City of Modale City Council Meeting Minutes The regular meeting of the Modale City Council was held on April 14, 2025. Mayor Cox called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present were Kathy Dugdale, Tammy Cooperrider, Chris Skinner, Blair Adams and Terigene White. Visitors present were Jason Pavlik, Marlin Dugdale, Sal Vittitoe, Mark Long, Rick Sell, Susan Kirlin and Diane Pratt. Staff present were Marty Skinner and Shauna Gerke. White made a motion to approve the consent agenda, Dugdale seconded. Motion carried 5-0. PUB WORKS: Marty will start flushing hydrants on the 25th, starting on Palmer Street. We finally received the load of rock approved in December; he will put some rock in the potholes. He also requested cold patch. Dugdale made a motion to approve Ganzhorn’s building permit, White seconded. Motion carried 5-0. Dugdale asked Marty about West Anderson Street status. All county projects are halted until a new engineer is hired. LIBRARY: Pratt shared the new Library Buzz quarterly newsletter and its contents. Copies are available at the library and Post Office. FIRE: 7 fire & 0 med calls last month. Asbestos testing is next for 108 N Station. Once approved by the state, they have 30 days to burn. Pavlik requested permission to set off fireworks on July 5th, there were no objections. Discussion was had regarding changing the yearly celebration to that weekend this year as there is only one person interested in being on the Fun Days committee. The siren was temporarily fixed. Pavlik requested rock to the north of the fire hall for 300 N Main. White made a motion to transfer the second half of their FY25 budget, Adams seconded. Motion carried 5-0. CITIZENS: Sal Vittitoe discussed prepaying her May water bill, there were no objections. A late fee will not apply if the bill is over her historical average. She also reported she is selling her big lot with the stipulation the new owner will be responsible for removing the tree the council requested be removed before May 30th. Rick Sell asked why his bill was higher than expected. All line items were reviewed, which answered his question. Susan Kirlin expressed ongoing concern about the condition of the property located at 407 N Main. The council explained we are doing what we can, including assessing fines to the owner per ordinance. Cleanup days were discussed. This item had to be tabled until the May meeting since it requires a vote. A complaint was dropped off at city hall regarding the ATV, dirt bike and car that were being driven nightly in a yard, causing a noise issue and potential safety concern. The issue was discussed and Gerke was asked to send an ordinance violation letter. The Mayor was asked to contact the sheriff's office as our property is being affected as well. Cooperrider asked if we could make sure the apartment renter had a fire escape ladder available to her. The ladder is in city hall; Cooperrider will take it to the renter. OLD BUS: Delinquent utility bills were discussed; Gerke to send out shut off notices. A resident requested a reduction in the base water fee for last month because the water has been shut off since January. White made a motion to remove the base water charge for March once the account is current. Skinner seconded, motion passed 5-0. Vehicle ordinance violation letters were sent out. The city has been paying for propane for the post office since 2018, when the lease says the post office is responsible for any separately metered utilities. The amount paid during that time is just over $9000. Gerke has been communicating with Chris Swann from the USPS, who suggested we modify the lease amount. White made a motion to increase the monthly lease amount to $583.58 to cover rent, water and propane costs. Dugdale seconded, motion carried 4-1-0 with Cooperrider abstaining. We should ask them to back pay the propane as well. Swann said the lease amount could be retroactive to 2020, which should cover the amount paid in propane. NEW BUS: Skinner made a motion to approve the Harrison County’s Sheriff’s Department FY26 28A agreement, Adams seconded. Motion carried 5-0. White made a motion to approve the Harrison County Humane Society’s FY26 28A agreement, Skinner seconded. Motion carried 5-0. Skinner made a motion to donate $140 to Town & Country Arts, to be applied to their utility account monthly until August, 2025. White seconded, motion carried 5-0. The Iowa One Call election was discussed. There was no objection to a “straight ballot” selection. Items to be added to next month’s agenda are 108 N Station cleanup, possible use of some of the Fun Days funds for the fireworks event and spring cleanup days. White made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Skinner seconded. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Cox adjourned the meeting at 835 p.m. James Cox, Mayor Shauna Gerke, City Clerk These minutes are as recorded by the City Clerk and are subject to Council approval at the next regular meeting. Copies of these minutes will be available at City Hall. Minutes can be sent via email. March 2025 expenses Name, Memo, Amount Modale Fire Department Assn, reimburse 1,063.37 Heartland Coop, fuel 466.27 MidAmerican Energy, utilities 102.32 Danko Emergency Equipment Co, supplies 14,604.36 Fire Dept Fund 16,236.32 Follett, subscription 1,096.68 Amazon, supplies 111.57 Diane Pratt, payroll 421.72 IRS, taxes 233.21 IA Dept of Rev, taxes 25.00 MidAmerican Energy, utilities 153.49 Library Fund 2,041.67 MidAmerican Energy, utilities 10.32 AgriVision Equipment Group, repair 560.37 Parks Fund 570.69 Harrison County Landfill, fees 598.00 Missouri Valley Times, publication 106.37 Heartland Coop, fuel 861.92 MidAmerican Energy, utilities 522.72 Windstream, utilities 109.79 Harrison County Sheriff, 28E 1,450.00 State Auditor, fees 1,200.00 QuickBooks Payroll Service, fees 37.45 SalvoDeren et.al., legal 16.00 Double "B" Trash, trash 143.00 Bomgaars, supplies 97.04 Amazon, supplies 117.30 City Hall Fund 5,259.59 Heartland Coop, fuel 696.08 MidAmerican Energy, utilities 267.52 Windstream, utilities 104.47 IA Dept of Rev, taxes 297.51 Sioux Land District Health Dept, testing 84.00 DK Home Improvement, repair 850.00 McLaughlin Septic & Portable Service, repair 1,837.12 UECO, supplies 1,423.50 American Underground Supply, supplies 351.41 Badger Meter, service 21.78 Iowa Association of Municipal, fees 682.00 Ace Hardware, supplies 34.99 Hawkins Inc, supplies 198.02 Vetter Equipment, shipping 77.45 Water fund 6,925.85 USDA - Rural Development, debt 4,568.00 MidAmerican Energy, utilities 20.32 Sewer Fund 4,588.32 IPERS, taxes 720.81 IRS, taxes 1,154.14 Alvin A Schiltz, payroll 406.36 Kent Beebe (payroll), payroll 170.60 Marty Skinner, payroll 1,463.50 Shauna Gerke, payroll 1,626.29 Total Operating Account 41,164.14 West Harrison Lunch Fund, donation 500.00 Arts Town and Country, donation 500.00 Total Fun Day Account, Fun Day/150th Fund 1,000.00 TOTAL 42,164.14 March 2025 revenue LOST 2,573.66 Road Use 1,278.77 Water 5,302.72 Sewer 9,171.00 General 4,893.69 Vets 225.00 Fun/150th 27.00 Total Revenue 23,471.84 MVTN 4-23-25
