City of Atkins Iowa – City Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.
Call to Order and Roll call by Mayor Bruce Visser 6:35 p.m. Present were Bell, DeMeulenaere, Koehn, Stoltzfus, and Petersen. Also present were Ryan Tang, City Attorney, and Groskurth.
Approve the agenda.
Petersen moved to approve the agenda. Koehn seconded. Ayes: Stoltzfus, Koehn, Bell, Petersen, DeMeulenaere. Motion Carried.
Koehn moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Stoltzfus seconded. Ayes: Koehn, Stoltzfus, Petersen. Nays: Bell and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried. Consent agenda was as follows Approval of the Council Minutes of February 8, 2022, engineer report, and the list of bills as follows:
AHECO HOLDINGS, LLC 76 MAIN 7,300.00
BAKER & TAYLOR BOOKS 131.65
CHEM-SULT, INC. CHEMICALS 1,974.67
CJ COOPER & ASSOC., INC ADMIN FEE 150.00
CRAWFORD QUARRY ROCK 148.47
D P PROPERTIES CLEANING 494.00
DELTA DENTAL INSURANCE 43.76
ECICOG FEMA ADMIN 525.00
EFTPS PAYROLL TAXES 3,232.13
GARLING CONSTRUCTION INC DERECCHO 11,048.78
GAZETTE COMMUNICATIONS, Inc. PUBLICATIONS 15.30
GIS BENEFITS INSURANCE 95.18
HI – VIZ SAFETY SIGNS 1,116.00
IPERS IPERS 4,905.30
JETCO, INC. WWTP 1,096.80
JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL ROADS 240.38
LINN COOP FUEL 1,820.12
LYNCH DALLAS, P.C. LEGAL FEES 1,347.50
MARION WATER DEPT TRAINING 25.00
MENARD’S SHOP SUPPLIES 250.97
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY UTILITIES 1,761.12
PER MAR SECURITY SERVICES SECURITY 153.00
QUILL OFFICE SUPPLIES 279.11
SECRETARY OF STATE NOTARY 60.00
Law Office of Ryan P.Tang, P.C LEGAL FEES 8,445.60
THOMPSON TRUCK & TRAILER SUPPLIES 359.08
TODD DAMON MILEAGE 136.89
USA BLUEBOOK SUPPLIES 81.60
VINTON LIVEWIRE PUBLICATION 110.00
Accounts Payable Total 47,347.41
Invoices: Paid 47,347.41
Payroll Checks 10,022.27
REPORT TOTAL 57,369.68
GENERAL 24,088.36
ROAD USE TAX 6,130.87
FEMA 11,573.78
76 Main Street 7,300.00
WATER 5,559.85
SEWER 2,716.82
TOTAL FUNDS 57,369.68
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 938 A Resolution Approving Authorized Signers for Bank Transactions.
Stoltzfus seconded. Ayes: Stoltzfus, Koehn, Petersen, DeMeulenaere. Nay: Bell. Motion Carried.
Public Hearing regarding the Proposed Property Tax Levy, Fiscal Year July1, 2022 – June 30,
2023 (FYE 23) for the City of Atkins. Groskurth gave presentation on the Proposed Property Tax Levy (Max Levy) indicates the growth in taxable valuations, resulting in a gain of $65K in revenues without an increase in tax levy listed on form. Levy on form pay for fire/rescue, law enforcement, library, parks. Mayor opened the Public Hearing Time at 7:20 p.m. There were no written comments received. There were no verbal comments received for or against Proposed Property Tax Levy, Fiscal Year July 1, 2022 – June 3, 2023 (FYE23) for the City of Atkins.
Mayor closed hearing at 7:24 p.m.
Koehn moved to approve resolution 939 a resolution approving the Maximum Property Tax Levy, Fiscal Year July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 (FYE 23) for the City of Atkins, Iowa. Petersen seconded. Discussion: Max levy form shows an 8.57% increase in revenue, no increase in tax levy. Increase in revenue not tax growth. Tax rate is slightly down. Tax rate has not changed year to year. Mayor Visser explained the resolution 939 requires a super-majority of the Council to pass per state law. There being no further questions, Visser called for a vote. Ayes: Stoltzfus, Koehn, Petersen. Nay: Bell, DeMeulenaere. Visser declared the motion did not pass.
Mayor Visser requested a motion to amend the agenda due to agenda item 6 is no longer relevant due to failure of the passage of resolution 939. Koehn moved to amend agenda. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Stoltzfus, Koehn, Petersen, DeMeulenaere. Nay: Bell.
Motion carried. Koehn moved to remove item #6 a resolution directing the City Administrator/City Clerk to publish the proposed City Budget for Fiscal Year July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 and set a public hearing regarding the City Budget. Stoltzfus seconded. Ayes: Stoltzfus, Koehn, Petersen, DeMeulenaere. Nay: Bell. Motion Carried.
Stoltzfus moved to approve resolution 941 a resolution setting the date for sale of General Obligation Corporate Purpose Bonds, Series 2022A and authorizing the use of a preliminary official statement in connection therewith.
Koehn seconded. Ayes: Stoltzfus, Koehn, Petersen. Nays: Bell, DeMeulenaere. Motion Carried.
Discussion Outdoor Warning Sirens. Mayor Visser informed there are 4 sirens that were part of the nuclear power plant’s warning system, available for Atkins to take ownership of.
City Department Reports:
Library – Kirk Draper, Atkins Library Board Chair presented a report on Library status and budget information for FYE 23. The library is a Tier 3 library and is working to renew its Tier 3 certification. Hire multiple part-time employees to staff library hours and to expand adult and children’s programming. Majority of library’s budget increase is due to increased staffing needed to provide the expanded programs and coverage. Computer upgrades planned.
Fire Department – Assistant Chief Dave Kurka presented comments on the Fire Department report. Call response volume continues to increase year over year, the Department has responded to 29 calls so far in 2022. It is difficult to recruit and retain members in general. The temporary Fire Station due to Derecho has made it difficult.
Visser informed the Department is one of the least expensive departments for operations, even though it is a capital intensive department. The Fire Department budget has stayed the same for FYE 23 other than utility costs. Visser discussed the Rural Fire District has taxing abilities and contributes to City revenue. The City has received high marks for the performance of the Atkins Fire Department ISO insurance rating which reduces cost to individual residence property insurance.
Mayor’s Update: Mayor Visser informed Council two formal complaints were made to the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB). One by Council member DeMeulenaere, DeMeulenaere vs City of Atkins, and one by Council member Bell, Bell vs City of Atkins. IPIB unanimously dismissed both complaints.
Fire Station Promotional Plan: Three phases: information about the fire department itself, building when it is available, monitor building as it goes up and provide methods on the way people can donate.
The City is entering the insurance close out process on many of the disaster recovery items.
Tree Debris Contract start date March or April.
Budget Process: Mayor and Administrator gather input from city departments heads. For public works department, it takes months due to the complexity of estimating so budget can be completed.
Public input for items not on the agenda: Question was asked if the IPIB complaints will be made public.
The next Regular Council Meeting to be held Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. City Hall/Library 480 3rd Avenue, Library Room due to Special City Election March 8, 2022.
Stoltzfus moved to Adjournment. Koehn seconded. Ayes: Stoltzfus, Koehn, Bell, Petersen, and DeMeulenaere.
Motion carried.
Kelly Groskurth, City Administrator
Bruce Visser, Mayor

IPIB complaints: DeMeulenaere complaint. Bell complaint.