The City Council of Larchwood met in regular session on March 3, 2008 at 6:35 PM after the Budget Estimate Public Hearing adjourned. Mayor Leonard Vanden Bosch called the meeting to order with the following Council members present: Josh Feucht, Mike Metzger, Sharon Meffert, Dean Snyders, Ted Underberg arrived later. Also in attendance were Duane Tieszen, Verdonna Kelly, Paul Kippley and Carla Manning.

Paul Kippley approached the Council on behalf of Duane Tieszen. Duane is in the process of selling his property and would like the City to grant him an easement or vacate a portion of Willard Street that his house and garage are placed. The City will investigate further and will have a special meeting on March 10, 2008 at 5:30 pm.

Correspondence was received from Brenda Ripperda, Paul and Sierra for the $50.00 baby credit. Correspondence was also received from a group of employees from Novartis that have been using the Rec Center without memberships. The City found out that approximately ten people have been "let in" to the Rec Center on Wednesday nights to play basketball as a group. They apologized to the Council for the misuse, would like to continue to play on Wednesday nights from 5-7 but would not like to pay a full membership fee. The Council discussed the situation and found out that Novartis reimburses their employees for fitness memberships so the cost of the Rec Center membership should not be an issue to this group. They would be required like any other member to pay the full fee.

 Building Permit was issued to Farmers Elevator Coop for a Grain Leg and Tower.

Rebates were issues to Violet Borman and Del Meinen - Water Heaters and Becky Viereck – Heat Pump.

Financial Reports and Minutes from the February 4, 2008 meeting were approved and signed on motions from Metzger and Underberg. Revenue for the month is as follows: General $26,656.56; Water $8,247.67; Sewer $7,183.37; Electric $49,722.00; Road Use $5,138.27. Grand Total $96,947.87. Expenditures for the month are as follows: General $12,793.98; Water $697.75; Sewer $123.92; Electric $37,356.43; Garbage/Recycle $4,661.25; Road Use $2,444.93; TIF $2,896.90. Grand Total $60,975.16.

The following bills were presented for payment. Motion by Snyders, second by Underberg to pay accordingly: Petty Cash-Postage $13.02; Aramark-Mats $68.60; Hach-Water testing kits $123.85; Ahlers, Coonery Attorney-Tif $2,896.90; Hillyard-repairs $311.00; The Shop-supplies $26.40; Ipers-retirement $561.03; Menards-supplies $90.75; Larchwood Library-Allocation $3,388.70; Iowa League of Cities-School $457.00; Lyon Rec-Power $34,779.38; Lyon Rec-Labor $103.25; Lyon County Secondary Road Crew-Supplies $265.00; Midwest Alarm-Keys $375.00; US Postal Svc-Postage $104.00; University of Iowa-Book $30.00; Larchwood Food Center-supplies $61.90; R&S Sanitation-Garbage/Recycle $4,661.25; Security Savings Bank-Deposit Slips/Fica $1,946.75; Stensland Gravel-Snow removal $1,480.33; Sheehan Mack-repairs $643.20; Treasurer, State of Iowa-Sales Tax $2,409.60; Larchwood Quick Stop $503.27; Violet Borman-Rebate $100.00; Connie Douglass-Basketballs/Cleaning $565.61; Anthony DeSmet-Insurance/Phone/Tools $303.25; Sandi DeSmet-Insurance/Supplies $335.47; Leonard Vanden Bosch-Salary/Mileage/Phone $537.47; Iowa Utilities Board-Assessment $85.00; Becky Viereck-Rebate $500.00; Payroll $3,667.84.

Summer Help

The summer labor position has been filled by Stephanie Schreurs. She will work 25 hours per week and Tony and the City Council will start making lists for her to keep busy.

Resolution 2008-2

Resolution to Adopt Budget and Certification of City Taxes for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 was approved on motions from Feucht and Meffert. The Mayor asked for a roll call vote: Aye: Feucht, Metzger, Meffert, Snyders, Underberg; No: None.

Resolution 2008-3

City of Larchwood ATM Card Policy

The City assigned Debit Cards to Tony DeSmet and Sandi DeSmet for immediate purchases and on the road expenses.

Tony DeSmet gave his maintenance report which included cleaning up lawnmowers for trade in and sealed bids were opened for new lawnmower purchases. The bids were as follows: Z830A John Deere Siouxland Propane $3290, ICON Ag Solutions $2950, Beckman Implement $2875. 1435 John Deere Siouxland Propane $4950, ICON Ag Solutions $6950; Beckman Implement $6590. Bids were awarded to Beckman Implement – Z830A for $2875 and Siouxland Propane – 1435 John Deere $4950.

Utility Deposit Required

Mayor Vanden Bosch raised the issue of Utility Deposits being implemented into the City Ordinance. As the City Ordinance Chapter 4, Article 11.07 Renewal of Service: Fee reads. Where service is temporarily discontinued at the request of a customer or on account of non-payment of bill, a charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) will be made for the renewal of service. The City Council will amend this ordinance to read on account of delinquent utility history if a customer requests to be reconnected, delinquent payment will be paid in full and a deposit of 90 days utilities will be required and will not be refunded if payment is delinquent in any month for any renter wishing to obtain service.

Meters Inspected

The City Clerk reported that several people were upset about their electric bills this month due to the estimation of January’s bill. The Clerk would be happy to recheck anyone’s bill that they do not agree with. The Clerk told the customers that January’s bill was probably averaged low and to take the difference between December and February and divide it by 2 and you should get your average monthly usage. Some customers were not happy with the Clerk’s response and wanted their meters checked. According to City Ordinance Chapter 4, Article 11.12 Meters Inspected. Electric meters shall be inspected periodically as required by the Iowa State Commerce Commission rules, or whenever the superintendent believes that any meter is not registering correctly. If any customer of electric energy believes that his meter is not accurate, he may require that his meter be tested and depositing with the city treasurer a sum as established by ordinance. Should the meter register fast, the customer shall be entitled to a re-adjustment of his bill in accordance with the rules of the Iowa State Commerce Commission on the basis of the over-registration and have the fee for testing refunded to him. Should the meter register accurately or low, the meter testing fee so deposited shall be retained by the city as expense for testing the meter. The Council agreed to amend the Ordinance to charge a fee of $50.00.

The Dual Fuel/Electric Rebate was discussed and a decision for changes will be made next month. Baby credits this month were given to Jackson Moser, Samuel Underberg and Cole Koch.

Sandi DeSmet,

City Clerk

Public Hearing

Mayor Vanden Bosch called the Public Hearing to order at 6:30 PM on March 3, 2008 regarding the upcoming budget estimate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.

As this is the time and place the City Council of Larchwood will consider the proposal for the Budget Estimate as was published in the WEST LYON HERALD on February 20, 2008. The estimated total tax levy rate per $1000 valuation on regular property is $7.77996 and estimated tax levy rate per $1000 valuation on agricultural land is $3.00375. Asking levy rate is the same as last year. Any resident or taxpayer may present objections to, or arguments in favor of, any part of the proposed budge