Ida Grove, Iowa
February 22, 2007

The City Council of the City of Ida Grove met in special session at the Council Chambers at 5:15 p.m. Mayor Dennis R. Ernst presiding.Councilmembers present: William Carnine, Paul Bargar, James Weary, Craig Rupert, Paul Cates. Councilmembers absent: None. Guests in attendance: Lois Oxendale, Randy Fineran, Ken Hanshaw, Floyd Holmes, Justin Georg, John Georg.

Moved to approve the agenda as presented.

Approved unanimously.

Mayor Ernst opened the meeting to discuss options for the solid waste program. The Mayor advised the estimate for the building for the transfer station was higher than anticipated. When he was visiting with the Board of Supervisors they inquired if the City would consider signing a twenty year contract with the County for use of the transfer station. The Mayor informed the Board the City probably wouldn’t if they didn’t lock in a price. Then they asked about a ten year contract.

The Mayor asked John Georg what his feelings were about the transfer station. The Georg’s stated they would work with the city’s to haul the garbage the best way.

John Georg stated his concern with the transfer station is the high cost and if it would be completed before closure time. They also informed the group that Pocahontas has a transfer station and their tipping fee was $70.00 a ton and now it has went to $80.00 a ton.

John Georg advised he would be interested in direct hauling and felt Cherokee would be lower cost than Crawford. Cost for recyclables at Cherokee would be $10.00. Currently they are hauling 4.5 to 5 tons a week. They checked with Crawford and they wouldn’t even give John an amount for the recycling. They really don’t want them because they pay Carroll to take theirs and it is expensive.

John recommended the Mayors of each community and the Board of Supervisors meet on recycling and see if an agreement can be reached to haul the recyclables to the building at the landfill and keep the contract with Siouxland to continue to pick them up. John did inform the cities it would not be free the City’s would have to pay their fair share. Local contractors would have to haul their own.

The County Landfill will be open as a convenience center for the rural residents. The hours will change, right now they are considering Monday, Wednesday and half a day of Friday. If all cities take their recyclables to the landfill it would have to be open four days a week.

John Georg presented prices for the direct haul program for Ida Grove, Battle Creek, and Arthur. All three towns would have the same rate. To haul to Cherokee the charge would be $14.40 per ton. This includes the tipping fee for recyclables. A 25-cent fuel charge would be added making the total fee for Ida County Sanitation $14.65 per ton. The City of Ida Grove adds a 50-cent administration fee. If the Ida County landfill would be used for recyclables they would reduce the fee by 40 cents. To haul to Crawford County the fee would be $14.75 per ton and the 25-cent fuel charge for a total of $15.00 and they would not take the recyclables.

Mayor Ernst asked each of the Ida Grove Council Members what their feelings were. They agreed unanimously with direct hauling to Cherokee garbage and recyclables. Mayor Ernst asked the Mayors and Council Members from Arthur and Battle Creek what their feelings were. They all agreed with the direct haul to Cherokee.

The group discussed giving the Ida County Board of Supervisors a 30-day notice they were all going to exit the program. The group agreed by general consent to remain with the current program until the landfill closes on October 1, 2007.

It was agreed to hold on making a final decision until after Arthur and Battle Creek have held their regular Council meeting to act.

Mayor Ernst stated after the decision is made a letter will be drafted to send to the Ida County Board of Supervisors on all of the City’s decision to direct haul to Cherokee and to encourage the County to haul to Cherokee. The letter will be signed by all of the communities.

The City Clerk presented additional changes and a recap of the proposed 2007-2008 budget. The line item for a tax levy of $.13500 for operating a city owned civic center was included which adds $7,315.00 for the REC Center. The employee benefit levy is included at $62,406.00. The garbage fee will need to be changed to $15.75 per customer.

Any additional general fund monies will be included in the capital improvement line item for street repairs.

The garbage pickup for the maintenance shop, community hall, park and library will be moved to the respective fund and taken out of the garbage fund.

The Ida Bus and Taxi are down because they are now using credit cards for their gas and the bill is sent directly to Simpco.

The Library budget will have a shortfall of $6,632.00 and the City Clerk will inform the Library Board after the budget is approved.

The Hotel Motel Tax that was designated for the REC Center, Outdoor Pool, Parks & Trail, Heritage Days, Library, and Community Hall will be listed under capital improvements or special department expense and the amount will be included in the description.

The line item for the salt storage building and the truck replacement will be included in street-general fund.

Under capital projects the West Access is included at $3,895,000.00; Rohwer Street Bridge Replacement at $245,000.00; Park Lane Extension at $59,250.00; and Highview Addition at $710,817.00.

The clerk presented information from Long Lines showing the City could save $479.00 going with them as a phone provider.

Moved to approve the budget changes and direct the Clerk to complete the budget for publication next week.

Approved unanimously.

Moved to adjourn subject to the call of the Mayor.

Approved unanimously.

/s/Dennis R. Ernst, Mayor

ATTEST:

/s/Diane F. Alborn, City Clerk