HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes-03/12/2014 CITY OF TIFFIN
Work Session Meeting
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
City Hall
The Tiffin city council met in a work session on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at City Hall. Mayor
Berner called the meeting to order at 6:33 PM. Roll Call. Kahler, Ryan, Petersen, Bartels, Upton.
Absent: none. Also present: Engineer Frederick, Administrator Jackson.
Motion by to approve the agenda by Petersen, seconded by Kahler. All Ayes. Motion carried.
a,
Utility Billing Clerk Position—request to increase hours:
Administrator Jackson requested to increase the number of work hours for the Utility Billing
Clerk position from 25 to 29 hours. The utility billing clerk is concerned because she does not
always have time to respond to residential accounts that have errors. We will install the E-
billing module soon and with potential for decreased phone calls to pay bills as well as a
decrease in mailings, it is hopeful this will be a temporary need. The other concern is that she
will need extra hours to devote to training time for this new module. Council members
expressed understanding and approval.
Discussion on Financials:
Petersen expressed his concern about the cost for the clock for the new City Hall chambers. He
believes the charge of$159 is excessive when we could have bought one at Walmart for$40.
His opinion is that it could be considered a waste of taxpayer dollars. Council Person Upton
expressed that everyone has their own version of what is wasteful and what is considered
aesthetically pleasing. Perhaps the concerns stems from the fact that the administrator
position is new(er) and people are not always sure who is "minding the store". Deputy Clerk
Collins indicated that tax dollars are spent in various ways and that every building built for the
University of lows that is constructed has a line item in the contract written for a percentage of
the building costs to go towards the purchase of artwork. This purchase could be deemed a
similar type of purchase; and the life span of the clock will likely exceed the life of the building.
It is a personalized clock which has the City of Tiffin name on it.
Mayor Berner questioned the Financials having a line item for the Ralph Brown property.
Deputy Clerk Collins indicated that this was a report error from our Summit program and it
keeps pulling into the report despite being paid a long time ago. Collins will ask Summit how to
get this from re-appearing on the report.
Public Works—Well #4 Pump Failure:
Public Works Director Mehmen advised that well #4 is broken, but#3 is working. This is not the
first time well #4's pump has failed; there is extensive electrolysis which has caused it several
times. When the pipe was pulled, the joint and connections are bad. Mehmen is concerned
that steel pipes will continue to fail, so he is going to put in a smaller, plastic pipe. This
combined with well #3 will still work fine. Brett has talked with other towns and others have
the same problem. Mehmen worries that we may need to drill another well some time in the
future since the repairs often only last a year or two. Well #3's pump has lasted more than 12
years. Insurance has been notified of the damage. The Mayor questioned if we need to acquire
property for a new well and Mehmen indicated that we have a location.
Motion made by Bartels to adjourn, and seconded by Ryan to adjourn at 7 PM. Motion carried
unanimously.
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Michon Ja./ City Clerk/Administrator Steven L. Berner, Mayor
March 12, 2014
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