Quiet month for L.S. City

Lime Springs - The Jan. 8 meeting of the City Council of Lime Springs was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Brian Johnson. No pressing pieces of businesses were discussed.

• Fire Chief Nate Schwickerath gave the department’s report, stating the firefighters voted unanimously to bring on Jeff Hovde. According to by-laws, the City also had to approve him.

The department went to a structure fire in December. “We were nervous, but we got it out. It did a little damage to the house,” he stated.

The department decided not to go in on replacing its regular people doors at the same time the Community Center does. City Clerk Rhonda Klapperich said she was still going to write a grant for three doors (two for center and one for fire department).

Schwickerath said the slide-in unit for the Ranger was completed. “We did it ourselves at a cost of about $400. The other one for the truck was $4,500.”

The department’s dance was being held on Jan. 12.

Election of officers was held with no changes: Schwickerath — Chief; Tary Kolek — Assistant Chief; Travis Mahr — Training Officer; Nate Widell — Assistant Training Officer; Matt Leverson — Medical/Safety Officer; and Barb Robinson — Secretary.

• Jill Tibbals said the Pool & Parks Committee was working on grants. In addition, she mentioned a problem with lifeguards not being reimbursed for training. Klapperich explained all but one was reimbursed. She also mentioned there are still four pool keys that haven’t been turned in.

• Public Works Director Casey Sebastian gave an update on City issues. He noted, “We’ve had one aerator go bad up to now. We just had three go bad in the last couple of months.”

The optimal number of aerators for the lagoon would have two in the first pool, one in the second and none in the third. Currently one unit is working properly and the second is running at 10 percent. A motor in a third aerator went out and is unrepairable. Sebastian is waiting to see if it is covered under warranty.

So far this has been a mild winter, so there has not been a problem with the salt and sand mixture.

• The demolition ordinance has been reviewed. It has not officially had a fee associated with it, so a new cost is being looked at. Council thought the wording of charging a permit fee of $75 for buildings less than 2,000 square feet and $150 for those over 2,000 feet in size would work for Lime Springs.

The ordinance will be reviewed at the next meeting.

• Council had some questions on the software for the new computer system. It will be reviewed at the next meeting.

• Liquor licenses were approved, pending verification of dram shop insurance, for Casey’s General Store and The Dam Bar.

•  Money received by the City for property taxes was $2,521 more than last year for a total of $115,968.

Each of the five entities was given an extra $300, which gives the Library $20,300; Pool — $18,300; Parks — $5,300; Fire — $9,300; and Community Center — $5,300. The remaining $1,021 will go to the general fund/administration for a total of $57,468.

• Council reviewed items and value for insurance. Sebastian said the cost of replacing the water tower would probably be four times the valuation of $232,222. In addition, he noticed there was no value on the $70,000 generator recently purchased by the City. He will look into both items and see how much full replacement value would add to the premium.

A work session and meeting was set for Jan. 15.

The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 5.