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54 things you don't know if you didn't go to the December 19, 2011 Lake View city council meeting

LAKE VIEW, IOWA – DECEMBER 19, 2011

1. It was Councilor Toni Foval-North’s last meeting and she was presented with a plaque of appreciation from the city in honor of that event. Said Toni, “It has been a cool experience.”
2. The city will try to come up with other funding sources for the Farmer’s Market, but right now, the electrical fund is marked to contribute to this project.
4. Sewer rates will be increased by (3.9%). This will take effect on March 1, 2012
5. Water rates will be increased by (3.9%). This will take effect on March 1, 2012
6. Electrical rates will beincrease by (11.8%). This will take effect on March 1, 2012
7. Bid letting for the Sac Beach Infrastructure project is set for January 12, 2012. The council will consider the bids on January 16, 2012.

HANCOCK CONCTRETE
8. Hancock concrete will be bringing the dry cast machines back to Lake View. They will be extending their large building to the west.
9. The Hancock building will be between 75 and 84 feet long when complete. It will create a big “L” when complete. The new building will not look much different from the look it had before the fire.
10. There will be no additional lighting at the Hancock Concrete plant to disturb neighbors.
11. All of the block inventory will be gone in the spring.
12. Hancock Concrete is planning to be open by April 15, 2012. They will be engaged in pipe fabrication, as they were before the fire.
13. Hancock is doing a lot of work in Nebraska.
14. Highway twenty is to be completed by 2013. Hancock will sell concrete culverts to this project during the grading portion.
15. It will be reported in local newspapers that engage in boosterism that Hancock is planning to add 3 to 5 people. In reality, they hope to re-use already existing employees on dry cast machines which increase productivity without the need for extra people. There is a small chance they may add up to 3 new employees.
16. All of the pipe machines used by hancock Concrete are made in Iowa.
17. The site plan for Hancock Concrete has been approved by the P&Z, and the building permit has been approved by the council.
18. The county assessor has indicated that Hancock Concrete is eligible for tax abatement.

DEPARTMENTAL INVENTORY NEEDS AND WANTS
19. Councilor Laney suggested using the old police car as a dummy car at the school to slow people down.
20. The police want a new in-car camera for use in coordinated efforts during drunk driving and seatbelt enforcement weekends.
21. The police want a prisoner cage for the back seat of the Charger.
22. The parks department would like a new middle mount mower. Prior councils have said the city needs three mowers. The council immediately prior to this one indicated that they only want two mowers on hand. Counting the mower that has the sprayer, there are actually three mowers in use.
23. The parks department would like new chairs and tables.
24. The parks department would like a new dock at the camp ground.
25. The city will be using two sections of a floating dock the\at was given to them by the DNR for the paddle boats.
26. The parks department would like the doors on the bath house to get a professional paint job.
27. There is $275K available in late 2012 for the trail through Provost.
28. The city is negotiating with the DNR to put the lake trail along the shore through the Shotgun Hill area.
29. The city park playground equipment is no longer attractive to youngsters and the city may consider replacing it.
30. The carpet on the mini golf seems to be wearing well.
31. The parks department would like the golf course sidewalk extended to the concession stand.
32. The campground boat ramp got really muddy when the volleyball court was drained.
33. With the success of the paddleboats, the city may try putting in kayak rental. The Lake View councilors have safety concerns. There may be a type of kayak that flips itself upright. There will be further research done.
34. The city may also consider renting canoes.
35. “We learned our weight limit on those [paddle boats] pretty quick.” – lake View Park Department head
36. The financial report for the camp ground will be done “shortly”
37. The city is doing a lot of extra wood chipping as the result of the electrical line replacements.
38. Electrical sales and loads have remained stable for at least 25 years.
39. The public works department would like a new pick up truck. Councilor Laney would like to look at alternatives to pickups for merely driving back and forth to the water plant. Vows that someone is going to have to come up with a lat better reason than just high mileage to get his vote.
40. There is funding available to do some street projects such as main street at a cost of $21K, 2nd – Vine to High street for $38K, 2nd street Main to High at a cost of $14K, 6th street, Third to Lake at a cost of $50K, milling of Lakeshore drive at a cost of $21K, and various areas of Vine street at a cost of $47K. The total estimate of these items is with a 20% contingency is $234,223.00. These are proposals only.
41. The city may consider putting in water at the Teifenthaler addition.
42. Concrete on the west and north side of city hall is deteriorating.
43. Electrical department needs a new laptop.
44. Administration needs a new ten key adding machine.
45. The software at city hall is a DOS program from the 90’s. They are still able to use it as is, but it will not be supported forever. The annual maintenance on the software is over $5K. The cost to replace it will be $20+K. The support will be around $2.5K on the new software if purchased. A new program may be able to take billing online.
46. City administrator wants a new chair and desk. The old desk is warped.
47. The city office may need a new phone system. They have problems with it from time to time.
48. The men’s restroom on the main floor of city hall may be turned into a unisex handicapped accessible restroom. Smell problem needs to be addressed.

CHIT CHAT
49. There are some opportunities for a new sub division.
50. The plans for a new independent living facility seem to be permanently on hold due to lack of funding.
51. There is no potential use for Lakewood other than to remove the building and use it as a lot on which to build homes.
52. There has been no action taken on the walls on the backside of the downtown buildings.

CLERK’S REPORT
53. The city has filed a claim with Dave King’s bonding company for the deteriorating road at Boulder’s Drive. The engineer’s tests all indicate that the correct concrete was used. The council claims that a witness to the compaction tests has indicated that the way the tests were performed are not usual.
54. The magistrate will render a verdict in the Blessington case this week some time. It is a case regarding access across some private land for the sewer treatment plant. Blessington wants the city to pay for this access.