TheSacNews.com: Sunday, March 14, 2010

Minutes of the March 9, 2010 Sac County Supervisors meeting

March 9, 2010
Board Room

10:00 AM

The Sac County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with all members present, Dean Stock, Chairman, presiding. The minutes of the last regular meeting were approved as submitted.

It was moved by Bensley and seconded by Hecht to amend the agenda to include the signing of union contracts and input from the County Sheriff. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Hecht and seconded by Bensley to approve the agenda as amended. Ayes all, motion carried.

Sheriff Ken McClure informed the Board that he had hired Kristen Erskine as a sheriff’s deputy to Sonny Bruns who recently resigned his position. Ms. Erskine will begin her duties in late March.

It was moved by Hecht and seconded by Bensley to approve the Cost Allocation Report for fiscal year 2009 submitted by Cost Advisory Services, Inc. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Bensley and seconded by Hecht to approve an application submitted by Hallett Materials to relocate a drainage pipe in the berm on DD 60, Lateral 3. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Hecht and seconded by Bensley to approve the transfers of $22,986.25 from General Fund to Secondary Roads Fund and $246,781.50 from Rural Basic Fund to Secondary Roads fund. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Bensley and seconded by Hecht to approve the transfer of $14,236.61 from Capital Projects Fund to Debt Service Fund on the advice of Dick Moore with Hunzelman, Putzier & Co. Ayes all, motion carried.

At 10:15 AM, as advertised, the Chairman opened the public hearing on the proposed county budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. The County Auditor explained the levy rates in each of the taxing funds, tax askings and fund balances. There was some discussion on the effect of the transfer of funds from Capital Projects Fund to Debt Service Fund. The Board expressed appreciation to all department heads and county employees for the efforts in maintaining a “status quo” budget, emphasizing the fact that there were no raises approved for this budget.

After all discussion ended, it was moved by Hecht and seconded by Bensley to close the public hearing. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Hecht and seconded by Bensley to decrease the debt service levy by reducing the fund balance in that fund by $14,237. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Bensley and seconded by Hecht to adopt the 2010-11 budget with the change in the debt service levy. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Bensley and seconded by Hecht to approve a Memorandum of Understanding regarding wage increases between Sac County and the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CI0. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Hecht and seconded by Bensley to sign a three year contract between Sac County and the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, representing the Sac County Secondary Roads union. Ayes all, motion carried.

It was moved by Hecht and seconded by Bensley to approve and sign a three year contract between Sac County and the Sac County Professional Paramedics Association Local 3669. Ayes all, motion carried.

The County Engineer updated the Board on activities of the county road crews and the status of current maintenance and construction projects. There was some discussion on road embargo resolutions. No action was taken.

With there being no further business, on motion, the meeting was adjourned.

Secretary S/ James W. Dowling Chairman ___________________________________, Date __________

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Young Raiders wrestle up a successful week

Busy and successful week for the young Raider wrestlers as East Sac County Middle School had three meets this week. The boys had 59 matches and won 24 times.

11 team tourney At Rockwell City on March 8
The boys went 13-14
Caleb Huen had 3 wins
Jordan Bieret, Taylor Strong and Adam Murley each had 2 wins
getting one win each were Casey Polacek, Tyson Meischeid, Cassidy Hudson and Damon Cook

9 team tourney At Manson on March 9
The boys went 5-12
Adam murley 3 wins
Taylor Strong and Tyson Meischeid each had one win

6 team tourney At Alta on March 12
The boys went 6-9
Adam Murley 3 wins
Taylor Strong 2 wins
Casey Polacek 1 win

Community Garden doomed?

SAC CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 8, 2010

The Sac Community Garden, as proposed by Councilperson Jim Frederick, looks like it will not be viable as only one person was expressed interest. This, in spite of the city’s efforts to make all residents aware of their plans via flyers hung up on community bulletin boards all over town, newspaper advertisements, see Sac Sun for publications and advertising on the local cable access station KSAC.

With Jim Frederick’s words, “If we don’t have enough interest then there’s no sense in doing it.” The idea was generally dismissed.

Upon finding out through TheSacNews.com’s twitter stream of the Community Garden’s impending doom, there has been a smattering of interest in the community. No charge. :)

For those that are unaware, you can read more about what the proposed community garden is in the following TSN story Sac City Council continues to consider a community garden.

To reserve a spot, those interested need to contact the city and give to them the $20.00 registration fee. Full refunds will be given in the event that not enough interest is shown.

Council awards Oakland Cemetery contract

SAC CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 8, 2010

There are rules for the specific way in which bids must be communicated to the city council. When a person or company that is attempting to submit a bid to the city does it wrong, that bid is then called “spoiled”.

It doesn’t happen very often, but while receiving bids for the position of Oakland Cemetery Caretaker, a spoiled bid was received. A hopeful contractor sent in a sealed envelope with his or her bid in it, but when addressing it had not done so in the manner in which the bidding instructions had specified, so the envelope looked merely like a personal or business message to the city administrator. Naturally, not having any of the necessary words of warning on the outside of the envelope, the city business office opened it. As evidence, The City Clerk gave to the council the improperly presented correspondence that did not indicate on the outside of it that it was a bid.

On motion from Councilperson Brian Muska, the Sac City council rejected that bid on the theory that anyone in the office could have looked at the bid and communicated that number to someone else who wanted the job so that they could turn in a lower bid.

The bids that were properly presented were:
Marjo’s for $22,675.00 per year.
Huster for $24,836.00 per year.
Menzter Construction and Landscaping for $23,987.00 per year.

