City Council
Regular MeetingCarter Lake, IA · November 18, 2024
Minutes
CARTER LAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, November 18, 2024
Mayor Ronald Cumberledge called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call of the
council, present: Jacob Hanika, Jackie Wahl, Aaron Grell, Victor Skinner and Jason Gundersen;
City Attorney David Levy and Clerk Jackie Carl were also present.
Upon motion, made by Gundersen, and seconded by Hanika, the agenda unanimously approved,
adding in Snyder Engineering update and PeopleService, removing Lakeside Auto Recyclers.
Gundersen moved to approve the consent agenda which included the following items:
Department head reports from Parks, Library, Community Center, Senior Services, Maintenance,
Police, Fire/EMS; City council minutes from October; Overtime and comp time reports for
October; abstract of claims, receipts and financial reports for are tabled until next month and
approval of Casey’s General Store liquor license. Hanika moved to second the motion.
Unanimously approved.
Zum Bus Services was present to discuss their Conditional Use Permit. Request to extend the
permit for 5 years instead of 2 years. Skinner, moved to accept the conditional use permit,
seconded by Grell; No-Gundersen. Yes- Grell, Skinner, Wahl and Hanika
Elizabeth Hunter from Snyder and Associates reviewed the water project and the final cost.
Backlund compiled a list of added work that could be done with the remaining funds. Council
agreed to move forward with the additional work.
Gundesen moved to approve appointment of Jack Vandenbussche to the Fire Department,
seconded by Hanika. Gundersen moved to approve Pam Christensen to the library board,
seconded by Hanika; Gundersen moved to approve appointment of Jodie Sams to the library
board, seconded by Hanika; Gundersen moved to approve Katie Smith to the Parks and Rec
board, seconded by Grell; all motions unanimously approved.
Grell moved to hire Small City Solutions for $7,500 to manage an overhaul of the Zoning Code,
seconded by Hanika; unanimously approved.
Grell moved to hire Hinson Consultants for consulting to hire a City Administrator; seconded by
Skinner, unanimously approved.
Gundersen requested the council’s support to have a conversation with PeopleService
concerning the numerous issues that he has heard about in recent weeks. Council agreed to invite
representatives from PeopleService to the next workshop.
Attorney Levy provided an update that a letter has been mailed to the owners of 122 Carter Lake
Club, dangerous building notification. Owner has 30 days to respond after receipt of letter. Will
provide another update at next meeting.
Attorney Levy also reviewed conflict of interest; Some discussion at various meetings about
conflicts of interest I'm not going to go into any specific things but I just want to remind you all
the conflicts of interest are a very important thing that you as elected officials and your appointed
officials deal with. Typically to be a conflict of interest needs to involve a direct financial interest
to the official or his or her immediate relatives. But the one thing I'll say about a conflict of
interest is even if it's not actually legally a conflict of interest, the appearance of a conflict of
interest is almost worse because you really can't disprove it. You could show somebody corporate
records or financial records and show that I don't have a financial interest in this particular
business but if it's something where everybody says, wait a minute he's related to her or he was
involved in that business or something like that, that appears to the public to be a conflict of
interest and that's a hard bell to un-ring so think about that. The last thing I'll say about conflicts
of interests and I think this is important. You as elect officials and appointed officials ultimately
the determination to recuse yourself or not, is yours, it's personal whether you think honestly as
you look in the mirror that you can be objective about that thing, you don't want to vote on
something or take action on something where you there's an obvious clear legal conflict of
interest. You can get in trouble for that but with appearances of conflict of interest it's up to you
and so you know give that some thought. Last thing if you're not sure, you can ask me, we can
get opinions from the state of Iowa and you know again it's your decision but I'm always happy
to discuss it with you and if it's something you can avoid you should. Truly, last thing I'll say about
it, it doesn't just mean recusing yourself from the vote, if you're going to recuse yourself from
the vote, don't participate in the discussion; don't be part of it. Many city attorneys tell their
clients, you should leave the room, I do not know, maybe I’m wrong but I don't know that you
have a big influence sitting there so I don't typically advise clients that they have to leave the
room. Some do but to that end, do not take part in the discussion, and then go, oh I recuse myself
from voting, because then you have influenced the decision.
Mr. Levy also introduced his associate attorney, Spencer Housch who has been assisting with
work on behalf of the city.
Planning Board member Ray Pauly provided update about the Zum Services proposal for
Conditional Use permit to park buses at the lot on the south side of Locust Street.
Wahl moved to approve first reading of amendment to golf cart ordinance, seconded by Grell;
Gundersen moved to approve first reading of amendment to city code 20.05 Publications;
seconded by Hanika; Wahl moved to approve first reading of amendment to city code 5.06
Meetings, seconded by Grell; Grell moved to waive second reading of amendment to UTV
ordinance and proceed with the third and final reading, seconded by Hanika; Ordinance adopted.
Gundersen moved to approve resolution to publish notice of hearing on adoption of proposed
“Code of Ordinances”, hearing will take place at the meeting December 16, 2024, at 7 p.m.
seconded by Hanika; All ordinances unanimously approved by the council.
