CITY OF MISSOURI VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING RAND COMMUNITY CENTER TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023 6:00 P.M. Mayor Kelly presided over the meeting and called it to order at 6:00 p.m. with the following Council Members present: Ford, Stueve, Struble, and Tuttle. Council Member Taylor was absent. Citizens attending were: Adam Bellis, Linda Coddington, Mary Jo Buckley, Jeannie Wortman, Dakoda Tish, Nikki Dooley, Forest Dooley, Rich Gochenour, John Harrison, Edith Herbolsheimer, Katie Moyer, Evelyn Marshall, Karley Brack, Robert Wagner, Wayne Kester, and Robert Fairchild. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. A motion to approve Amended Agenda for April 4, 2023, made by Struble, second by Tuttle. Motion passes. Motion to approve Consent Agenda made by Struble, second by Stueve. Motion passes. Citizen Inquiry: Mary Jo Buckley presented the Council with a flyer for picnic tables. The citizens will be able to donate towards a picnic table. Project Updates: Motion to award contract for 2022 Street Project (including base bid, Alternate 1, and Alternate 2) to Compass Utility in the amount of $513,477.89 made by Struble, second by Tuttle. Motion passes. Jake Zimmerer discussed including additional work into 2022 Street Projects. The City needs to spend an additional $200,000.00 to use the USDA grant. Zimmerer discussed using different streets, putting in sidewalks, or getting handicap accessible sidewalks along Huron St. Zimmerer recommended we move along with Linn St. Ford requested that Zimmerer investigate Ontario from 8th to 9th street. He will investigate different options and let the City know what he comes up with. Motion to authorize Mayor to sign permanent easement for water main construction associated with Well #6 made by Ford, second by Struble. Motion passes. Zimmerer told the Council that they are still waiting for the pipe to be delivered for the Highway 30 Water Main. Zimmerer discussed with Council the need for a Back-Up Generator for the City’s Water System. The Mayor would like to know if this is something we can add to the current Well project. Tish discussed the Risk Analysis with the Council. Tish addressed the need for a generator. He suggested putting a generator on the new Well and add it in to the current project. Tuttle questioned who would take care of the generators. Tish has a couple quotes from different companies to take care of the generator. Council decided to get a portable generator and add it to the current Well project. Zimmerer will amend the plans. Jeannie Wortman updated the Council about all the events happening now, past events, and events coming up. Bruce Kocher presented the Council with all the fun things happening at the Library. Chief Forest Dooley updated the Council on the number of calls Missouri Valley responded to. 115 total calls for the quarter, 56 calls answered by our paid EMTs, that’s 49% of all calls answered by Missouri Valley. The incident discussed at the 3.21.23 Council Meeting has been fully investigated. Three parties were involved, two resigned and one was let go. This incident has been resolved. Dooley wants to put the incident behind the Fire Department. The Missouri Valley Fire Department currently has 25 members. Chief Dooley assured the City that there is still a Fire Department, despite the rumors going around. Chief Dooley stated “I am stepping cautiously. At the last meeting I felt like maybe you all felt that I was moving too slow, that is due to an abundance of caution. I have to try to keep an easy balance. We have a Fire Department that has had boundaries wider than our city streets. I know that it needs to be reined in, but I can’t get from this wide to smaller overnight or we will not have a Fire Department. Hopefully, you all will bear with me; I am working on it.” Dooley stated that training is coming up in May and would like to invite all the Council to attend that training. Stueve questioned Dooley about the Paid Driver position and if they have thought of anyone to fill the position. Currently it is being covered a bit by Nikki Dooley, unpaid. Dooley has tried reaching out to see if there is anyone else interested in driving, but too many members work during the day and are unable to cover. Stueve discussed the number of calls that she is receiving about Missouri Valley’s Fire Department and its “mind boggling.” Dooley stated that they are “unpaid professionals.” The members go through the same training as the paid department does in Council Bluffs Iowa. Motion to approve job description for Full-Time EMT made by Struble, second by Tuttle. Ayes: Struble and Tuttle. Nay: Ford. Abstain: Stueve. Motion fails. Motion to approve Invoice #2 from 500 E Erie St, LLC in the amount of $29,589.00 