All three companies did include proof of insurance.

After the bids were opened, City Administrator Adam Ledford suggested to the council that they had three options. The first was that they could turn the bids over to the Cemetery Committee to consider and allow them to make a recommendation. The second option was to award the contract immediately. The third option was to reject all bids and start the process over.

All of that said, the rules of the State of Iowa require that in the absence of any errors in the unspoiled bids, that the city is required to take the lowest bidder, so with a nod to Mr. Huster for the tremendous job that he did taking care of the cemetery during the previous year, Councilperson Jim Frederick moved to accept the low bid from Marjo’s.

It was approved unanimously.

Sac City Council votes to accept governmental audit

SAC CITY COUNCIL - MAY 8, 2010

Without discussion and by unanimous vote, the Sac City Council accepted the governmental audit which was presented to them at the February 22, Sac City Council meeting.

VIDEO - Sac City Council reviews annual governmental audit

Sac City Council Announcements

SAC CITY COUNCIL - MARCH 8, 2010

The city council announcements were light this week as there was apparently poker game for wwhich at least one City Council member was late. As a result, the council forum was skipped.

- This year’s city wide garage sale will be held on April 23 and 24, 2010.
- Spring Clean up week will be from April 26 through April 30.
- The appointment Lucas Burrington to the Sac Community Center was approved.
- The Mayor thanked City Employee Bob Scheffler for some special service he rendered her after hours on evening.

Garbage rates to increase as county drops lawsuit

SAC CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 8, 2010

Unlike former Sac City Councilperson Gary Hansen, a person the city council is rumored to be considering for re-appointment to the council in Brian Muska’s vacated seat, Councilperson Nich Frohardt reported on the recent actions of the county landfill commission.

The Sac County Landfill has been wrestling with IDNR over the rules for keeping water from reaching the inside of the large hills in which the garbage is buried. In 2007 it was established that the mounds had to be sealed under 4 feet of clay at a 45 degree angle. Unfortunately because of one single reported instance of that system failing in a landfill near Des Moines, the Department of Natural Resources have now changed the rules and are requiring that the hills be sealed under a giant and expensive plastic sheet.

Councilperson Frohardt reported to the council that the county landfill, which was participating in a lawsuit against the DNR to stop this requirement, is dropping out of the lawsuit because it is becoming more expensive to pursue, than it is to comply.

Sac County’s estimate for how much this will raise the city’s assessment for tipping fees will be roughly $4,500 to $6,500 per year. (Divide by number of households). This assessment number has been based on the number of people the 2000 census data says we have instead of on reality.

Said Frohardt, “Either way, it’s going to cost the people of this community… whether they use thirty eight hundred and they want to raise it two bucks a person or if they use a thousand and have to raise it six bucks a person, you know, it doesn’t matter, that money has to come because of the powers that be in Des Moines.”

Had former City Councilperson Gary Hansen reported the details of this turn of events, which have been in motion for over a year, there at least would have been more warning. Unfortunately, he was one of the old guard that seemed to feel there was no need for the public to be made aware of potential problems. Call it “trying to be positive.”

Councilperson Nich Frohardt has taken Gary Hansen’s place on the Sac County Landfill Commission as the Sac City Council’s liaison.

Sac City Council resleases specs for new pool heater

SAC CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 8, 2010

As revealed in this TSN report, VIDEO - New Sac City Police vehicle nixed in favor of pool heater for aquatic center , the city will be taking bids for a new pool heater at the Sac Aquatic Center. According to general internet chatter, this will be a welcome addition as apparently the pool was “freezing” last summer. It is generally hoped that the heater will be installed by the time the pool opens this summer.

For the benefit of those that are interested in bidding, or for pool heater nerds that are just generally interested, the following are the specs for both the proposed heater and the instructions for how to bid for it.

Muska resigns from the Sac City Council

SAC CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 8, 2010

“I’m making a motion to approve!” exclaimed Councilperson Brian Muska.

“I don’t think you can.” answered Councilperson Jim Frederick. The members of the Sac City Council laughed.

The reason Mr. Muska could not make that motion is because it was the motion that would officially accept his letter of resignation from the council.

Councilperson Nich Frohardt teased, “So if nobody makes a motion, then he can’t do it.”

To which Mr. Muska responded with a smile, “I’m gonna be moving anyway.”

Laughing, Sac City Administrator Adam Ledford said, “I’ve heard of forced retirement not forced stay.”

As the laughter abated, Councilpersons Frohardt and Bill Brenny took the opportunity to thank Mr. Muska for his service right before his resignation was approved unanimously.

Claims approved by the Sac City Council on March 8, 2010

Without comment, the Sac City Council approved the following claims for payment.

Sac Community Center
$1,600.00 YTD $16,600.00

Kid's World
$0 YTD $10,000.00

Sac Sun for publications
$919.88 YTD $1662.05

Tellinghuisen for cleaning
$225.00 YTD $675.00

Terry Duffy
$322.50 YTD $322.50

Darlo Austin
$281.83 YTD $281.83

Bryant Clair
$30.00 YTD $30.00

Duane Lovell
$277.73 YTD $277.73

Charles Ledford
$138.75 YTD $138.75

Mike Rix
$481.02 YTD $481.02

Barb Powell-Bloes
$35.00 YTD $35.00

Photos of the Wonderland! ESC Middle School play

The following link leads to TSN's photo public photo collection of the Middle school play, Wonderland! See Photos

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