City of Atkins Council Meeting Regular Session
Minutes
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Room, 480 Third Avenue, Atkins, Iowa, 52206

Mayor Bruce Visser called the meeting to order at 6:36pm.
Present were Fisher, Koehn, Petersen, Bell, and Dursky. Absent: none.
Also present were Interim City Administrator Sandi Fowler, City Attorney Doug Herman, and various members of the public online and in person.
Mayor Visser opened a Public Hearing regarding the status of funding for the City of Atkins’
CDBG-DR-funded New Housing Production Program. Paula Mitchell, ECICOG, provided details
on the progress of the project, as follows:
A general description of accomplishments to-date was provided. A CDBG Disaster Recovery
Housing contract in the amount of $620,000.00 was awarded to the City of Atkins from the Iowa Economic Development Authority for the construction of 4 new construction housing units consisting of 2-duplex structures, with a release of funds issued on September 13, 2023. A preconstruction conference was held on September 18, 2023, and construction began in late
September 2023. Construction of the project is still underway.
A summary of expenditures to-date, through February 29, 2024, a total of $261,769.82 has been invoiced; $234,937.32 for construction expenses, and $26,832.50 for project service delivery.
Construction items included materials and labor for construction of 510/514 Driftwood Lane and 557/559 Driftwood Lane.
A general description of remaining work, Two of the units are fully enclosed and sided with
mechanical work completed, and interior finishes are in progress. The other two units have been framed but need siding and interior finishes. All units will also receive landscaping prior to
completion.
A general description of changes made to the project budget, performance targets, activity schedules, project scope, location, objectives or beneficiaries, A contract amendment was approved on September 19, 2023 to add $40,000 to the budget to help offset costs of rural
construction mobilization. An additional contract amendment was approved on February 19, 2024, adding $14,569 for additional project delivery expenses.
There were no written or oral comments from the public. Mayor Visser declared the Public
Hearing closed at 6:41pm.
Koehn moved to approve the agenda. Petersen seconded.
Fowler, stated that moving forward Resolutions will not appear on the agenda numbered, the numbering will be assigned after passage or failure.
Ayes: Fisher, Koehn, Petersen, Bell, Dursky. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve the consent agenda. Petersen seconded.
Fowler stated that moving forward Resolutions may appear on the consent agenda if there is no discussion necessary. Resolutions can always be removed from the consent agenda for
separate consideration, upon Council vote.
Ayes: Fisher, Koehn, Petersen, Bell, Dursky. Motion carried. Consent agenda approved the
February 27, 2024 Minutes, February 27, 2024 Budget Worksession Minutes, February 29, 2024 Minutes, February 29, 2024 Budget Worksession Minutes, March 5, 2024 Minutes, and
the following list of bills:
PAYROLL EMPLOYEE CHECKS PAYROLL 2/11/24 – 2/24/24 9430.99
AMY BREESE HSA 3/1/24 50
ATKINS SAVINGS BANK SMALLEY NSF 11.07.24 & FEE 165.05
JARROD TOMILNSON HSA 3/1/24 200
MIKE RAMMELSBERG HSA 3/1/24 73.07
TODD DAMON HSA 3/1/24 111.53
USPS – POSTMASTER POSTAGE FOR FEB24 BILLS 318.53
RALSTON ECO HOMES, LLC. CBDG-DR GRANT EXP REIMB 48399.03
EFTPS FED/FICA TAX 3195.21
IPERS IPERS REGULAR 1912.18
Cardmember Service JAN 24 TRANSACTIONS 2661.49
ABSOLUTE SCIENCE SUMMER READING-FOAM BLASTER 500
ACCESS SYSTEMS LEASING EQUIPMENT LEASES/COPIERS 806.24
ALLIANT ENERGY UTILITY EXP 10188.06
ALTORFER INC. 332.88
ATKINS LUMBER CO. INC. SUPPLIES 110.52
ATKINS TELEPHONE CO..INC. TELEPHONE 645.85
BADGER METER CELLULAR READS 91.29
BAKER & TAYLOR BOOKS 417.6
BENTON COUNTY AUDITOR TIPPING FEES 1761.34
CATERPILLAR FINANCIAL SER LEASE FOR EXCAVATOR 3079.76
CHEM-SULT, INC. CHEMICALS 2389.35
CRAWFORD QUARRY ROCK 933.96
D P PROPERTIES CLEANING LIBRARY-FEB 24 788
FOWLER PUBLIC SECTOR CONS CONSULTING 021924-030324 11250
G & H ELECTRIC SERVICE 943.2
HAVLIK ENGINEERING VEHICHLE MAINT 84.5
HAWKEYE FIRE SAFETY SAFETY EQUIP 561.5
IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED 1/24/24-2/20/24 120.33