to reimbursed by the CDBG grant fund made by Struble, second by Stueve. Motion passes. Motion to set Public Hearing for FY 23/24 Budget on Monday April 24, 2023, at 8 a.m. at Missouri Valley City Hall made by Stueve, second by Struble. Motion passes. Discussion was held on dissolving the Pilot Program of Full Time EMS Personnel. Ford stated, “I think it’s time to make drastic changes. When I drive by, people are standing out talking to Council Members and does not look like a lot gets done. I feel most time is spent worrying about the next problem, or the next person they can go after.” Ford feels that the way we are going and the amount of money we are spending, could be spent on better things. Ford stated, “There is so much that has happened and has gone on, it will give the City plenty of time to move forward without it. You have to get your young people in and take over, it’s a young man’s job. We are losing our young people who have come into the Department. If they are the ones to take over for our next generation, we don’t have that. They are leaving rapidly. It’s just not working. It’s not working for our staff. It’s taking time out of their day and what job they are to be doing. It’s time to move in a different direction.” Stueve feels that there is too much nit-picking on one side that goes against the other side. She feels that is a lot of the problem. Mayor Kelly stated that he has been in several meetings with the Fire Department and most of the issues being addressed are in the works to be fixed. Mayor Kelly went on to read a letter from Councilman Taylor regarding the Paid EMS Program. Taylor urged the Council to consider other options. Ford then stated, “It’s probably some of his problems being down there all the time, being involved like he is, and wasting the time of the paid staff. That is part of the problem. I drive by multiple times and they stand outside doing nothing for 15 – 20 minutes at a time and nothing is getting done. Are we paying them to stand outside and talk to a Council Member? To me it’s a waste of money. It’s going out as fast as it’s coming in. Nothing is being done. We cover calls and have good response time. If we average out what we are spending on each call, it’s a lot of money. Being financially responsible for the taxpayer’s money is a big part of us up here doing that. We don’t want to raise peoples’ taxes because we are out of money in a couple of years because we spent all the money on paid staffing for the EMS.” Struble stated, “I differ from Eric, I think it’s an improvement to our Fire Department to have the EMTs working. It’s a step forward. There are a lot of problems that were there before and continue to be there. It does not necessarily mean that it’s because of the EMTs.” Ford questioned why the paid EMTs are continuing to park out front of City Hall. He feels that parking should be for the volunteers who come in. Stueve is upset by all the “hear-say.” She feels that the paid staff could be cleaning the upstairs at City Hall. Tuttle stated that the paid staff hands are tied when it comes to cleaning or doing anything with City Hall. Chief Dooley came forward and stated, “Yes, there is down time. I can’t deny that. Mondays they spend 1½ – 2 hours at Culivan Heights doing blood pressure and blood sugar checks for free. Wednesdays, they go to the Rand Center to do it. It’s a service that we provide for our community. They will be going to the Food Pantry to hand out food. I am trying to get as much as I can for them to do. Every job has down time.” Mayor Kelly stated that the same thing probably happens in Omaha or Council Bluffs. Ford stated that he gets calls all the time asking if it’s that great of a service to our community to be spending that kind of money. Mayor Kelly argued, “What’s better, spending the money or not having an EMS program? The City has five EMTs, one of which is paid staff. If you cannot provide 24-hour EMS, we would lose our transport service through the State and we would no longer have an EMS program. The State says we must be able to provide 24 hours a day 7 days a week coverage for EMS, and if you can’t do that, then we don’t have EMS transport service.” Ford then questioned, “At what cost do we let that happen to the City. It is a costly, costly program. We were blinded by the numbers to even allow that to happen, and now we are just going to continue letting it spiral way out of control like it has.” Dooley stated, “Part of the reason it’s spiraling is because there has been a delay in hiring another EMT.” Ford questioned if we had any applicants for the position. Dooley stated that yes there is an applicant that they are interviewing on Friday. He doesn’t know if he even should hire another EMT with the talk of dissolving the program. Ford