Lansing City Council appoints Deb Volker to fill Dave Darling’s vacant Council seat

by B.J. Tomlinson

In its regular session Monday night, May 11 (delayed last week for lack of a quorum), the Lansing City Council appointed Deb Volker to replace Dave Darling as Council member. Darling resigned last month because he moved outside the City limits. Volker will remain on the Council until the November, 2015 election and if elected will serve a two-year term.  She served on the Council for several years previously but resigned in 2013 because of health issues.
The Council reviewed and approved liquor and cigarette licenses for Expresso and Lansing IGA and a liquor license for TJ Hunter’s.
The Council reviewed documents from People Services suggesting approximately 40 verbiage changes in the City ordinance concerning standards and procedures for the Water and Sewer Department. Council members will review the changes and address the topic again. Mayor Brennan said updating the existing ordinance will take considerable time.
The Marina Board report from April 27 indicated concerns about the driveways leading to the Marina over the railroad tracks that were damaged by the railroad during construction. Marina manager Jason Drape will contact the railroad to seek a remedy.
The Parks Board recommended three applicants for coaching positions this summer. Kerri Hogan and Kyle Walleser were approved as coaches at $9.50 per hour and Quinn Brennan as assistant coach for $8.00 per hour. All were approved by the Council. Other applications will be reviewed at the next Council meeting.
Mayor Mike Brennan said City crews are working to get the pool ready, but an opening date is uncertain because of the weather.
The library is sponsoring several events in May, including a documentary film “Mysteries of the Driftless”  Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, the movie “Evan Almighty” will be shown along with a potluck supper and bingo.
The Council and Main Street Iowa group met prior to the Council meeting to talk about the program and their roles in the community. Mayor Brennan said one of the topics was funding and the possibility of increasing the local hotel/motel tax from two percent to seven percent.  The item would be placed on the ballot in November.