costs the district approves for burying the lines will come from the bond funds. One of the transformers has been put in place.
Paullina’s Code of Ordinances is overdue for updates. Payment to Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission (NWIPDC) for the task was approved in 2022 with completion in 2023. The project has not moved forward. The $4000 cost is budgeted into the current year.
A variance to the garbage fees for Wonderland Theater and O’Brien County’s Bell-Times-Courier was denied unanimously. In-depth rate adjustments will take place at a special meeting May 29.
A request by the Paullina Post Office to remove specified roads as post roads was discussed, the procedure to have delivery to any street described. A petition by residents on North Mickley was submitted. The request is for rural delivery to a bank of mailboxes to that street. Additional requests for street delivery are expected. The ordinance amendment is expected to have readings scheduled.
The budget for having the downed Ash trees chipped and removed has been met with a field full of trees remaining. Discussion of relocating the trees and burning them was discussed. Councilman Steve Heeren shared with the council that burning at the ponds where the tree dump is located is a nuisance to residents in the east central part of Paullina. The smoke gets into homes and forces people inside. He suggested looking for a suitable place outside the city.