South Central Reporter

City of Assumption City Council met Nov. 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Bromwell Lodge by Mayor Derek Page who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call was answered by Alderpersons Gary Nelsen, Kandy Smith, Travis Sullivan, Donny Walden and Ross Workman. Also present were Mayor Derek Page, Attorney Andrew Jarmer, Chief of Police Brian Wade, Officer Jackson Bugg, Treasurer Angel Palmer and City Clerk Janet Waller. Alderperson Reed arrived at 7:25 pm.

Present in the audience were Justine Jackson, Rowena Pfeifer, Joyce Throneburg, Brent and Wendy Wallace from Wallace Refuse, Mike Corzine from First National Bank, Engineer Ron Legner from Chastain’s and Mark Bingham from Bingham Professionals Services.

Attorney Stephen Hedinger was absent.

Council Member Sullivan, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve the minutes of October 4, 2023 City Council Meeting. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Smith, Sullivan, Walden and Workman voting aye and 0 nays. Reed was absent.

Approval of Bills:

A question regarding the Animal Control pay was discussed.

Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve payment of bills as they appear on the warrant sheets. Motion carried with Alderpersons Workman, Walden, Sullivan and Smith voting aye and 0 nays. Nelsen voted Present and Reed was absent.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:

None

Communications from the Mayor:

The Central A&M Middle School class sent thank you’s for the new sidewalk to Casey’s and Dollar General.

November 29 at 2 pm is the bid opening for the utilities for the subdivision.

October 31 was a meeting with FEMA for the storm damage. Please submit your pictures of storm damage to the City.

Mayor Page thanked the Central A&M Football team on a great year. The Leaf Vac Program has started.

November 7 is the Senior Lunch at the Bromwell Lodge at noon.

Communications from the City Attorney:

Attorney Andrew Jarmer will go over information as on the agenda. Communications from the Treasurer:

Treasurer Palmer noted the First National Bank of Pana has a rate of 5.25% on 9 month CD’s if we are interested in renewing.

Communications from the Alderpersons:

It was questioned if any applications were turned in for the part-time hire. There were no applications received.

Under New Business:

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve to renew CD 132217 for $15,000 for RHG for 5.25% for 9 months at the First National Bank of Pana. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Walden and Workman voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Reed was absent.

Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Workman, made a motion to approve to renew CD 1212724 for $20,173.52 for General for 5.25% for 9 months at the First National Bank of Pana. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Workman and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays. Reed was absent.

Engineer Ron Legner gave an update on the projects.

Sanitary Sewer Phase 2 continues to work in the alley going south between College and Larochelle Street.

The Watermain and Lead Service Project is completed. They have obtained an operating permit and working on hooking up services.

The Water Plant will be getting bids around the middle of January. Mayor Page noted there has been complaints about the location of the sandpile. The council reviewed the following invoices from Chastain & Associates.

Motion to approve Chastain invoices:

0000047 Sewer Separation Phase 2 $14,630.95

7644.01-16 Water System Improvements Phase 2 $3,071.03

7644-40 Water Improvements – Water Plant Addition $14,866.14

8493-07 Lead Service Line Inventory $1,955.06

Total Amount $34,523.18

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to approve the above invoices for Chastain and Associates for a total of $34,523.18. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Workman, Sullivan and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Reed was absent.

Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Workman, made a motion to approve the disbursement for Petersburg’s Plumbing for $181,841.18. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Nelsen, Smith, Workman and Sullivan voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Reed was absent.

Engineer Ron Legner explained the change order for the Watermain Replacement Phase 2 in regards to changes in the contract scope of work 6” and 2” service at St Peter and West Third Street for $3,209.09. Council Member Workman, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve the change order for the Watermain Replacement in contract for the scope of work for $3,209.09. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Sullivan, Walden, Workman and Smith voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Reed was absent.

The Water Loan Disbursement is $103,893.63. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden made a motion to approve the Water Loan Disbursement for $103,893.63. Motion carried with Alderpersons Workman, Walden, Sullivan, Smith and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Reed was absent.

Alderperson Reed arrived at 7:25 pm. John Holthaus arrived at 7:27 pm.

The Water Loan Disbursement is $582,678.05. Council Member Sullivan, seconded by Council Member Workman, made a motion to approve the Water Loan

Disbursement for $582,678.05. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Reed, Walden and Workman voting aye and 0 nays.

