New Council hears reports, makes plans

LIMES SPRINGS - Out-going mayor Chris Chilson presided over the beginning of his last Lime Springs City Council meeting. Brian Johnson then took over. 

The new City Council took their seats at the Jan. 4 meeting, including sitting members Kris McNamara and Jennifer Kalstabakken and new members Richard Cottrell, Jeff Burnikel and Brady Vrieze (who was absent).

Reports were given by the various departments. 

Fire Department: See accompanying article.

Library: Kalstabakken spoke on some of the monthly and weekly activities for the library, whick include Adult Game Night, Bingo, Book Discussion, Handy Work Circle and Step Program. In addition a Lego event was planned, as well as a Health & Wellness demonstration.

Current Board members — Eddie Miller, Becky Pahl, Holly Andersen, Alice Schroeder and Don Lyon with Council McNamara as Council liaison.

Community Center: No report available. Current Board members — Jarry Hughes, Charlene Gates, Jill Tibbals and Adam Munkel.

Park & Recreation: Sharla Lieder noted the board accepted the resignation of Johnson. Some grant money will be used for lighting projects and a new microwave at the pool.

Current Board members — Lieder, D.J. Miller, Janet DeVries, Holly Andersen and Diane Tieskotter with Council Cottrell as liaison.

Public Works: Tyler Smith reported Jeff Siegenthaler (former Rick Kuhl property) was given a permit for a new garage, which will be built in the spring.

“The asbestos removal people worked one day, on Dec. 23. They removed asbestos from the Jenkins basement and are coming back in mid-January,” Smith explained.

He reported he has been moving snow and took care of a minor repair on the sander. The work truck received new tires. The lights on the flag poles were not working, but Dave Sobolik replaced the parts.

Smith said there was a waterline break. “It was a little deal that turned into a big deal.”

Council person Cottrell spoke up, “We should make the public aware that when they see something that isn’t right to let Tyler know. Maybe we could put an emergency number on the door or the well house.” He also felt that instead of just fixing a problem, the city should look at why it broke or is not working so it doesn’t happen again.

Spring Ahead Learning Center: Director Jodie Hubka said SALC has talked to several companies to get liability insurance and was told it was unavailable.

The learning center will get “no”s in writing to present to the City attorney. Bart Seebach could then put in a “Not responsible for” clause in the city’s lease with SALC.

• In other business from the meeting, a FY2023 budget workshop will be held on Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m.

• City Clerk Jane Tibbals is waiting on a call back from Derek Lee before the computers can be given out. The City received four laptops from money from the CARES Act.

• An update on the Merrill St. bridge will be given at the Feb. 1 meeting from the City’s engineers, Bolton & Menk.

• Mayor Brian Johnson handed out the commission appointments for 2022. 

~ Jeff Burnikel was named Mayor Pro-Tem.

~ Finance Committee: Kalstabakken and Vrieze

~ Water-Sewer-Waste: McNamara (Smith)

~ Building Permit Approval: Smith 

~ Civil Defense: Vrieze and Burnikel

~ City Employees Supervisory Committee: Vrieze and Burnikel 

~ City Employees Safety Committee: Vrieze, Cottrell and Fire Chief Scott Osmundson

~ Tree Committee: Kalstabakken and Cottrell

• Council voted to go with the same property tax split for FY2023 as took place in FY2021:

~ Community Center — 5%

~ Fire Dept. — 8%

~ Library — 17%

~ Parks —5%

~ Pool — 15%

~ General Fund — 50%

Before the vote, Cottrell asked about some of the numbers. He was concerned about the low percentage for the fire department. He was told part of the budget was supplemented by fund-raisers. “I don’t think your firefighers should be doing fund-raisers.” That got the attention of former chief, Nate Schwickerath, who explained part of the fund-raisers doubled as public service projects.

He also questioned the amount spent on the pool, which brought some defensive arguments from long-time residents.

• Cottrell then gave a list of things he is hoping to accomplish. Some of those items include:

~ “We need to talk about and take care of things instead of carrying things from month-to-month.”

~ Marking intersections, which was brought up by Cottrell several months ago.

~ He wondered why grants for disadvantaged communities were passing over Lime Springs.

~ The council needs to think about the sewer system and finding ways to keep items out of the sewer, including ground water.

~ As an observation, Cottrell wondered why the generator at the SALC was running for 20 hours during the power outage. He was told it is used as a storm shelter and needs to be available for the public.

~ Cottrell also mentioned seeing semis going down Jackson St. (in front of the old school). He was told GPS is probably sending them on the shortest route. The City could put up a “No Trucks” sign on Merrill St. and N. Forest St.