ACKLEY CITY COUNCIL met in special session, July 24, 2017, in the Ackley Civic Center with Mayor Erik Graham presiding. The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. Council members present: Dale Brass, Robert Harms, Sue Ibeling, Al Jones, and Joe Wessels. Absent: None. Quorum present.
Wessels moved, Ibeling seconded, to approve the July 24, 2017 Agenda as listed. Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Harms moved, Brass seconded, to open the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. on the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 497 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ackley, Iowa by Amending Section 75.02(1) and Adopting New Chapter 78 Permitting the Use of Off-Road Utility Vehicles. Ayes-All. Motion carried. No oral or written comments or objections were received.
Jones moved, Brass seconded, to close the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Harms moved, Wessels seconded, to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 497 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ackley, Iowa by Amending Section 75.02(1) and Adopting New Chapter 78 Permitting the Use of Off-Road Utility Vehicles. Roll call vote: Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Harms moved, Wessels seconded, to waive the second and third readings of said proposed Ordinance No. 497. Roll call vote: Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Brass moved, Jones seconded, to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 497 Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Ackley, Iowa by Amending Section 75.02(1) and Adopting New Chapter 78 Permitting the Use of Off-Road Utility Vehicles. Roll call vote: Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Ibeling moved, Harms seconded, to open the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. on the Vacation of all of the 16 Foot Wide Alley in Block 2, Burns and Foster’s Addition, as the Same is Platted and Recorded in the Office of the County Recorder of Hardin County, Iowa and Transferring Said Property to the Adjoining Property Owner, Eldon Uhlenhopp. Ayes-All. Motion carried. No oral or written comments or objections were received. Ibeling moved, Brass seconded, to close the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Council members discussed similar situations where the City has disposed of property to residents, but with a purchase price attached. There was also some concern with the sale requirement since the property is in a TIF district. Wessels moved, Ibeling seconded, to sell the alley for $500 and to further consult with the attorney for guidance. Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Discussion was held with Council on the demolition of the elevator and the grant the City was awarded. Total cost of demolition meeting all grant requirements was estimated at $185,000. The amount of the grant is $50,000, leaving the City to pay $135,000. Wessels stated he has begun looking into alternate methods of demolition. He has contacted some companies that specialize in taking down elevators, and he is also looking into the possibility of having it burnt down. While he hasn’t obtained any figures yet, Wessels feels there is a less expensive way to demo the elevator. Brass agreed. Mayor Graham has also contacted someone who takes down old buildings and said they would come and look at. Mayor Graham stated that he was fine with the Council turning down the grant, but that a deadline needed to be set for plan B. Brass moved, Ibeling seconded, to forego the grant and to obtain more information to discuss at the August meeting so that Council could move forward with a decision. Ayes-All. Motion carried.
Mayor Graham and Wessels presented bids obtained from Carstens for plumbing and cooling updates at City Hall.
Mayor Graham also shared with the council a letter from Attorney Mike Smith regarding fireworks. Per the letter, the City has no liability.
With no further discussion, Ibeling moved, Harms seconded, to adjourn at 7:56 p.m. Ayes-All. Motion carried.
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Erik Graham, Mayor
ATTEST: _______________________________
Kelly DeBerg, City Clerk