Skinner moved to approve application for exemption of Urban Revitalization Area for 1302 Cedar
St. with no requirement for the sidewalk, seconded by Grell Roll Call: NO-Grell, Hanika,
Gundersen, Wahl, YES-Skinner. Motion failed. Gundersen moved to approve contingent on
meeting the sidewalk requirement around the property, seconded by Hanika; Yes-Wahl,
Gundersen, Grell, Hanika. No: Skinner. Application approves with contingency.
Gundersen moved to approve resolution to complete transfers for 2023-2024 budget, seconded
by Hanika; Gundersen moved to approve Annual Financial Report for 2023-2024, seconded by
Hanika, Hanika moved to approve update to employee handbook for meal reimbursements for
traveling employees, seconded by Skinner; all resolutions unanimously approved.
Grell moved to approve wage resolution for Kaitlyn Watson, seconded by Hanika; Grell moved to
approve wage resolution for Lauri Wilhite seconded by Skinner; Grell moved to approve wage
resolution for Nicholas Dargy, seconded by Gundersen; all resolutions unanimously approved.
At 8:23 p.m. Gundersen moved to go into closed session to discuss personnel issues, seconded
by Grell; Grell moved to come out of closed session at 9:12 p.m., seconded by Gundersen.
Jackie Carl, City Clerk Ronald Cumberledge, Mayor
Agenda
NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE CARTER LAKE CITY COUNCIL
City Council agendas are available at www.cityofcarterlake.com
You are hereby notified that a meeting of the City Council of the City of Carter Lake, Iowa, will
be held Monday, November 18, 2024, 7:00 p.m.,
in the City Hall Council Chambers, 950 East Locust Street, Carter Lake, Iowa,
for the purpose of taking official action on the agenda items shown hereinafter and for such
other business that may properly come before the Council. This is a formal meeting during
which the Council may take official action on various items of business. If you wish to speak on
an item, please follow the seven participation guidelines adopted by the Council for speakers:
1. Anyone may address the Council on any agenda item.
2. Speakers should approach the microphone one at a time and be recognized by the Mayor.
3. Speakers should give their name, spell their name, give their address, and then their statement.
4. Everyone should have an opportunity to speak. Therefore, please limit your remarks to three
minutes on any one item.
5. At the beginning of the discussion on any item, the mayor may request statements in favor of
an action to be heard first, followed by statements in opposition to the action.
6. Any concerns or questions you may have which do not relate directly to a scheduled item on
the agenda will also be heard under “Citizen Concerns”.
7. For the benefit of all in attendance, please turn off all cell phones and other communication
devices while in the City Council Chambers.
1. Pledge of allegiance
2. Roll call
3. Approval of the agenda
a. additions or deletions
4. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Department head reports
i. Library, Community Center, Maintenance/Parks, Police, Fire/EMS
b. City council minutes – OCTOBER
c. Planning board minutes – OCTOBER
d. Overtime and comp time reports – OCTOBER
e. Abstract of claims – OCTOBER
f. Receipts – OCTOBER
g. Financial reports – OCTOBER
h. Liquor License Renewal – CASEY’S GENERAL STORE – renewal 11/21/24
---END OF CONSENT AGENDA---
NEW BUSINESS
5. Zum Services - Conditional Use Permit
6. Lakeside Auto Recyclers – Expansion of zoning district
7. Communications from:
a. Department Supervisors
b. Mayor Ronald Cumberledge
i. Appointment of Fire Department member - Jack Vandenbussche
ii. Appointment to Library Board – 2 open seats
iii. Appointment to Parks & Rec Board – 1 open seat
c. Aaron Grell
i. Land Use Consultant
ii. City Administration Consultant
d. David Levy, Attorney
i. Dangerous Buildings - 122 Carter Lake Club
e. Planning Board Update
8. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:
a. 1st reading of amendment to golf cart ordinance
b. 1st reading of amendment to city code 20.05 Publications
c. 1st reading of amendment to city code 5.06 Meetings
d. 2nd reading of amendment to UTV ordinance
e. Consider resolution to publish notice of hearing on adoption of proposed “Code
of Ordinances”
f. Consider resolution to approve application for exemption of Urban Revitalization
Area for 1302 Cedar St
g. Consider resolution to complete transfers for 2023-2024 budget
h. Consider approving Annual Financial Report
i. Consider update to employee handbook for meal reimbursements for traveling
employees
j. Consider wage resolution for Kaitlyn Watson
k. Consider wage resolution for Lauri Wilhite
l. Consider wage resolution for Nicholas Dargy
9. CITIZEN CONCERNS (3 minutes per resident)
a. Catherine Todero – emergency notification system
10. COUNCIL CONCERNS (3 minutes per member)
11. Closed Session
ADJOURNMENT
ADA AND INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE NOTICE
The City of Carter Lake does not discriminate based on disability in admission to, access to,
or operations of its programs, services, or activities. Individuals who need auxiliary aid for effective communication
in programs and services of the City of Carter Lake are invited to make their needs and preferences known too the
ADA Compliance Officer, City Hall, 950 East Locust Street, (712) 347-6320.
This notice is provided as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The City of Carter Lake promotes equity and inclusion of protected classes including sex, ethnicity, color, familial
status, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, geographic background, race, creed, religious and
spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, mental and physical disability, or veteran status in
admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. This notice applies to all departments,
employees, commissions, boards, and volunteers that work with the City of Carter Lake.
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