City Council Meeting Regular Session
Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Room, 480 Third Avenue, Atkins, Iowa, 52206
Minutes

Mayor Bruce Visser called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present were Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere-online. Absent: none. Also present were Doug Herman City Attorney, Amy Breese
Deputy City Clerk and various members of the public online and in person.
Koehn moved to approve the agenda, Petersen seconded. Council discussed the Resolution 2023-11-01 did not pass at the November 14, 2023 meeting. Two council voted to approve the resolution when three votes are needed to approve the resolution by Iowa code. Resolution 2023-11-01 had been declared motion carried when in fact the motion was not approved. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve consent agenda. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Nay: Bell. Motion carried. Consent agenda was approval of the November 14, 2023 Minutes, Financials, and the following list of bills:
Cardmember Service OCT 23 TRANSACTIONS 277.57
KINSETH HOSPITALITY COMPA
BREESE/GROSKURTH
HOTEL TRAINING 239.68
TREASURER STATE OF IOWA WET OCT 2023 2,256.69
EFTPS FED/FICA TAX 3,865.20
IPERS IPERS REGULAR 4,825.30
PAYROLL EMPLOYEE CHECKS 11,592.79
ACCESS SYSTEMS NETWORK SUPPORT 924.69
ALLIANT ENERGY UTILITY EXP 19.07
ALTORFER INC. VIBRATORY ROLLERS 2,042.00
BENTON COUNTY SOLID WASTE COMM TIPPING FEES 1,834.94
BOOK SYSTEMS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS 1,210.00
BOUND TREE Medical, LLC MEDICAL SUPPLIES 889.36
DAKOTA SUPPLY GROUP SUPPLIES 2,694.86
CHEM-SULT, INC. CHEMICALS 1,446.55
DINGES FIRE COMPANY VEHICLE REPAIR 508.5
ECICOG
CBDG GRANT
ADMINISTRATION 975
G & H ELECTRIC
WATER PLANT FILTER
MAINT 6,889.50
GAZETTE COMMUNICATIONS, Inc. MINUTES 10/24 110.04
HI – VIZ SAFETY SIGNS 425
ION ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIO LABS 1309.5
JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL SUPPLIES 45.93
MENARD’S SUPPLIES 210.26
POWESHIEK WATER ASSOICATION UTILITY EXP 245.95
TECHNO GRAPHICS DOOR DECALS 30
THOMPSON TRUCK & TRAILER, INC. DUMP TRUCK REPAIRS 3,830.08
TWO RIVERS BANK & TRUST
TIF Rebate: July 1 thru
Nov15 43,468.85
USA BLUEBOOK SUPPLIES 357.17
WELLMARK BC/BS OF IOWA DECEMBER PREMIUM 2581.65
Accounts Payable Total 83,513.34
Invoices: Paid 11,464.44
Invoices: Scheduled 72,048.90
Payroll Checks 11,592.79
REPORT TOTAL 95,106.13
NO FUND ASSIGNED
GENERAL 21,323.39
ROAD USE TAX 7,312.09
TAX INCREMENT FINANCING 43,468.85
CDGG-DR HOUSING GRANT 975
WATER 17,932.95
SEWER 4,093.85
TOTAL FUNDS 95,106.13
Financial Presentation: Mayor read and reviewed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in the City of Atkins presented with Information sheet provided by City Administrator Kelly Groskurth. Mayor discussed the process of TIF approvals with Bond Council, City Financial Advisor, and taxing authorities. Herman added detail information regarding TIF recommended practices including use of TIF revues and options when TIF revenues are not utilized and city property tax impacts that may result. Discussed the impacts of not honoring prior contracts. Discussed internal loan practices as approved methods in accounting. Council discussed. Mayor reviewed the information provided to council in May 2023 and meeting by the financial advisor as a funding plan for today and the future.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2023-11-01 a resolution obligating fiscal year ended 2025 annual appropriation for Stone Ridge Development. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2023-11-04 a resolution establishing an internal loan for the fire station planning and design. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2023-11-02 certifying TIF debt certification for the City of Atkins.
