City of East Dubuque City Council met Oct. 28.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Please Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance
1. 19-1025 Call to Order - Mayor VanOstrand
Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner. Absent – Alderman Arling and Attorney Terry Kurt
2. 19-1026 Review of Agenda -- Mayor VanOstrand
Mayor VanOstrand reviewed agenda and asked if there are any speakers from the floor. No speakers from the floor.
3. 19-1027 Speakers from the Floor
Pete Pearson – With snow coming wondering if we have a new city employee? Waiting on City Manager Herrig will have new employee by the 1st of the year. Have adequate employees for snow removal. New employee will be learning both water and wastewater, will take 5 to 6 years for certification
TJ Potts - Superintendent for schools letting City know the round school site for Fire Department is goodwill jester.
Second Speakers from the Floor
Mike Meyer - The 3:30 bars are not the only reason for referendum.
Pete Pearson - City worker will be $18 to $21 an hour depending on their experience.
Larry Havner - Tax increase. County is raising 10% and didn't ask. Council is only touching a little not all that needs to be done.
Glen Naab - Wish to support Mayor and City Manager.
OLD BUSINESS:
4. 19-1028 Discussion and Possible Action to Proceed with a New Fire Station for the City of East Dubuque / Mayor VanOstrand, City Manager Herrig
Previous Council thought there was a need for a new Fire Station.
Alderperson Stelpflug - Oppose using lots. Thinks they should be used for revenue (not lose the revenue) and will take parking spaces away from downtown.
Alderman Belken – Alternative sites at round school and across street have a blind spot. So will not work. Joe Heim said the Ambulance was the last new item they have bought. Trying to be progressive. Fire Station and Fire Apparatus needs to be 1.5 miles from every location. Fire Department meets this with exception of 2 areas where they are now. ISO rating of a 4 is a savings for homeowners and businesses. Joe thinks we should keep going to get a price. Note that each year it will go up 5 to 10 % more from what we get quoted now. Grants are going to want hard numbers. Round school bridge cannot take the load of trucks daily going over it.
Motion by Alderman Degenhardt to Proceed with a New Fire Station for the City of East Dubuque second by Alderperson Pearson ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner
5. 19-1018 Discussion and Possible Action on Proceeding with Public Safety Improvement Study for Fire, Ambulance and Police / Mayor VanOstrand, City Manager Herrig
Mike Ruden, Joe Heim and Tom Lange joined for this discussion,
Need to get a location nailed down.
Round school not adequate for Fire Station. Hill, building has asbestos, no walls for 18 ft garage doors, Place that would work is the football field but not moving that. If football field would be used will need to build new bridge onto Highway 35. Mike Ruden does not recommend this site. City would still be interested when able to use area where football field stands for water detention (storm water control area). This would be a big project that state would give 4.2 million for storm water control.
Land is the most expensive expense. City already owns the 4 lots. Old station would be repurposed into police station.
Alderperson Pearson - Where is money coming from? Fire Department will jump on any grants they can get but will need to show good faith that the citizens want Fire Station. Will be 50% citizens and 50% grants. Grant people want to see skin in the game.
Motion by Alderman Belken to Proceed with Public Safety Improvement Study for Fire,
Ambulance and Police second by Alderman Werner ROLL CALL; Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner Motion carried (lots across the street)
6. 19-1019 Discussion and Possible Action on Obtaining Purchase Option on Additional Land for Public Safety Improvements / Mayor VanOstrand, City Manager Herrig
Purchase of additional land for Fire Station ties the property up for the city. Negotiate with property owners. Will then let Fire Station be centered on all the lots and give enough room between the other buildings. Will need purchase order passed by council.
Motion by Alderman Degenhardt to Obtain Purchase Option on Additional Land for Public Safety Improvements second by Alderman Werner ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner Motion carried
NEW BUSINESS:
7. 19-1029 Discussion and Possible Action to Accept Resignation of Jen Breitbach from Zoning Board of Appeals / Mayor VanOstrand, City Manager Herrig
Motion by Alderman Belken to Accept Resignation of Jen Breitbach from Zoning Board of Appeals second by Alderman Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes – Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner Motion carried
8. 19-1030 Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Appointment of Jack Olinger to Fill Vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals / Mayor VanOstrand, City Manager Herrig
Motion by Alderman Belken to Approve Appointment of Jack Olinger to Fill Vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals second by Alderperson Pearson ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner Motion carried
9. 19-1031 Discussion and Possible Action on Proposed Changes to Alcohol License Ordinance / Mayor VanOstrand, City Manager Herrig
Increase Law enforcement. Not just curb downtown but also need to do the other things city is asking of them like drugs. How do we fund more officers to get the funding? In 2018 there was $80,000 in overtime. Time for the city to do what is good for the city.
Questions to put on referendum - raise taxes, have an earlier closing time.
Motion by Alderman Belken for Referendum second by Alderman Werner ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt and Alderman Werner Nays - Alderperson Pearson and Alderperson Stelpflug Motion carried
Asked if there should be anything done with alcohol fees? Should alcohol fees be raised to cost of living?
Motion by Alderman Belken for Alcohol Fees be Raised to Cost of Living second by Alderman Degenhardt ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson and Alderman Werner Nays - Alderperson Stelpflug Motion carried
Motion by Alderperson Stelpflug to Table Proposed Changes to Alcohol License Ordinance second by Alderperson Pearson ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner Motion carried
10. 19-1032 Adjourn
End Time: 7:35 p.m.
Motion by Alderman Degenhardt to Adjourn second by Alderperson Pearson ROLL CALL: Ayes - Alderman Belken, Alderman Degenhardt, Alderperson Pearson, Alderperson Stelpflug and Alderman Werner
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