New project, new business, and raises for City employees among topics addressed at June 20 Lansing City Council meeting

by Julie Berg-Raymond

Mayor Melissa Hammell told the Lansing City Council during its regular meeting Monday, June 20 that Sunshine Thomas Bear - cultural preservation director/tribal historic preservation officer at the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska - will visit Lansing June 30 to meet with Mayor Hammell and members of the Lansing City Council about a new project, set to be completed next spring. Part of the Native American Interpretive Project, a kiosk will be installed on Front Street by the park and will offer information about Native Americans who once lived in this area. Sunshine Thomas Bear will look at and consider that location during her visit. The kiosk is being funded by a $25,000 grant through Northeast Iowa RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development), at no cost to the City.

CITIZEN CONCERN
Chandler Quirk, of Lansing, shared information with the council about plans for his new business, River Bluff Rentals, and asked members if they had any questions for him or any issues with those plans. On its Facebook page, River Bluff Rentals is described as “providing a unique vacation experience on our sought-after 28-foot Adventure Craft mini yachts on the Upper Mississippi in Northeast Iowa’s Driftless Region.” The business features three 28-foot trailer-able, fully provisional mini-yachts that each sleeps a maximum of four people. Quirk will operate the business out of the marina, where he has three slips. The council told him he would need to come back with more information about insurance.

POLICE REPORT
Lansing Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl reported that he attended and completed a 10-day, 80-hour D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) course at Camp Dodge in May and will start Lansing’s D.A.R.E. program with the fifth grade class during the 2022-2023 school year. The class will be held one day per week for 13 weeks. “D.A.R.E. envisions a world in which students everywhere are empowered to respect others and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance use, and other dangerous behaviors” (dare.org).

WATER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
PeopleService Representative Duane Estebo reported that the spring hydrant flushing process was completed May 4 and May 11, noting it took longer than anticipated because of weather. He said several new locates were done in May due to new construction and new services.

WASTEWATER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Estebo reported the siphon pipe and city hall lines were jetted May 5; that South 5th Street was flushed May 19 and 20; and that digging had begun on Center Street. They will first install the new water line as part of that ongoing Center Street project, then charge the line and do bacteria tests. The next step, according to his report, is to switch over service lines from the old line to the new one. When this is done, they can start to remove the old water line to get at the old sewer.

PERMIT APPROVED
The council approved a building permit for a 32-foot mobile home with an adjoining deck to be installed at 977 Main Street. The owner will put the mobile home on a foundation and connect it to city water/sewer. Councilman Curtis Snitker was the lone dissenting vote on the matter.

PARKS REPORT
With Councilman Curtis Snitker abstaining, the council approved an Independent Contractor Agreement with Snitker, retaining him as Lansing Municipal Swimming Pool Certified Pool Operator for the 2022 Summer swim season (May 1, 2022-September 30, 2022). The City will pay Snitker $2,000 at the completion of services. In other Parks business, the council approved the purchase of speakers for the pool sound system, at a price of $48.74. Council also approved honorary street signs being installed for Harriet Hosmer Way and Veterans Memorial Way.

RAISES APPROVED
The council adopted Resolution #970, setting annual salaries and wages for non-union and union employees. A three-percent raise was approved by the council for union employees, and a four-percent raise was approved for non-union employees. The following wages and salaries were set for City employees, effective July 1, 2022: Peter McKee - $19.90 increased to $20.50; Darby Stone - $19.90 increased to $20.50; Troy Riehm - $20.72 increased to $21.34; Tara Drape - $16.00 increased to $16.64; Katie Becker - $47,132.80 increased to $49,018.11; Ken Ripp - $47,736.00 increased to $49,645.44; Conrad Rosendahl - $51,625.60 increased to $53,690.62.

CONTINUING BUSINESS
The council is continuing to monitor progress on addressing issues identified in the agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Lansing, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, released by Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand May 2 of this year. Specifically, the council is waiting to hear from attorneys for the fire department and the City on the initiation of a 28E agreement between the fire department and the City.

OTHER BUSINESS
The council approved cigarette permit renewals for Lansing IGA, Kwik Star and D&J Expresso, and approved a liquor license for the Lansing Fire Department. The next regular meeting of the Lansing City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, July 5 - due to the Fourth of July holiday falling on the regular Monday meeting day of the council - at 7 p.m. at Lansing City Hall.