Lengthy agenda for Guttenberg city council

By Shelia Tomkins

A budget amendment, cat licensing, and garbage rate increases were among the items occupying city council attention at the regular monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 5. Mayor Russ Loven presided with councilmembers Austin Greve, Fred Schaub, Virginia Saeugling, Jane Parker and Steve Friedlein on hand. Also at the council table were City Attorney Michael Schuster and Administrative Assistant Deb Eulberg in the absence of Assistant City Manager Jamie Blume.

Budget amendment

There were no public comments made at the hearing to amend the budget, and the council unanimously approved it. The amendment reflects items carried over into this fiscal year from the water main project.

Cat licensing

Discussion continued this month on the issue of licensing cats. The council considered the second reading of an ordinance after unanimously approving the first reading at last month’s regular meeting. 

“I don’t think we need to license cats,” said the mayor. “We have an ordinance that already covers it.” The ordinance he referred to currently prohibits any animal from running at large. 

The second reading of the ordinance to license cats passed on a 3-2 vote, with Greve, Sauegling and Friedlein voting in favor of the ordinance and Schaub and Parker opposed. The third reading will be considered at the next regular council meeting.

Resident Lori Wallace, who   expressed opposition to the ordinance at previous meetings, reiterated her stand and again asked who placed the item on the agenda. She also noted that the cost to retrieve impounded cats would include a $150 impounding fee and other charges. Resident Jane Thein addressed the council, stating she didn’t request that the isssue be brought before the council, and told of incidents where a neighbor destroyed numerous pet cats.  Resident Barb Pape said the council is overreacting on the issue of licensing cats and that the police department has better things to do.

Pitbull ordinance

Discussion was held on an ordinance addressing “dangerous and vicious animals.” The mayor noted that the city currently has an ordinance that prohibits dangerous animals, specifically pit bulls. “It isn’t quite all inclusive,” he noted. Discussion was held on the wording of the current ordinance, and the city attorney recommended modifying some of the language. The council instructed the city attorney to revise portions of the ordinance for consideration at the next meeting. 

Garbage rate increase

Garbage fees will increase after the first of the year following council approval of a 50-cent rate increase per month, as per the city’s contract agreement with Kluesner Sanitation. New rates will be $17.50 per month per household, and $16.50 per month for senior citizens. 

Railroad crossing issue

Gary Westhoff talked to the council about problems with access to his property following the city’s proposed closing of the Pryam Street railroad crossing. Westhoff owns a grain drying bin on the property and explained the difficulties of maneuvering his truck to access the bin. Discussion was held on the cost of relocating an electric pole to the other side of the alley, estimated at $10,000. The council tabled any action on the matter in order to contact the railroad to ask about having the crossing designated as a private crossing.

Hospital concerns 

with open burning

Kim Gau, CEO of Guttenberg Municipal Hospital, addressed the council with concerns about smoke from open burning, especially with leaf burning in the fall. “Given our geographics makeup, the fumes congregate in the valley and linger, and get sucked up into the hospital’s fresh air intake,” she told the council. Gau said employees have complained about the resulting air quality in the hospital, and that it also affects respiratory patients and others.  She asked the council to consider a ban on leaf burning in the community, or at least in a radius around the hospital. “The health risk of leaf burning is well documented,” she noted. 

GMH task force update

Bill Allyn, Guttenberg Municipal Hospital board member, gave the council an update on the board’s task force and its search for partnership possibilities. He presented a revised process and timeline that calls for using interviews and presentations rather than written requests for proposals. He said the goal will be to begin interviews in January. Allyn also discussed the GMH organizational profile as approved by the task force. “This communicates who we are and what we are looking for,” he said. “The right partner would be culturally compatible.” Allyn will return with another council update next month.  

Appointments

As part of the consent agenda, the council approved the following appointments for the coming year:

Community Development Block Grant: Lorrie Meyer, Jane Parker, Steve Rausch, Mary Moser and Jamie Blume 

Cable: Sue Rausch 

Cemetery Board: Pat Kuempel and Larry Borcherding 

Clayton County Emergency Board.: Russ Loven and Fred Schaub

E-911: Russ Loven and Fred Schaub

Historic Preservation: Lee Johnston, Dorothy Wille & Gary Goyette

Recreation Board: Becky Knudtson and Jen Radl

Regional Housing Authority:  Jamie Blume

Other business

In an item tabled at last month’s meeting, the council declined a request from Austin Finch to reduce a Community Development Block Grant loan. Finch has moved from the community and under the terms of the loan he must repay it. He requested a reduction due to issues with work done by a contractor. The council authorized the mayor and the assistant city manager to work out a payment schedule with Finch. 

Other business

Jim McGuire made a written request for a neighborhood mail delivery box for his residence on Bluff Street. The council tabled the request pending further discussion with McGuire.

The council awarded a six-month contract to Kwik Star based on their low bid for fuel service.

The city waived a subdivision plat for the Von Handorf property west of Acre Street. The action will enable the property to be conveyed so that the city can purchase part of the property for use as an electrical substation. 

The council went into closed session for collective bargaining negotiations, and upon return to open session took no further action.