M & D MINI STORAGE Derecho – costs 65
MENARD’S SUPPLIES 44.91
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY UTILITY EXP 266.52
POWESHIEK WATER ASSOICATION UTILITY EXP 725.65
QUILL SUPPLIES 495.06
THE KRAFT CO LLC CONSULTING-FEB24 320.17
TRIONFO SOLUTIONS, LLC LIFE INS – MAR 2024 90.33
U S CELLULAR CELL PHONES 257
WASTE MANAGEMENT GARBAGE COLLECTION 16804.26
Accounts Payable Total 111159.37
Invoices: Paid 57086.09
Invoices: Scheduled 54073.28
Payroll Checks 9430.99
REPORT TOTAL 120590.36
NO FUND ASSIGNED
GENERAL 91913.32
ROAD USE TAX 9466.04
FEMA 65
WATER 10145.61
SEWER 9000.39
TOTAL FUNDS 120590.36
Christiana Schroder with LB Anderson Agency Insurance led a discussion regarding the City of Atkins contract renewal. Consideration of the contract will be added to the next council agenda.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2024-03-01, approving Atkins Public Library Board of
Trustees invoices from Quill and Absolute Science. Fisher seconded. Ayes: Fisher, Koehn, Petersen, Bell, Dursky. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2024-03-02, approving the purchase of a Hustler Super
104 Hyperdrive Mower from AE Outdoor Power. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Koehn, Petersen, Bell, Dursky. Nays: Fisher. Motion carried.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2024-03-03, approving a POW-R-GUARD Maintenance
Agreement for Caterpillar Emergency Standby Generators with Altorfer, Inc. Petersen seconded. The council held discussion on revisiting this item on the next council agenda, with
the contract included in the packet for more review and consideration. Ayes: Koehn. Nays:
Petersen, Bell, Dursky, Fisher. Motion failed.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2024-03-04, approving a contract and establishing rates
effective July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025 with Lynch Dallas, P.C. for legal services. Dursky seconded. Discussion was held regarding past services, and future requests. Ayes: Fisher, Koehn, Petersen, Bell, Dursky. Motion carried.
Fowler led a discussion on her recommendations regarding the permanent City Administrator
search. Bell made a motion to take Fowler’s recommendation of keeping the City Administrator job posting open until it is filled, and directing Fowler to lead the process for hiring internally.
Fisher led a discussion regarding improving communications related to water emergencies. The council would like to move forward with Fowler leading the efforts to provide information related to possible policy for the Council’s consideration.
Bell led a discussion regarding the need for an updated employee handbook. Lynch Dallas has
a draft, and this will be added to Fowler’s list of priorities to work on.
Mayor Visser reported that the necessary budget items have been filed, the budget hearing is
set, and staff’s effort has been focused on the budget process. County budget processes are
also underway.
Interim City Administrator, Fowler, reported that there will be a few changes to the structure of
the agendas moving forward including removing the Resolution numbers until passage or failure, adding some Resolutions to the Consent Agenda, including all contracts and background information in the packet, and adding the Pledge of Allegiance. She will also be
posting the agenda packet to the website in addition to the agenda. The audio/visual equipment for the council chambers has been ordered and will arrive next week.
Mayor Visser reminded the council that there is Municipal Leadership Academy (MLA) training
available in early April, and it is open for all council members to attend.
Bell requested that City Hall surveillance and security equipment and policies be revisited in a
future meeting.
Dursky stated that setting priorities for staff will be important.
Interim City Administrator, Fowler’s, monthly review is coming up per her contract.
Mayor Visser requested public comment, there were no comments online or in person.
Next regular council meeting to be held March 26, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. City Hall/Library, Council
Room, 480 3rd Avenue, Atkins, IA.
Koehn moved to adjourn the meeting. Dursky seconded. Ayes: Fisher, Koehn, Petersen, Bell,
Dursky. Motion carried.
Adjournment at 9:02pm.