The Water Loan Disbursement is $414,676.85. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve $414,676.85 disbursement for Water Loan. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Workman and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

The Watermain Project Disbursement is $281,804.40. Council Member Workman, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve the disbursement for $281,804.40. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Workman, Sullivan, Reed and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

The disbursement for Petersburg Plumbing is $59,762.70. Council Member Walden, seconded by Sullivan, made a motion to approve disbursement $59,762.70 for Peterburg Plumbing. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Nelsen, Smith, Workman, Reed and Sullivan voting aye and 0 nays.

The land for the water plant needs to be finalized. The money to pay for the land will be used from the General Fund as there is not enough money in the Water Fund. The General Fund will be paid back. The cost is $20,000.00. Council Member Reed, seconded by Walden, made a motion to approve payment for the Water Plant land purchase for $20,000.00. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Sullivan, Walden, Reed, Workman and Smith voting aye and 0 nays.

The yearly fee to renew the GIS electronic maps is $700.00. Council Member Sullivan, seconded by Council Member Workman, made a motion to approve payment of the renewal fee $700.00. Motion carried with Alderpersons Workman, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Reed and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

The council discussed the commercial garbage license. GSI and Sloan’s have a contract with a commercial hauler. Waste Management will be pulling dumpsters and totes on December 30. DC Waste will do roll offs for the City of Assumption. Council discussed on doing away with commercial licenses for commercial trash haulers.

A contract needs to be finalized with Wallace Refuse. Wallace Refuse will need to send letters to all residents about their services and also recycling. Wallace questioned about going ahead and billing for services and would like to set up bills due in 15 days from date of billing. If no payment, trash will not be picked up until bill is paid.

The council discussed a possible portable speed limit sign with a flashing light. The cost is $3,450.00. Council Member Walden, seconded by Sullivan, made a motion to purchase a portable speed limit sign for $3,450.00 using the ARPA Fund. Motion carried with Alderpersons Workman, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Reed and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

The IMLRA invoice for the yearly insurance is due. The cost is $49,953.94 if paid by November 17, 2023. Council Member Walden, seconded by Workman, made a motion to pay IMLRA invoice for $49,953.94 by November 17, 2023. Council Member Sullivan, Nelsen, Smith, Reed, Walden and Workman voting aye and 0 nays.

The employee handbooks have been updated. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve the updates to the Employee Handbooks. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Workman and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

There have been no applications received for the part-time employee. Council Member Workman, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to hire a part-time employee at minimum wage for the Leaf Vac Program and snow removal. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Workman, Sullivan, Reed and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

Mayor Page noted there was an additional cost of $1,000.00 for the new sidewalks. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to approve $1,000 for the additional cost for the new sidewalks. Motion carried with

Alderpersons Walden, Nelsen, Smith, Workman, Reed and Sullivan voting aye and 0 nays.

The Central A&M School would like to give the City of Assumption an easement for the subdivision. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to accept the easement from Central A&M School. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Sullivan, Walden, Reed, Workman and Smith voting aye and 0 nays.

The invoice for Bingham Professionals Services for the subdivision is $13,595.75. Council Member Workman, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to approve payment of $13,595.75 for Bingham Professionals Services from the TIF Fund. Motion carried with Alderpersons Workman, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Reed and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

Mayor Page opened a bid submitted by the First National Bank of Assumption for 4.95% for 10 years for $256,000.00. There was discussion of have Moran and Associates draw up the paperwork. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to accept the bid from First National Bank of Assumption for 4.95% for $256,000.00 for 10 years. Motion carried with Alderpersons Sullivan, Smith, Reed, Walden and Workman voting aye and Nelsen voting nay.

Joyce Throneburg reviewed the preliminary ordinance for the subdivision and the covenants.

The preliminary ordinance for the subdivision is being revised to the sole cost of the developer. The preliminary ordinance will go to the Zoning Board and should be on the agenda for December Council.

The preliminary covenants ordinance was revised. The construction of the homes must be completed within 18 months. An ejector pump must be installed if the home has a basement. No solar panels can be placed in the yard, only on the roof. The ordinance will be on the agenda for the December Council.

The architectural committee will consist of 4 members. 3 staggered terms will be 1 member from the Zoning Board, 1 member from the Council and 1 member from the subdivision along with the City Clerk.

Mayor Page informed the council and public there will be a trial period of all committee meetings on November 21, 2023 starting at 6 pm. If all goes well, an ordinance will be done to change the committee meetings to 1 night. The committee structure will be kept with Chairmans.

Public Comments:

The public would like to be reimbursed $3,000.00 for a tree that fell on their house.

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Sullivan, made a motion to adjourn at 8:26 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Workman, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Reed and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to approve the City Council Minutes of November 1, 2023. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Sullivan, Smith, Workman and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.

https://cityofassumption.org/documents/397/11-_November_2023.doc.pdf