DeMeulenaere seconded. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2023-05 a resolution acknowledging receipt of the Fiscal Year Ending 2023 Annual Financial Report. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2023-06 a resolution acknowledging receipt of the 2023 Street Finance Report. Fisher seconded. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2023-07 a resolution acknowledging receipt of the 2023 Annual Urban Renewal Report. DeMeulenaere seconded. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to proceed with temporary office staffing with more information. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Nay: Bell. Motion carried.
Petersen moved to approve resolution 2023-11-08 a resolution to approve street closing for the Atkins Community Club Holiday Celebration, Sunday, December 10, 2023. Fisher seconded. Ayes: Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen and DeMeulenaere. Motion carried.
Fisher moved to approve Resolution 2023-11-09 a resolution permitting Class B Aerial Fireworks Display during Atkins Community Club Holiday Parade Celebrations, Sunday, December 10, 2023. Second by Petersen. Ayes: Fisher, Bell, DeMeulenaere, Koehn, Petersen. Motion carried.
Fisher moved to approve Resolution 2023-11-10 a resolution approving updated records request policy for the city of Atkins. Second by Bell. Herman discussed the need for the updated records policy per Iowa Public Information Board requirements and discussed recent records cases by the board. Herman recommended passage. Ayes: Fisher, Bell, DeMeulenaere, Koehn, Petersen. Motion carried.
Reports: Mayor Report. Fire Station Re-build: 100% drawings being updated, Audit Report Update: continues, providing information, Audit FYE 22 continues. Attended annual budget update training in Cedar Rapids presented by League of Cities. Federal grants administration. Water plant upgrade continues. Mayor will submit written report
Administrator’s Report: 1. City Hall window will be closed to public November 28 & 29 for training – Utility system. 2 Annual reports prepared, submitted to the state following council approval.3 FYE 2024 Budget Amendment to be presented 12/12/2023. 4 FYE 2025 Budget work continues. 5 Audit Report Update: continues. 6. Preparing year-end tax documents.
Council Reports: Koehn acknowledged Chihak for his letter to city council as informative.
Future Agenda Item Discussion: Council procedures review, budget forms, water plant tours.
Public input: none. Correspondence received: Jeremy Chihak email to City Council regarding TIF.
The Next regular council meeting to be held Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. City Hall/Library, Council Room, 480 3rd Avenue, Atkins, IA
Mayor Visser declared Council recess at 8:18 pm for a 10 minute recess. Council reconvened open session at 8:32 pm.
Mayor Visser requested attorney statement and Herman commented that Council would be appropriate to enter a closed session pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation. Koehn made the motion to enter closed session, second by DeMeulenaere, Ayes: Bell, DeMeulenaere, Fisher, Koehn, and Petersen. Motion carried. The council approved the following persons in closed session; Bell, DeMeulenaere (on-line privately), Fisher, Koehn, and Petersen, Visser, Herman. All other persons vacated the council chambers and the public on-line ended. Time is 8:40 pm. Council entered closed session.
With no further discussion in closed session, at 9:40pm, Mayor Visser stated the Council has returned to open session. Public returned to the council room.
Mayor Visser stated to the public the City Council is in recess until 9:48 pm. The Council reconvened in open session at 9:48pm. Present were Bell, Koehn, Fisher, Petersen in person and DeMeulenaere (online). Absent: none. Also present were Doug Herman City Attorney, Amy Breese Deputy City Clerk and members of the public in person.
Fisher motioned to direct the city attorney and mayor to present agreement as discussed in closed session and authorizing mayor to execute agreement if approved by other party. Second by Bell, Ayes: Fisher, Bell, DeMeulenaere, Petersen. Nay: Koehn. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to adjourn meeting. Fisher seconded. Ayes: Bell, DeMeulenaere, Koehn, Petersen.
Fisher. Motion carried.
Adjournment at 9:52 p.m.
Deputy Clerk, Amy Breese
Bruce Visser, Mayor