questioned if she would be out the door in a couple of weeks as well? Dooley challenged, “If you want to go in a different direction, I challenge you to find one that is going to be even remotely close to covering the service we provide now.” Ford stated, “The service we provide now is very costly and we have to look at that cost.” Dooley stated, “I didn’t say costly. I said the same service equal to what you are getting now. You pay for what you get.” “Well, we are paying a lot,” Ford stated. “You are getting quite a bit,” Dooley argued. Citizens questioned the actual cost of the program and how many paid EMS we have been through since the program started. Citizens think taxpayers should know how much it is costing the City. Mayor Kelly told the citizens to stop in City Hall to get the numbers. Colglazier said she would bring the numbers to the next meeting. Ford went on to say, “We lost a very thoughtful member of the Fire Department. She had been around for a long time. She couldn’t stay around. I think there was more incidences on why that happened.” Dooley stated, “Perhaps you should have me bend your ear, instead of a disgruntled ex-member. Come talk to me and we will discuss it.” “Part of the reason it is going to be hard to get people to apply is because you are only paying $16 an hour. The hospital is paying $20. They are even having trouble getting people. This is a nationwide problem,” continued Dooley. Ford questioned, “Can we look into more like a county wide EMS program that the City of Missouri Valley can take on?” Dooley told Council, “It has been discussed at the County wide meeting and no one has a good answer. Because of the size of the departments and how widespread they are, they questioned where they would put that County wide EMS team to cover a whole county and still make it in a timely manner.” Ford wants to know how many times Logan would have a paged call the same time Missouri Valley would have a call? Dooley averaged the response times from the time they receive the call to the time they get on the scene between Logan, Missouri Valley, and Mondamin. Stueve commented on how this is an ongoing issue. There has been meeting after meeting and it has not changed. She thought everything was settled a long time ago, and stuff keeps coming up again. She suggested that they dissolve it, or the EMS will have to step up to the plate and stop. Ford would like to know the average of multiple calls that happen the same time Missouri Valley gets a call. Dooley will talk to the Harrison County EMA and see what he can find out and hopefully will have it by the next meeting. Dooley stated, “I am struggling as well. This is uncharted wilderness. In my opinion, I was part of the conception, but not all the way involved. There were some meetings that happened without my knowledge. I can’t answer for some of the things, like where they came up with their numbers for the budget, because I wasn’t there. The orientation was held without me. The previous Fire Chief felt I was too busy and couldn’t make it. Didn’t even ask me, just held it without me. Still burns a little bit. A lot of this stuff we are dealing with is because of how it was set up and the way it was set up.” Tuttle stated, “We were under the impression that there was a lot of research done with the projected numbers.” Dooley was not shown the budget until he took over. Ford said, “That is why it’s hard for me to look at and continue to go forward with this. When you’re lied to and shown incorrect things to even get it to pass and get it started – how do I get behind something when at the beginning of it they weren’t giving me the correct information?” Dooley responded, “I understand. I can definitely empathize. You feel like you have been conned into something. In my side of the situation, I am trying to look out for the community.” “Well, so am I.” stated Ford. “You are looking out for the money part of it, I am looking at the safety end of it, because that is my job. Just like your job is to take care of the budget and worry about the money. I understand that. Somehow, maybe, the money and safety sides can come together and hash this out,” Dooley countered. Dooley stated that he is in the works of putting together an advanced EMT course at Iowa Western. He said we are an advanced program and that is a lot cheaper. He is trying to get it put together so the City can make money. He stated that it’s not a quick fix, and it’s like you are seeing all this money go straight down the toilet. Ford says that’s why it makes him so upset when he drives by and sees them hanging out front doing nothing. Dooley is trying to figure out how to balance this out and give the taxpayers their money’s worth. Dooley stated that when you are hiring EMTs at less than a clinic