Minutes for January 14, 2025

The Ogden City Council met in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Mark Trueblood presided. Members present were Councilman Aaron Crane, Councilman David Ohlson, Councilman Brian Reimers, Councilwoman Lori Anderson and Councilwoman Margaret Liston. City staff present were City Administrator Emily Clausen, City Clerk Allison Frazier, Police Chief Ethan Bailey and City Attorney Lee Johnson. Additional attendees present were 9 guests.
Liston made a motion, Ohlson seconded to approve the agenda.
Ayes: All Present, Motion Carried.
Department reports were presented. Chief Bailey reported 76 total calls for service and that he spent about 40 hours between the schools for the month of December. He approved an order for a handheld RADAR gun to assist with monitoring speeders in the city. The Police Department has received donations for the full price. The cost for the unit is around $1500. The annual nighttime/low light firearms qualifications for the department will be completed by the end of the week. Chief Bailey addressed the use of social media for the police department. He enjoys utilizing social media to provide information to the community, send out reminders, educate citizens, and provide some entertainment as a means of community relations. A few of the posts have been picked up by news stations and broadcasted sharing a positive light to Ogden and law enforcement in general. City administrator Emily Clausen reminded the council that City Hall will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The City is also taking bids for the Cemetery mowing contract.
Mayor Mark Trueblood asked if there were any questions or items to be removed from the Consent Agenda. Liston noted a change to the mayoral appointments adding Brian Reimers and herself to Boone Co. Economic Growth. Anderson made a motion, Liston seconded to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda: 1) Regular meeting minutes of Tuesday, December 10th, 2024. 2). Treasurers Report for December 2024. 3) Claims list from December 7th, 2024 through January 10th, 2025. 4) Approved a building permit for 498 E. Maple St. 5) Resolution No. 202501-585 to establish official depositories and maximum balance. 6) Mayoral Appointments.
Ayes: All Present. Motion Carried.
JANUARY 2025 CLAIMS LIST
BANK DRAFTS:
ACCESS SYSTEMS LEASING 129.80
AFLAC 574.24
BLACK HILLS 913.31
BLACK HILLS 641.27
DAIDA 259.09
DEARBORN GROUP 966.38
DELTA DENTAL 628.10
EFTPS 4,451.51
EFTPS 4,957.38
GARBAGE GUYS 424.00
HSA 2,274.97
IOWA DEPT OF REVENUE 718.14
IOWA RURAL WATER 33.78
IPERS 6,161.48
IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 37.17
OGDEN TELEPHONE COMPANY  778.30
OGDEN MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 11,134.96
TREASURER STATE OF IOWA 1,252.00
VERIZON WIRELESS 463.91
VISA – VISIONBANK OF IOWA 999.46
VISION BANK 20.00
WELLMARK 14,361.37
TOTAL: 52,180.89
CHECKS:
051379 ACCESS SYSTEMS LEASING 211.16
051380 ACCESS SYSTEMS 1,582.40
051381 ARNOLD MOTOR SUPPLY 123.93
051382 AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS 417.50
051383 BOMGAARS 208.92
051384 BOONE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 5,000.00
051385 CINTAS 110.08
051386 COLUMN 360.70
051387 DEMCO 119.13
051388 DOLLAR GENERAL 27.75
051389 EAGLE SIGN CO. 28,231.38
051390 FAST LANE PARTS 253.53
051391 FOX STRAND INC. 4,821.25
051392 GOOD LAWN CARE 580.00
051393 INGRAM LIBRARY SERVICES 978.46
051394 IOWA ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 457.00
051395 JIM ROBBINS 60.00
051396 LEXIPOL 204.96
051397 MCGRAW SENIOR CENTER 600.00
051398 MICROBAC LABORATORIES 1,068.00
051399 MODERN MARKETING 126.44
051400 MOFFITT’S FORD 1,000.00
051401 OGDEN FARM & FEED 1,585.60
051402 VOID 0.00
051403 VOID 0.00
051404 VOID 0.00
051405 QUICK OIL CO. 1,718.11
051406 SMOKE-EATER PUBLICATIONS 130.00
051407 SPRAYER SPECIALTIES 574.52
051408 SQUEEGEE CLEAN LLC 20.00
051409 USA BLUEBOOK 2,407.76
051410 QUICK OIL 1,583.77
051411 RONALD COHRS 452.43
051412 RUBY REFRIGERATION 1,541.84
TOTAL: 56,556.62
Mayor Mark Trueblood closed the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. to open the public hearing for the Proposal to Approve Application for Voluntary Annexation.
City Administrator Clausen spoke about the annexation petition and all notices being sent out. Paul Heineman owns 3.6 acres of land within the area with 3 acres in the forest reserve and currently tax exempt. He wanted to know if that would change with annexation. He would like some city tax exemption if this annexation is approved. No other comments.
Mayor Mark Trueblood closed the public hearing and entered back into regular session at 6:43 p.m.
Motion by Reimers, second by Crane to approve Resolution No. 202501-586 approving application for voluntary annexation and authorizing filing of an annexation proposal with the city development board. This resolution to include city tax exemption on the first year at seventy-five percent, second year fifty percent and third year twenty-five percent.
Ayes: All Present, Motion Carried.
Rick Lampe spoke to the council about his concerns on a building being built south of his residence on SW 4th Street. Kevin Hicks is planning on putting a 40×60 garage on his lot. Lampe believes the City Code needs to be worded better, and he doesn’t think a livestock trucking business should be in a residential area. Kevin assured the council and Lampe that it would only be used for parking and storage of his semi and family vehicles. He would never have a loaded trailer. Hicks had called and talked to Administrator Emily Clausen before purchasing the ground and doing any groundwork and was given the ok. Mayor Trueblood researched that since 1984 19 Morton type buildings have been built in Ogden and 4 larger than the planned building of Hicks. Keith Berg stated he would like to see more houses built in Ogden. Kevin will apply for a usage variance before building. This will be placed on the agenda for February.
A public hearing was set for April 8th at 5:30 p.m. for the proposed maximum property tax dollars to certify for levys.
A budget work session was set for January 28th at 4 p.m.
Stephanie Hunt proposed a Rainbow bridge at Lincoln Prairie Park. She would like a place for people to mourn their pets and leave their collars. She has family and friends that would help with the project. Liston is concerned the collars would break down in the elements and cause issues in the water under the bridge. Anderson didn’t think it would be a great fit for the park and gave multiple alternate ideas for placement of the Rainbow Bridge. The council decided to think it over and address it at a later date.
Councilmember comments: Crane asked how the planning was going on the recreation park at the old Howe property. Clausen shared the information she had but will be checking with the engineer for more information. Ohlson would like to have a building inspector. He would also like to have the railroad crossings looked at. Dave Huntley urged anyone with concerns to call the number on the blue signs at every crossing. Reimers would like the lights looked at on the Ogden sign south of town. The lights have been out for a while now. He will also contact Safe Building to see where we are with building codes. Anderson stated the sign on the west side of town is up and done.
Public comments:  Dave Huntley thanked the city for allowing Wreaths Across America to place wreaths in front of city hall and at the cemetery. They will be removed in February. He really likes the new Christmas lights. And the Veterans Memorial is coming along.
Motion by Liston, second by Crane to adjourn at 7:13 p.m.
Ayes: All Present, Motion Carried.
Mark Trueblood, Mayor
Attest: Allison Frazier, City Clerk

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