Jefferson resident Tim Pound returned to the Jefferson city council to again ask for a vote on amending the city’s ordinance that prohibits the use of ATVs in the city, no longer replicating state law. He first made the request in November. The council’s police committee after that meeting reaffirmed the issue would not be sent on to the full council for discussion.
“This issue has not come as a vote before the city council,” Pound said at the Jan. 10 council meeting. “We have city council members here elected by the citizens of Jefferson to deal with whatever city business comes within these chambers. I know…folks just would like to see this come to a vote, however it turns out….Let it come to a vote. Let the council do what the citizens of Jefferson have elected them to do.”
Council member Darren Jackson said the number of comments he’s heard about ATVs is the third most he’s heard since being elected, with unowned cats being the highest. “I think there’s enough interest in it I would recommend it come to the full council,” he said.
Council member Dave Sloan agreed, saying he’s heard comments from 18-20 people, all in favor of allowing ATVs on streets. “As much as we’ve heard about this, we could put it to bed then. The council does have the final say,” Sloan said.
Council member Pat Zmolek, serving as mayor pro tem in mayor Matt Gordon’s absence, said he wouldn’t mind it being on the agenda, but the police committee won’t be the ones to put it there. Zmolek and Gordon serve on that committee.
City attorney David Morain said one council member can put an item on the agenda. He said if a motion is made and there is no second, which could be the case if there is no other council support, the motion would die.
Jefferson resident Duane Forkner used the open forum portion of the meeting to deliver a petition he said was signed by 300 residents asking that Chad Stevens be terminated as code enforcement officer. Forkner alleges that there’s a conflict of interest with Stevens’ business, C&S Construction, and his approach to citizens is “confrontational and unnecessary.”
Forkner also claimed to have video of Stevens using a city vehicle on personal time.
City administrator Mike Palmer will be the first to review the petition and claims.
Under new business, the council approved hiring Hether Dobney as part-time custodian for the animal shelter at a wage of $12/hour, effective Jan. 11. Dobney has done that job for three years as a PAWS employee. Now that the new shelter is open, it will be operated by the city of Jefferson. The animal shelter committee recommends that eventually there be two part-time custodians. Stevens will be their supervisor, and will also be the first point of contact for people who have concerns about the shelter.
The council approved joining the Safety Group Central Iowa South (SGCIS) and the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU).
Public works director Dave Morlan explained the city has been a member of IAMU and has received monthly safety training for employees through the group. Cost has been $5,000 to $6,000 per year. The IAMU has now formed six smaller districts across the state, with a safety instructor living in and serving each district.
Morlan said the past two years the city has spent additional money for various safety plans. The annual cost of belonging to SGCIS will be $11,000 to $14,000, which is less than the cost of paying consultants to keep the city OSHA-compliant.
The council also approved the required 28E agreement with SGCIS and IAMU.
The council set three public hearings for the Jan. 24 meeting. The first is on plans and specifications for work on the front entrance of city hall. Probable cost for the project is $94,690, according to city engineer Jim Leiding.
The second public hearing is on the status of funded activities in the upper story housing project at 123 N. Chestnut St. It is needed because Community Development Block Grant funds are being used.
The third public hearing is to comply with a state law that sets a 2 percent threshold on the revenue from certain tax levies. If revenue from those levies increases more than 2 percent, the council must pass a resolution approved by at least two-thirds of its members. City administrator Palmer said it is likely the revenue growth will be less than 2 percent.
The council approved the second reading of a revised sewer rate ordinance. The third reading will be held at the Jan. 24 meeting.
The council heard an appeal by Elle Parker, who lives at 904 W. Madison St, of a nuisance abatement letter sent by code enforcement officer Stevens. Parker has a 2003 International school bus parked on her property. She told the council she purchased it last May at a government auction in Missouri and it was driven to Jefferson. She is in the process of converting it to a motor home. The conversion is about half completed, and she hopes to have it finished in June.
The vehicle is not currently registered and it has no driver’s seat.
Stevens said the bus has not been operational for longer than 30 days and there is no license or registration, so it fits the definition of a junk vehicle. He has not received complaints about it, but he noticed it while driving past, he said.
The council approved a motion to stay enforcement action until Sept. 15, with Parker to report progress to city staff periodically.
The council approved committee assignments for 2023 to be the same as in 2022. Appointments are: Matt Wetrich, park & recreation, golf course, recycling, animal shelter, Greene Greene County Gaming Corporation ex officio, and Bell Tower Community Foundation; Sloan, streets, Jefferson Matters/Chamber, Highway 30 Coalition, and downtown buildings; Zmolek, mayor pro tem, police committee, LEC entity board, finance committee and downtown buildings; Harry Ahrenholtz, wage and benefit, housing, GCDC board, finance and public works; Jackson, park and recreation, housing, library, cemetery and animal shelter; and Gordon, police, fire department, LEC entity board, hotel/motel tax, and finance.