pays an EMT, and you want them to do “maid work,” it is hard to hire people to do that. Ford wants to reassess instead of hiring full time EMS staff. Ford thinks we should hire people in our departments that could cover those calls. Dooley stated that originally when the idea was presented, they talked about having the Street department and some of the other departments take their EMT course and volunteer. Dooley stated that a member that is currently working for the Water Department, just resigned because it is hard to keep that balance between your paid job and the volunteer side. Ford wants to have volunteers from in town business to go to day-to-day calls, and those volunteers are not treated very well. Tish commented, “First off, I did not leave the department just because of the issues of trying to work and respond to calls. I still went to work, I did my job and still had response. I left also because of internal issues and mismanagements. There is a lot more in that department that needs to be changed that is not being brought up.” Stueve went on to say, “That’s just what the person last night that talked to me on the phone from the other side of Iowa that used to be here. He said where the problem lies. I have his name and everything.” Mike Smiley joined via zoom and stated, “That guy isn’t wrong. I am a former member of the Fire Department, and it also needs to be talked about how the volunteers don’t feel safe in the Fire Hall. The paid staff are constantly recording their conversations. The Mayor and Chief heard those conversations and recorded messages are being used against the volunteers.” Stueve thanked Smiley. Dooley responded, “If you are worried about being taped, maybe it’s because you need to watch what you are saying.” Mayor Kelly stated, “The thing about it is, in this day and age, there are audio and visual recordings everywhere you go. Everybody has cameras.” Smiley questioned if those recordings were being used for ill intent. Mayor Kelly said, “If you are worried about what you are saying and what you are doing being recorded, then you probably shouldn’t be saying or doing it. If you’re not doing or saying something that’s bad, then who cares?” Smiley mentioned that when it’s not reported fully and taken out of context, it’s a little different. Nikki Dooley addressed council, “I work with the paid EMTs all the time as a volunteer. They do stuff. The hall is cleaned every day. They have painted the floors. They wash the ambulances and bay all the time. They go in and clean up after the volunteers. They don’t just sit down there all day long, smoke cigarettes and talk to Taylor. Just because you are driving by, they might be done. How much money would you put on a life?” Ford countered, “You have to look at it from a financial point, that’s why I sit up here.” Nikki Dooley argued, “How much money is your life worth? How much money is Shawn’s life?” Ford rebutted, “You can come at me with that.” “I am just saying. They are doing their job. They are there. I help them. I am a volunteer, and I help the volunteers as well. They are doing their job.” Nikki argued. Ford countered, “Maybe that is a problem as well.” Nikki stated, “They are doing their job. And they are doing a good job.” Tuttle stated, “I think everyone is doing their jobs, but how do we diffuse all this tension? That’s the puzzle we can’t solve.” Ford questioned, “How do you keep something around when you have that?” Dooley stated, “A new chain of command has been put together by the grievance board. It will be introduced to the volunteers as soon as I go to my meeting after this. Hopefully, that will take care of some of it, some miscommunications, and some rumors as well. I can’t guarantee it. I can tell you I know about it, and I am doing all I can.” Dillon Dorrance joined via zoomed and commented, “Like Forest or Eric said, it’s a young man’s game. But why are you saying that when you are getting rid of all the younger people, or they already left?” Ford didn’t understand that either and asked Dooley for clarity. “I am not getting rid of all the younger people.” Dooley clarified. “They’ve left though, correct?” questioned Ford. Dooley stated, “They left because of decisions they made. Like the one addressing you now was removed, because of decisions he made.” Dorrance commented, “Well if you want to go that route, the Officers had a meeting with you there. If something happens to one person, the other person gets that as well. Yet that problem is still there.” Kelly questioned what Dorrance was talking about. Dooley said, “He is referring to my wife, who is also on the tape.” Dorrance then questioned, “Why keep the problems around, when you say you are going to find a solution, but yet you know what the solution is and don’t do