City Council

MANTORVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020 6:30 PM 1. Call to Order - Mayor Bradford called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Members Present: Chuck Bradford, Henry Blair, Sharon Davern, Don Hofstad and Luke Nash Others Present: Duane Larsen, Carol and Virgil Andrist, Ruth Pettey, Joan Nesvold, Lyle Hoaglund, Jim Potter, DCSO Deputy Steph French, City Attorney Scott Riggs (Virtual), City Staff Shelly Jensen-Germundson, Joe Adams, Cami Reber 2. Pledge of Allegiance - Done 3. Additions/Deletions to Agenda - Pull items 7f) and 9. 4. Consent Agenda – Motion made by Member Hofstad, second by Member Nash to approve the consent agenda as follows: a) City Council Meeting Minute’s August 10, 2020 b) Warrant List August 24, 2020 c) Resolution 2020-15 Accepting A Donation Motion passed unanimously. 5. Public Concerns - None 6. Public Hearing(s) - None 7. Old Business/New Business a) Dodge County Sheriffs Contract 2021 Cami noted that this is the 2021 contract which represents a 3% increase over 2020. Motion made by Member Nash, second by Member Hofstad to approve as proposed. Motion passed unanimously. b) Updated Demolition Bid – Greatland Construction, Inc. The City Council had directed staff to confirm the bid that was previously submitted for the demolition of the shop building (Old Radiator Shop). Cami noted that it is $1,000 higher than previously submitted last year. The bid is good for 60 days. Motion made by Member Davern, second by Member Nash to accept the bid, like they did last March. Mayor Bradford asked Member Nash if he still wants to get some of the information they are looking for from last time. Member Nash asked if we have a date that we are going to request for the tear down; completion of the contract. Mayor Bradford noted that he thought they wanted to look at what its value is now. Member Nash noted it is good information to have. Joe Adams noted that with the 60 days, this includes the removal of the gas and electric meters which can take at least a month to get them here, so that should be taken into consideration with the 60 days. Member Nash noted we should get that ball rolling. Motion passed unanimously. c) 9th Street Speed Study City resident Dewey Larson, who lives on the corner of Chestnut and 9th Street, spoke to the Council about the speed issue that continues to exist on 9th Street. This problem is only going to get worst. This is not the local people; it is the people who reside in the NW area and use 9th Street to get through town. People admit that they use this road because there are no stop signs. He noted the studies and the speed that is in excess. He suggested to post 2 speed limit signs posts and maybe get a little bit more police presence. Mayor Bradford asked if he thinks the striping has helped at all. Mr. Larson noted he doesn’t think it has; he thinks it has exasperated the problem. Discussion continued on solutions and adding some better signage. Joe noted he would reach out to a few people to find out where they get their electric speed signs and how much they cost, solar versus electric. Deputy French did note that she has issued tickets to people in that area and they do patrol it. Motion made by Mayor Bradford, second by Member Hofstad to approve the placement of 2 - 30 mph signs and  check on pricing on the electric ones. Joe should bring back pricing on both the flashing light one and the one that states the speed limit. Motion passed unanimously. d) Request to Refund Liquor License Fees Discussion on the request from two liquor licensed establishments for a refund of liquor license fees. The CARES Act grant dollars do not qualify for this but the City itself could refund from our own funds. Motion made by Member Nash, second by Member Davern to approve the reimbursement of 25% of the on-sale liquor license. Motion passed unanimously. e) Resolution 2020-16 Council Member Censure Mayor Bradford presented Resolution 2020-16 regarding the censuring of Council Member Davern. He noted this resolution as being something in the background for a while, a collection of things over time, brought about by concerns noted by Community members as well as other Council Members. He felt this should be dealt with at a Council meeting and allow everybody to have their say. Our legal team has reviewed the resolution. Everyone was given an opportunity to talk on this with the hope to get everyone on the same page of what is expected of a Council person and what’s not. Member Nash said he would like to hear from Member Davern. Member Davern addressed the resolution noting several items the first one being that the Mayor has been wanting to do this since she first started. She noted that when she was out campaigning, she heard constant complaints about the disrespect on how people are treated when they go to City Hall, phone calls aren’t returned, and people won’t come to City Council meetings due to the disrespect given there along with the eye rolling and the mocking. Member Davern feels she also gets this treatment as soon as she walks into meetings from both Council and staff. The Mayor does not speak to her with any respect, his face is in a mocking tone, Member Hofstad makes dramatic gestures and Member Blair has no problem screaming at her. She doesn’t feel falling asleep at a City Council meeting is very cool. She is called names by City Staff, there is illegal granting of contracts, her two committees she created were banished by the Mayor. She had things set up by someone’s daughter to do live streaming of the meetings to Facebook but that person said there is no way they would expose their daughter to the kind of behavior that is done at the Council meetings. She is being accused of threatening City personnel which she did apologize for a blow up she had earlier on for an item. Throughout her campaigning she was told of issues with City staff. She requested to have the Attorney present at the meetings and was told that was too expensive. She has a problem with the Council doing favors such as pool filling for just a couple of people which is not legal to do. She was told she could not contact the City Attorney and how she was never to represent the City yet the Mayor promised things to a resident that wasn’t legal to do. She was accused of being a detriment to the community during a disagreement with the Chamber and so she asked to have someone else reassigned. She isn’t going to put up with the way she is treated any longer and she expects everyone to be held to a different level also. Discussion continued. Mayor Bradford noted his goal is to get everybody to understand that there is five of us, we are not all going to agree and if that means we have to pass a resolution to say yes this is what is expected then let’s do it. Resident Virgil Andrist questioned why we were going after her for something when the Mayor lied to he and his wife twice. Why isn’t he getting sanctioned? Motion made by Member Blair, second by Member Nash to table Resolution 2020-16 indefinitely. Member Blair noted that he has differing opinions about a large part of what was presented this evening and the characterization of such interactions. He doesn’t feel that what we have in front of us is documented well enough for him to be able to vote to approve this tonight. Mayor Bradford noted that if the discussion has been enough and this can change behavior then his point has been accomplished. By tabling it, there’s always the option to revisit. Motion passed unanimously. f) 2021Budget and Levy - Pulled 8. TBD a) Public Works Report – Joe reported on the milling work for the road projects that should start on Friday.  b) City Clerk Report – Cami noted that property complaint letters will be going out this week. c) Consultant Report – None d) Committee Report - None e) Council Member Report • Member Hofstad – Reported that kids will be going back to school soon, consider safety. • Member Nash – Gave a reminder on the push back we will get when we place flashing lights – it always comes. f) Mayor Report – Gave a follow up on the school board committee he is a part of and he will continue to have follow up meetings. 9. Executive Session – A Closed session will be held for the completion of City Staff Reviews - Pulled 10. Adjourn – Motion made by Member Nash, second by Member Hofstad to adjourn the meeting at 7:31 pm. Motion passed unanimously.