REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING
APRIL 17, 2023
Mayor Rob Lessen called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was stated by all present. Roll call was taken, and all members of the City Council were present. The minutes from the April 3rd meeting were presented. Howard Camp corrected the minutes that he was present. Gary Pommier made the motion to accept the corrected minutes. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved. The minutes from the April `11th meeting was presented. Gary Pommier made the motion to accept the minutes as presented. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved. Rob Lessen presented the evenings agenda. Under Unfinished Business, Item B) City Logo and item C) Scotten Demolition were added. Under New Business Item D) Communication with the Community was added. Carma Burns made the motion to accept the revised agenda. Gary Pommier seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
REPORTS
FIRE CHIEF: Not present but had handed in a report for Council review.
LIBRARIAN: Brenda Banks reported on the community garden and the amount of extra seeds that were received from another community to share.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CDBG
Gary Pommier made the motion to open the Public Hearing for comment. Carma Burns seconds the motion. The motion was approved. No comments were made to the City Council. Carma Burns made the motion to close the Public Hearing. Gary Pommier seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
Under Resolution 102-2023 Legal Authority, Gary Pommier made the motion to accept the resolution. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
Under Resolution 103-2023 Operation and Maintenance, Carma Burns made the motion to accept the resolution. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
Gary Pommier made the motion to approve and accept the Determination of Level of Review, the Application/Recipient Disclosure/Update Report, Relocation Assistance Plan and the Statement of Assurances and Certifications. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
Gary Pommier made the motion to accept the Agreement of Consulting Services. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
MINI EXCAVATOR
Tom Gorman addressed the City Council on the purchase of the mini excavator for $70,366.00 which would be paid through the company for the next 60 months on a monthly payment of $1,418.10. Gary felt that the guys needed this equipment, but discussion about a trailer was held. Tom felt that a trailer that could hold the excavator plus be used to haul other pieces of equipment would be a sensible purchase. Bob Lauck made the motion to purchase the 2023 Yanmar Excavator for 70,366.00. Carma Burns seconds the motion. The motion was approved. Bob Lauck then made the motion to purchase a trailer for no more than 10,000.00. Richard Kerley seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
CITY LOGO
Gary Pommier brought up the new design that Tommy Scotten had sent to the Council a few months back. The council agreed that the logo was great. Gary Pommier made the motion to make the new Logo the City's official Logo. Howard Camp seconds the motion. Richard Kerley stated that he would like to have the 3 Welcome Signs replaced with the new logo. The motion was approved.
SCOTTEN DEMOLITION
Tom Gorman reported that a bid from Vilela demolition for $12,600.00 was received or the city could rent a trac hoe for $2,733.90 for 1 week to take down the 3 buildings. The cost at the land fill will be 35.00 per ton but Tom stated that he was not sure how much a container would run. Gary Pommier made the motion to allow the rental of the trac hoe and the debris removal. Howard Camp seconds the motion. Motion passed with Bob Lauck abstaining from the vote.
NEW BUSINESS
BRAD SIMPSON
Tabled
TREE ISSUE
Tom Gorman reported that another home in town has a large tree that is growing into the city's line and transformer. The cost to remove the tree is $4,000.00, however the owner does not have that kind of money to spend on tree removal. The owner is asking if the city would cover half the expense? Bob Lauck spoke up and stated that he paid 2,500.00 for a tree to be removed from his backyard last year. Carma stated that if the city would do this that they would be setting a precedent. Carma Burns made the motion to table this issue until the May 1st meeting. Gary Pommier seconds the motion. The motion was
approved.
ARMA RECREATION DONATION
Bette Lessen reported to the Council that each year the city donates $2,500.00 to the Arma Rec. Assoc. to help with the expense of ball equipment and outfits. Richard Kerley made the motion to approve the donation of 2,500.00. Howard Camp seconds the motion. The motion was approved.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMUNITY
Bob Lauck brought up the need to keep our residents in Arma knowledgeable about what is going on in the community. Using the City's Facebook pages, and the website would be our first means of succeeding at this goal. Bob asked if the residents could use the city's burn site? Tom Gorman stated that this would not be a problem during the week but on the weekend this area is chained off.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Gary Pommier reported on the recent street paving project. Also, Tom's work on the handicap rail at Hookie park and the new aerator pad. Plus, the new cooler has been set up at the ball field.
Bob Lauck brought up setting up a city-wide trash service that would be billed on the utility card. The council decided to have this subject set up on the city website so that the public can log their opinion on this subject.
Carma Burns reported on the work removing the old sub-station which looks great.
Howard Camp thanked the city workers for all their work. The mayor agreed with Howard.
Wayne Ronning a resident in Arma reported on a piece of property next to his that is undeveloped and is shaggy. Wayne stated that he would keep it cut and picked up if the Council would reimburse him for his gas. Gary Pommier made the motion to reimburse Wayne for his gas expense by allowing him to refuel from the city's tank out back. Bob Lauck seconds the motion. The council agreed that Wayne needs to sign off on a waiver dealing with injuries. The motion was approved.
COMMUNICATIONS
No communications were presented.
PURCHASE REQUEST
No request was submitted.
Carma Burns made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m. Richard Kerley seconds the motion to adjourn. The motion was approved.
____________________________
Bette Lessen, City Clerk