City council hires public works director
By Shelia Tomkins
The Guttenberg city council voted to offer the position of Public Works Director to Dan Pierce at the regular monthly meeting on Dec. 12. Pierce, who has been a city public works employee for many years, will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of long-time city employee Dan Walke.
Mayor Fred Schaub led the council through a shorter-than-usual agenda. On hand were council members Michelle Geuder, Steve Bahls, Jane Parker, Austin Greve and Mandy Ludovissy, along with City Manager Denise Schneider
Zoning request
A re-zoning request from Tim Schmitt drew comments from adjoining property owners, including five written objections to the proposed change from R-1 (single family residential) to A-1 (limited agriculture). Schmitt was not present at Monday night’s council meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended the change at its November meeting. According to P&Z minutes, Schmitt said that he did not have any plans for the property, did not plan on selling it and wanted it rezoned because he believes that he could have stumps, etc. on the property if it was rezoned to agriculture. Bill Leonhart, a neighbor of Schmitt’s, addressed the council and told how he helped Schmitt with his wood pile. Adjoining property owner Mike Landwehr passed out photos showing the state of the Schmitt property. Council member Parker noted that if it is zoned agriculture, “we don’t have any say about animals.” After discussion the council voted to deny the requested change.
Other business
A written update on city projects was submitted by Steve Thompson from Veenstra and Kimm.
A request from Imagine the Possibilities was granted to relocate “deaf individual” signs following the relocation of residents after a fire earlier this month.
The council moved forward on a request to purchase a portion of a city alley and street west of the Great River Road in north Guttenberg. A public hearing on the matter was set for the next monthly council meeting on Jan. 9.
Following up on discussion at an earlier meeting, the council passed an amendment to the parking ordinance that governs construction trailers and containers.
The mayor requested that the agenda item regarding a public works/water operator position be tabled pending further study.
The fuel bid from Casey’s was accepted.
The council okayed a change in the form to request public records, as proposed by Police Chief Derrick Chambers, to reflect the option of records on flash drives.
After reviewing bids, the council approved the proposal from Burgin Tree Service of Edgewood to trim trees and remove dead debris on hillside terrain, at a cost of $14,950.
The City Manager reported on a used digger truck available in New Hampshire, and it was the council’s consensus to move forward with the purchase at a cost of $57,000.
Official appointments
The council approved the following appointments for the coming year:
Regional Housing Authority, Denise Schneider
CDBG Housing, Denise Schneider and Mary Moser
Cable Commission, Roger Butz
Cemetery Board, Pat Kuempel and Marie Torrey
Clayton Co. Emergency Management Commission, Austin Greve and Fred Schaub
E-911 Board, Austin Greve and Joe Zittergruen
