Kahoka City Council Takes Aim At Mobile Homes; Sewer Rates To Increase

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The Kahoka Board of Aldermen is still seeking solutions the increasing problem of several mobile homes being moved into residential areas.  In many cases, no one is living in the homes, and they are not connected to city utilities.  Often, they are not skirted.

At the Tuesday, February 9 council meeting, Alderman Joe Roberts brought up the idea of amending the building permit, which is required prior to moving a mobile home into to the city.

“We have to do something,” said Alderman Les Billings.  “Some of this is just out of hand.

“Can we require a block foundation?” Roberts asked.

The board discussed several possibilities, including a significant increase in the building permit cost, a refundable deposit, and other measures.

Bids

The city reviewed four bids for a new backhoe.  The low bidder was Luby Equipment from Quincy, for a Case backhoe.  The bid amount was $72,750, after trade-in.  It would come with four new buckets, and a standard one-year warranty.

Martin Equipment provided two bids, the lower of which was $76,900 after trade-in.  It would include one bucket, but the city’s current buckets would work with it.  Their bid included an extended warranty of five year.

Martin’s second bid was for a heavier-duty machine, in the amount of $78,800 after trade-in.

The fourth bid, from Altorfer CAT, was $79,839 after trade-in.

After discussion, the council accepted the low bid from Luby’s pending getting a price for an extended five-year warranty.

The board also reviewed bids for this year’s waterline replacement project supplies.  The low bidder was Core and Main, in the amount of $49,232.33.

They also approved a $2000 bid from Four Points Engineering for engineering work for a sewer extension on Walnut Street.

Kahoka’s pool will open this summer with a significant upgrade.  The board voted to purchase a 360 degree slide (shown right) to be installed on the west side of the pool.  The cost is $33,155 installed.  Some of the cost should be paid by pledged donations.

“I want people to know that the pool will be open and see what’s been done in the past year,” said Billings.

John Williams mentioned there was some concern that the slide could interfere with one of the swimming lanes at swim meets, but thought that it would be high enough to not cause an issue.

Sewer Rates

Mayor Jerry Webber proposed a five dollar per month increase to the base sewer rate.

“That will increase revenue by $55,200 per year.

He noted several upcoming sewer-related expenses, including the sewer extension project, the project to add more lagoon irrigation to keep the city’s lagoon in compliance with DNR regulations, and more that $120,000 of relining and grouting parts of the sanitary sewer system by  VISU-Sewer.

City Attorney Brett Bozarth advised that a new ordinance be written to cover all the city’s water, sewer, and electric rates.

Webber also advised that he will propose new water rates at the March meeting.

Other Business

In other business:

-Mayor Webber appointed Pat Vance to the library board.

-Webber also reported that the VFW would like to paint the outside of old City Hall, where they meet.

-Webber also reported that the city’s sidewalk grant application was submitted on time.

-Police Officer Aaron Johnson reported that the department is still working on abandoned vehicles.

-Fire Chief Christ Blomgren reported there have been no fire calls.  He also stated he is working on federal grants, and that the department participated in online training.

-Alderman Billings asked about stump grinding during the winter.

-Billings also discussed the need to clean ditches before spring, and suggested advertising for summer help, a pool manager, and pool help.

-Alderman Larry Young discussed snow removal in the city.

-Young also suggested changing the cemetery stone restoration to every other year, to make the project more attractive.  Currently the city budgets $4000 per year for stone restoration.  Done every other year, the total would be $8000.

-Young also discussed new flagpoles at the cemetery.

-Alderman Joe Roberts asked if anything could be done about the handicapped parking in the 200 block of West Main.  It fills with water and freezes.

-City Electric Designer Chuck Kerner reported that engineering work needed to be done for the substation.  The cost is in the electric budget.

-City Clerk Sandie Hopp reported that the online bill paying program is nearly ready, and that it includes additional features, such as automatic withdrawls and email notifications.

Public comments were  from Sherry Brunk and Mike Scott.  Brunk asked about abandoned vehicles, and the old Gregory Antique property.  Scott asked the police to watch the airport, as a vehicle had driven across the runway from Eastgate Apartments.