“West Okoboji Workers” Fourth Year Planting Report
Spring 2009

The City of West Okoboji embarked on a Visioning Program with the Iowa Living Roadways Community Visioning program during the summer of 2006. This was also the 1st year of our participation with the Trees Forever Program.

Our Visioning program has thus far resulted in: Three City signs, development of the Alex Danbom Park, and initiation of the 1st leg of West Okoboji’s portion of the Dickinson Bike Trail. As an aside, we also identified areas that needed trees and plants to enhance the environment.

Our programs over the past three years have resulted in planting 147 trees and 648 plants. This year we will plant 50+ trees along the roadways near Heritage Landings and the 1st Lutheran Church. Planting date is April 25th at 8:00AM at Heritage Landings.

These grants have made our planting programs possible.

Alliant Energy $11,000

Black Hills Energy (Aquila) $6500.00

Iowa Living Roadways Trust/Steve Holland coordinator $3677.93

Iowa Living Roadways $1987.62 for native plants (Awaiting reimbursement of $4193.73 for trees along Highway 86/Ridgeview Estates)

Total contributions to date: $23,165.55 and many hours of labor from “WOW” and
City Staff, Ed Rice and Bob Johnson

Marcia Petersen
April 15, 2009

City of West Okoboji
Regular Council Meeting
501 Terrace Park Blvd
March 9, 2009

Presiding Larry Traughber
Council Present Sieh, Booth, Paxton, Petersen, Ladegaard

Other Present Russ Beckendorf

Motion/Petersen/Ladegaard/carried to approve the Agenda
Motion/Petersen/Booth/ carried to approve the February 9, 2009 Minutes
Motion/Paxton/Sieh/carried to approve the Treasurer Report
Motion/Paxton/Booth/carried to approve the Claims for the Month

Traughber requested we go right to New Business
NEW BUSINESS
Traughber open Public Hearing for the 2010 Budget at 6:30. Traughber asked for any verbal or written comments. Rice had received one phone call and no written comments. Rice had been questioned about the difference in the Public Safety Fund. The increase for the 2010 Budget had gone from $32428.00 in 2009 to $72500.00 in 2010. Rice explained the City’s portion of the Milford Fire station for the next 20 years will be around $30000.00 a year.
Motion/Ladegaard/Paxton/ to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 2009-2 ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2010
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Paxton, Petersen, Ladegaard
Nay: None
Traughber closed Public Hearing at 6:33 pm

Russ Beckendorf explained the Insurance Policy. The Council questioned whether or not the City should insure the Old City Hall. After further discussion the Council decided to insure the building but take the personal Property and the EDP Hardware insurance off. The Council directed Rice to remove any valuable items from the Old City Hall.
Motion/Petersen/Ladegarrd/carried to accept the insurance policy with the Personal Property and EDP Hardware removed from the Old City Hall.
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Paxton Petersen, Ladegaard
Nay: None

Rice explained to the Council the fire hydrant at John Maletta’s property was located in the center of the lot. The Contractor wants to move the fire hydrant to the east property line at the homeowner’s expense. Rice explained the fire hydrant is about 40 years old and this would be the time to replace it. The only cost to the City would be the fire hydrant and valve with no labor charge. The Council agreed to replace the fire hydrant at the City’s expense.

RESOLUTION 2009-3 FOR 4 NEW STREET LIGHTS.
This resolution is for 2 streetlights on the east side of Three Cross Road, 1 at the intersection of Three Cross Road and Heritage Ave and 1 north of the Taco House.
Motion/Booth/Petersen/carried to eadopt RESOLUTION 2009-3 FOR 4 NEW STREET LIGHTS.
Aye: Sieh, Booth, Paxton, Petersen, Ladegaard
Nay: None

Due to conflicts the next 2 Months the Council Meetings will be move to the 2nd Wednesdays of the months (April and May).

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Sanitation
Rice explained to the Council due to the rising cost of recycling charges which also includes yard waste, white goods, and brown goods, along with the Fuel/Environment charges that the Landfill charges, garbage rates must go up. The recommendation would be $10.00 a year. Rice explained that this would not cover the entire cost increase the City will incur from the above Companies. The Council will review next year again.
Water
Rice explained to the Council that Milford would be raising water rates by 3% for the next 3 years.
Rice was directed to have an ordinance ready for the next Council Meeting with the 3% water increase and $10.00 garbage rate increase.
Parks & Rec
Petersen would like to set a date for planting trees this spring. Petersen reported that Bev from Prairie Flowers would be planting the area south of City Hall, west of City Hall and a portion of the Old City Hall this spring. Rice has contacted some of the neighbors across from Howard Titterington Park about the playground. The neighbors are willing to donate $10,000.00. Rice explained the insurance courier would not allow us to install a lot of playground equipment in that small of area.
Finance
Traughber questioned what the rate is on the bonds for Milford Fire station. Rice was directed to check on rates.
Ladegaard would like the City to divide the $4000.00 budgeted for this year between Spirit Lake, Arnolds Park and Milford Libraries. By Chapter 256.69 our share to Dickinson County Libraries should be $4700.00 a year. Motion/Petersen/Ladegaard/carried to divided the $4000.00 currently budgeted for this year between the 3 Libraries
Unfinished Business
Rice reported he had met with Alliant Energy and downsized the project that the Council had looked at the month before. This would just be along Okoboji Blvd, with a secondary running up Larabee Street. After some discussion Rice was directed to have Alliant Energy come to the next Council Meeting and also have a cost to replace that portion of the water main.
ADJOURMENT
Motion/Paxton/Booth/carried to adjourn.

CITY OF WEST OKOBOJI
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY HALL
AGENDA
April 15, 2009 - 6:30 p.m.

1) Call to Order & Roll Call

2) Approve Agenda

3) Approve minutes of March 9, 2009

4) Treasurer’s Report

5) Claims for month

6) Committee Reports

a) Streets
b) Water
c) Sanitation
d) Parks & Rec
e) Finance - Banks
f) Website

7) Unfinished Business

a) Burying Electric
b) Speed Bumps

NEW BUSINESS
a) Alliant Energy
b) 1st Street Improvements
c) First reading of a Resolution for Water and Garbage Rates
d) Purchase of Playground Equipment for Howard Titterington Park
e) Jones Beach request for improvements by mail boxes - no action will be taken
f) Insurance on Old City Hall Building - $302.00 a year

Adjournment

CITY OF WEST OKOBOJI
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING
CITY HALL
AGENDA
April 15, 2009 – 5:00 p.m.

1) Call to Order & Roll Call

2) Approve Agenda

3) Election of Chairperson

4) Jill Simplot – A request to reconstruct a garage on the same footprint with 9-foot sidewalls and a pitched roof.

5) Adjournment