it.” Struble commented, “I think Forest is doing a really good job with the time that he has been in the position that he is in. The problems that have gone on or are going on, have been squelched. Well at least I hope it is.” Mayor Kelly said that there is a plan in place. Motion to dissolve the Pilot Program of Full Time EMS Personnel effective July 1, 2023, made by Ford. No second. Motion fails. Tuttle stated that he is not opposed to getting rid of the program but would not do so without considering other options. Stueve stated, “I meant to say second to Fords motion.” Stueve made a new motion to dissolve the Pilot Program of Full Time EMS Personnel effective July 1, 2023, second by Ford. Roll Call Tuttle, nay; Ford, aye; Struble, nay; Stueve, aye. Motion fails 2-2. Tuttle and Ford would like to explore other options. Mayor Kelly urged them to look at the numbers. It might not be that bad. Tuttle said he spoke to the County Engineer about Highway Striping, and questioned if anyone knew of any areas that are in need. A statement by Ford, “I think mistakes happened many, many months ago. It would have helped your Fire Department out, and this Pilot Program out a lot by not making the mistake before the Pilot Program came about. I think that’s when it went off its rails.” Colglazier addressed Council about the Bypass and Levy, the flood protection plan, FEMA requesting reimbursement, and met with Midwest Mechanical and ROI Energy for replacing lights in City Hall to LED. The City Council wants to see if this can go in the next budget. She also met with Judy Holcombe about liability insurance costs. She told the Council that Broke-Neck Construction has been dissolved and bidding for mowing of the cemetery is open again. Colglazier stated that the grievance review board completed their meeting and have a decision; Police Union Negotiations are complete; Long Lines is interested in purchasing or leasing a lot to put up a 10 x 20 building; and a Demo Grant has been written for the 302 S 10th St location. A statement made by Colglazier, “I want it on record that no one from the Fire Department or Career EMTs contacted People Service regarding Dakoda. That is a rumor that is not true.” Motion to adjourn at 7:35 p.m. made by Struble, second by Stueve. Motion passes. IA Association Of Municipal Utility, Water/Sewer, 23-24 Water Member Dues $868.00 IA Dpt Of Transportation, Street, Tire Chains For Sanding Truck $838.92 Telrite Corp, City/Police, Long Distance $57.50 Paid 4/5/23 911 Custom, Police, Vest Carrier C Goodell $296.00 911 Custom, Police, Vest And Carrier D Kline $1,094.00 Advantage Administration, City, Service Fee Reimbursement April $99.75 Agrivision, Street, Chain Loops $71.98 Agrivision, FD, Fuel Pump/Oring $101.49 ASI Systems, Water, Alarm Monitoring April-June WTP $104.97 Avesis, City, Vision Insurance April 23 $282.86 Blair Ace Hardware, Park, Toilet Repairs $51.97 Capital-TX, FD/EMS, Copier/Replacement Of Old Copier $247.98 Capital-WY, EMS, Copier Machine $26.78 Century Link, City, Phone Lines $707.16 Chamber Of Commerce, Train, Membership Dues $150.00 Cintas, Park/Street, Uniforms $241.94 Cintas, EMS, Uniforms $17.96 Counsel, Police, Copier Machine $107.99 Country Hdwe & Supply, Park, Sealant $29.98 Country Hdwe & Supply, Park, Water Valver Park Shop $5.39 CSI, PD/Street, Reset Account And Passwods $100.00 Dearborn Natl, City, Life/Add Insurance April 23 $82.44 Eagle Engineering, City, General Engineering/Water Syst $760.00 General Traffic Controls, Street, 4th Quarter Hwy 30 Equipment $8,955.00 Harrison Co Development Corp, City, 4th Quarter Payment $1,683.00 Hawkeye Trucking, Street, New Sander $21,880.00 Hoffman Agency, City, Liab. Insurance $116,127.00 IA Dept Of Transportation, City, Sidewalk And Curb Project $98,440.12 Kolls, Kalyn, Fire, Reimbursement Food Fire Training $150.22 Mastercard – ANB, City, See Attached $2,386.77 Midwest Mechanical, Water, Emergency-Pipe Broke At Plant $2,818.04 Midwest Mechanical, Street, 6th Street Stop Light $629.22 Municipal Emergency Service, Fire, Compressor Service $1,847.89 MV Times News, City, Legal Minutes $176.43 Schildberg Construction, Street, Rock $5,031.84 Schildberg Construction, Street, Rock $1,824.96 The Office Stop, City, Correction Tape/Ribbon $12.60 The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Library, 1 Year Subscription $20.00 Tritech Forensics, Police, Speciment Collection $119.75 Verizon, City, Cell Phones $570.24 Wellmark BCBS, City, April Health Insurance $20,529.08 West Central IA Clerks Assn, City, Dues 2023 $10.00 Windstream, Police/Fire, Long Distance $56.94 Ziegler, Street, Maint. On Back Hoe $326.91 Fed/FICA, Taxes $7,987.33 Payroll, Wages $33,961.73 Total $330,125.71 /S/Shawn Kelly, Mayor /S/Turri Colglazier, City Administrator MVTN 04-19-23
