MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HILLS CITY COUNCILJANUARY 11, 2005Mayor Jim Jellema called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. with the following council members present: Jim Jellema, Linus Svoboda, Keith Elbers, and Ross Metzger, Council member absent: Dana Dahlquist. Employees present: Connie Wiertzema, City Clerk, and Wayne Ward, City Maintenance. Guests: Jeff Bass and Derek Bundesen-Hills Fire Department; Lexi Moore-Hills Crescent: Jon and Tedra Voss and Gene DeSmet.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger to approve the minutes of December 14th and 20th. None opposed, motion carried. Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Metzger to approve payment of the December expenditures: General $6,432.91; Park $1,550.31; Fire $6,981.97; Street $3,144.54 plus Pickup & Tractor Fund $4,741.50; Legion $773.63; Sewer $1,622.22; Garbage $1,159.60; Recycling $494.20; Water $4,972.50; Baseball $11.74; Softball $22.63. None opposed, motion carried. General Checking 138,327.85General Fund CD#18197, 2.5%, 12/4/04 243,300.81General Fund CD#17792 (prev. #15742) 2.5%, 5/29/03 – cashed in 6/3/03General Fund CD#17760 (prev. #17573) 2.5%, 3/15/05 20,994.17Sewer Fund CD#17877 (prev. #17433) 2.5%, 10/18/03 – cashed in 10/03 – ($21,000 to general)Sewer Fund CD#18255, (pref. #18171) 1.5%, 7/19/04 – inter-fund loan to Southern Hills Apts. to pay-off apt. bond - $70,771.64Fire Truck Replacement Fund CD#18237, 1.5%, 1/11/05 23,401.93Hills EDA Security Deposit Account 1,916.81Hills EDA Checking – Acct. #1248 22,305.08Southern Hills Apt. Acct. #1255 – account closed and transferred to EDA checking Southern Hills Condo Acct. #1263 417.76Southern Hills CD#17759 (prev. #17572) 2.5%, 3/15/05 5,248.54EDA CD#17850 (prev. #17384) 2.5%, 5/7/05 28,668.82EDA CD#18275 (prev. #17268) 1.25%, 07/04 – inter-fund loan to Southern Hills Apts. to pay-off apt. bond $10,661.76EDA CD#18597, 1.0%, 12/17/04 (renew & int. added each month 20,319.19EDA CD#18505, 1.0%, 12/22/04 (renew & int. added each month) 10,695.47Motion by Elbers, seconded by Svoboda to approve the Treasurer’s report. None opposed, motion carried. The Council instructed city maintenance to make the sidewalk located north of the City’s water tower, along State Hwy. 270, a priority for snow and ice removal, to avoid having children walk on the highway to and from school. The Clerk was instructed to bill New Vision for 25,000 gallons of water for a water line break at the fertilizer building on January 31st.Payment to Vantek Communications will be held until the base and two-way radios are working properly. Jon and Tedra Voss appeared at the meeting to inform the Council of tree roots that are causing blockage in the sewer line leading to their home. Voss replaced the sewer line from the City’s main into the home at their expense and are asking that the City make repairs in the main line. Voss presented the Council with a video, taken by Hansel Plumbing, showing problems in the line. The Council agreed to make the necessary repairs next spring. City Maintenance was instructed to contact the Rock County Sheriff’s Office to request that an abandoned pickup be removed from a city street.Discussion regarding crossing guards was tabled, pending a response from the Hills-Beaver Creek school board. Jeff Bass and Derek Bundesen of the Hills Fire Dept. appeared at the meeting to discuss the replacement of the 1976 International tanker truck with a good used, but larger tanker truck. Bass questioned whether the Fire Truck Replacement funding could be increased to generate better funding for future truck replacements. The Council asked the Fire Department to obtain proposals for replacing the tanker, and to contact Martin Township for their input. The City, Martin Township and Fire Chief will meet in February to discuss truck trade-in proposals, renewal of fire contracts, and the Fire Department’s proposed budget for 2006.The Council made the following appointments for 2005, pending its acceptance: Mayor Pro Tem – Linus Svoboda; Official newspaper-Hills Crescent; Civil Defense Director-Doug Chapman; Weed Inspector-Dave Leenderts; Official Bank-Exchange State Bank; Health Officer-Dr. Diane Kennedy; City Attorney-Doug Eisma; EDA President-Dana Dahlquist; EDA Vice President-Ross Metzger; EDA Secretary-Connie Wiertzema; and EDA Treasurer-Joanne Goehle. Motion by Elbers, seconded by Metzger to increase the mileage reimbursement rate to 40.5 cents per mile; to leave the Hills American Legion building rental policy as written; and to leave the equipment rental policies as noted below.Equipment rentals: (trucks, tractors, mowers, etc.) $40 per hour; equipment must remain within the city limits; charge labor at time and one-half. Mosquito sprayer: $50 per hour for sprayer; $35 per hour labor; plus cost of chemical. Street sweeper: $80 per hour for machine and man-hours. Council reserves the right to refuse any and all rentals. The Council approved of an Assessment Agreement with the Rock County Assessor’s Office, as discussed at the May 11, 2004 meeting. The Agreement is a two-year contract beginning with 2005 for the sum of $5,665.00 and $5,892.00 in 2006.Motion by Svoboda, seconded by Elbers to approve payment of the Fire Department’s December expenditures. None opposed, motion carried. The City’s 1991 Chevy pickup will be available for sale at auction on January 29th, at 10:30 a.m. at Hills American Legion located at 211 South Main.Elbers was asked to inquire whether the City or EDA would be willing to loan money toward the purchase of a building on Main Avenue, in order to begin the operation of a fitness center. This fitness center would be open to the public through membership, and possibly used for physical therapy programs. The Council expressed interest in discussing the matter, but requests that the proposing persons gather detailed information to be discussed at a future meeting. The city attorney will be contacted regarding the requirements in establishing a business within a tax free zone, and whether the City of Hills qualifies within that zone. Motion by Metzger, seconded by Elbers to adjourn at 7:35 P.M.Connie J. WiertzemaCity Clerk(1-20)