City of Atkins City Council Meeting
Regular Session Minutes
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Room, 480 Third Avenue, Atkins, Iowa, 52206
Mayor Pro-tem Samantha Petersen called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm.
Present were Jim Koehn, David Fisher, Samantha Petersen, and Trevor Dursky. By phone: EJ Bell, and Teresa Rotschafer (Iowa League of Cities). Absent: Mayor Bruce Visser. Also present were Interim City Administrator Sandi Fowler, Deputy Clerk Amy Breese, and various members of the public.
Koehn moved to approve the agenda. Dursky seconded the motion. Petersen noted that item #6 would be moved up on the agenda to item #5. Ayes: Koehn, Fisher, Petersen, and Dursky. Motion carried.
Mayor pro-tem Samantha Petersen opened a public hearing to consider the proposed budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.
Fowler gave a presentation on the proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, and discussed the power point slides that she provided to council members and posted on the City’s website prior to the meeting. Proposed budget items include additional staffing, park pavilion upgrades, street projects, revamped city cleanup day, adding a document management system, new water tower planning, sludge removal project at the wastewater treatment plant, and a critical replacement of sanitary main, and more. Rotschafer recommended that a small adjustment related to debt service be made that will not impact on the budgeted amounts.
Mayor Pro-tem Petersen asked for public comments. There were no comments from the public in person or in writing. Mayor Pro-tem Petersen stated that the public hearing was closed.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2024-04-03 adopting the budget. Dursky seconded the motion. Ayes: Koehn, Petersen, and Dursky, Nays: Fisher and Bell. Motion carried.
City Council members were invited to provide discussion or comments related to the Resolution approving the budget. Fisher commented that we can’t continue this type of spending, or we will be “broke” in a short amount of time. Dursky commented that we need to get a financial plan together and set staffing expenses to be comparable to other cities nearby. Dursky commented that the ESG contract is high because they are assisting the City with building a needed financial structure, that the budget is tackling capital improvements that have been deferred, and that we need to better understand the financial position of the City. Dursky commented that he doesn’t see and hear any expense that he believes to be excessive. There are still a lot of things in the capital improvement plan that aren’t being addressed. He would like to see a stable city and FY25 should be the year where we start to set our base and build from that. Koehn stated that we are not where we should be, but he believes that we are doing better than we have done the past couple years. Bell had no comment. Petersen stated she is grateful for Fowler and Rotschafer for their work on the budget this year, that their leadership has really made a difference, and she thanked all for their participation in the process.
Koehn moved to approve the consent agenda. Petersen seconded the motion.
Ayes: Koehn, Fisher, Petersen, and Dursky. Nays: Bell. Motion carried.
Fisher inquired about the expense related to the soccer field bathroom on the list of bills. Sandi stated that it was an emergency repair. Fisher also asked about the use of rental for an angle broom.
Koehn moved to approve Resolution 2024-04-04 approving a Minor Boundary Change to a lot known locally as 309 2nd Avenue, Atkins, Iowa. Fisher seconded the motion. Ayes: Koehn, Fisher, Petersen, Dursky and Bell. Motion carried.
Council Reports
Petersen read a report for Mayor Visser in his absence. The City started removing trees infected by the Emeral Ash Borer, and we are taking bids for removing the remainder of damaged trees.
Fisher stated that he attended recent Municipal Leadership Academy training.
Bell stated that he disagrees with the budget, and that we need to figure out a better solution.
Future Agenda Item Discussion
Fisher inquired about why we moved the payment drop box and Bell stated he would like to move the drop box back to its previous location.
Comments from the public were received. No correspondence was received.
The next regular council meeting is to be held May 14, 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. Motion carried.
Adjournment. 8:01PM
Amy Breese, Deputy Clerk
Bruce Visser, Mayor