City Council Meeting Regular Session
Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 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 6:31 pm.
Present were Council members Samantha Petersen, EJ Bell, Trevor Dursky, and Jim Koehn in person, and David Fisher by phone. Also present were Interim City Administrator Sandi Fowler, City Engineer Nick Eisenbacher from Snyder, Al Buck and Michael Fritz from Solum Lang Architects, as well as members of the public.
Petersen moved to approve the agenda. Dursky seconded. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried.
A public hearing was held on the Atkins Fire Station Project. One oral objection was received regarding the final design option chosen. No written comments were received.
The public hearing closed at 6:37 pm.
Dursky moved Resolution 2024-10-01 approving the proposed contract documents (plans & specifications), form of contract and estimate of cost for the Atkins Fire Station Project. Petersen seconded. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Dursky moved Resolution 2024-10-02 approving the award of the Atkins Fire Station Project to Garling Construction, Inc. of Belle Plaine, Iowa in the amount of $3,376,000.
Petersen seconded. Solum Lang Architect Al Buck presented the Architect’s Letter of Bid Recommendation, recommending the City award the apparent low bidder, Garling Construction, Inc., the base bid of $3,320,000 plus Alternate No. 1 Rear return apron to 3rd Avenue in the amount of $56,000, for a total award amount of $3,376,000. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Petersen moved to approve the consent agenda. Dursky seconded. Consent agenda items included Council Minutes for September 24, October 1 and October 3, 2024, List of Bills for Approval, and Resolution 2025-10-03 authorizing payment of contractor’s pay request 8 in the amount of $126,831.62 to Ralston Eco Homes LLC of Shellsburg, Iowa per IEDA CONTRACT 20-DRH-013. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn.
Nays: none. Motion carried.
List of Bills:
CITY OF ATKINS – ACCOUNTS PAYABLE RUN
CLAIMS REPORT 10.08.24
VENDOR REFERENCE AMOUNT
PAYROLL EMPLOYEE CHECKS PAYROLL 9/8/24-10/5/24 8,573.49
EFTPS FED/FICA TAX 2,814.04
IPERS IPERS REGULAR 3,284.20
TREASURER STATE OF IOWA STATE TAXES 2,853.72
AMY BREESE HSA 9/27/24 50.00
TODD DAMON HSA 9/27/24 111.53
Cardmember Service AUGUST TRANSACTIONS 1,163.50
USPS – POSTMASTER POSTAGE FOR SEPT24 BILLS 340.48
EFTPS FED/FICA TAX 400.04
PAYROLL COUNCIL CHECKS PAYROLL 3,224.98
A.W. ENTERPRISES, INC. SUPPLIES 456.12
ACCESS SYSTEMS NETWORK RACK 2,084.35
ACME TOOLS SUPPLIES 49.98
ALLEGRA CEDAR RAPIDS COMM CLEANUP MAILER 243.35
ALLIANT ENERGY UTILITY EXP 12,724.57
ALTORFER INC. GOLF CART RENTAL 627.20
AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES FIRE AWARENESS SUPPLIES 756.63
ATKINS LUMBER CO. INC. SUPPLIES 51.46
ATKINS TELEPHONE CO. INC. TELEPHONE 585.01
BAKER & TAYLOR BOOKS 86.29
BENTON COUNTY SOLID WASTE COMM TIPPING FEES 2,394.30
BOOK SYSTEMS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS 1,210.00
DAKOTA SUPPLY GROUP SUPPLIES 67.80
CATERPILLAR FINANCIAL SER LEASE FOR EXCAVATOR 3,079.76
CHEM-SULT, INC. CHEMICALS 2,153.15
D P PROPERTIES CLEANING-LIBRARY-SEPT 24 688.00
DEMCO BOOKSHELF DIVIDERS 182.97
GAZETTE COMMUNICATIONS, Inc. MINUTES 9/10 273.09
IOWA DNR WATER USE PERMIT#6079 115.00
IOWA ONE CALL LOCATES 33.30
IOWA REPAIR & MACHINE FIRE TRUCK REPAIR 305.66
IOWA WATER ENVIRONMENT ASSOC ANN CONF – TOMLINSON 40.00
IRON MOUNTAIN INCORPORATED LOCATES 120.85
M & D MINI STORAGE DERECHO – COSTS 70.00
MENARD’S SUPPLIES 29.92
MIDAMERICA BOOKS BOOKS 507.05
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY UTILITY EXP 48.08
POWESHIEK WATER ASSOICATION UTILITY EXP 98.50
SNYDER & ASSOCIATES LEAD & COPPER 1,753.50
TERRACON TESTING 4,900.00
THE DEPOT EXPRESS FUEL-SEPT 2024 464.67
TRIONFO SOLUTIONS, LLC LIFE INS – SEPT 2024 118.44
TRUGREEN LAWN CARE 2,805.00
U S CELLULAR CELL PHONES 247.72
USA BLUEBOOK SUPPLIES 259.91
WM CORPORATE SERVICES, INC. GARBAGE COLLECTION 16,627.14
WILD’S CUSTOM MOWING MOWING AUGUST 260.00
Accounts Payable Total

67,536.28
Invoices: Paid 11,017.51
Invoices: Scheduled 56,518.77
Payroll Checks 11,798.47
REPORT TOTAL 79,334.75
NO FUND ASSIGNED
OPEN ACCESS 45,272.37
ROAD USE TAX 6,651.26
FEMA 4,970.00
WATER 13,432.17
SEWER 9,008.95
TOTAL FUNDS 79,334.75
Koehn moved Resolution 2024-10-04 approving Contract Amendment #2 for Solum Lang Architects LLC, for construction staking for the Fire Station Project in the amount of $15,000. Petersen seconded the motion. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Koehn moved Resolution 2024-10-05 approving the award of the Tree Removal Project to S2 Construction of Bellevue, Iowa in the amount of $29,980. Bell seconded the motion. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Dursky moved Resolution 2024-10-06 approving the award of the Water Tower Exterior Painting Project to Viking Painting, LLC of La Vista, NE in the amount of $25,900. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Dursky moved Resolution 2024-10-07 approving the award of the Pond Outlet Repair Project to Eastern Iowa Excavating & Concrete, LLC of Cascade, Iowa in the amount of $35,598.50. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Bell moved Resolution 2024-10-08 indicating Council Support of a Super Majority Vote for the City Administrator Appointment. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, and Petersen. Nays: Koehn. Motion carried.
Mayor Visser reported that he has attended the ECICOG meeting, the Benton County Conservation meeting regarding the Canopy Project for the Roundhouse property, and that Emergency Management training is available for Council Members in Des Moines soon. Mayor Visser also issued a proclamation to commemorate Fire Prevention Week.
There was no public input, and no written correspondence received.
Council member Bell moved to go into closed session. Dursky seconded. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Fisher, Koehn, and Petersen, Nays: None. Motion carried. Council entered closed session at 7:28 pm pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable. injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.
Mayor Visser declared the Council return to regular session at 8:16 pm from closed session. Members present were Bell, Dursky, Koehn and Petersen. Also present was Sandi Fowler, Interim City Administrator. No public was present.
The next regular City Council meeting will be held on October 22, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. City Hall/Library, Council Room, 480 3rd Avenue, Atkins, IA.
Bell moved to adjourn the meeting. Dursky seconded. Ayes: Bell, Dursky, Petersen, and Koehn. Nays: none. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm.
Sandi Fowler, Interim City Administrator Bruce Visser, Mayor