Council approves law enforcement contract
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An agreement for law enforcement was a main items of discussion at the regular meeting of the Mount Ayr city council Monday, February 15.
With minor clarifications, the council approved a four-year contract with the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement service to the city.
Pending some language changes, council members had tentatively agreed to the proposal at a joint meeting with the county supervisors back on February 4.
Changes included reference to the amount of the contract cost devoted to salaries and benefits and details related to contract termination.
In reviewing the revised contract, city attorney Jason Palmer recommended the contract include more specific wording dealing with contract termination and annual percentage increases in the contract’s cost to the city.
Taking into consideration Palmer’s recommendations, the council voted to approve the contract contingent on addition of the language clarifications.
The contract calls for the county to provide law enforcement and associated duties to the city of Mount Ayr for a flat fee of $180,000 paid in quarterly installments.
Of that amount, approximately $160,000 is earmarked for salaries, FICA, IPERS and insurance.
The contract may be terminated by either party upon written notice received by December 31 of any contracted year.
The new contract goes into effect July 1.
Other business
In other business the council:
• approved a one-year contract with Waste Management to dispose of recycled materials collected by the city crew.
The contract calls for a haul rate of $225 per time, a disposal rate of $110 per ton, and a potential $80 per ton contamination fee if the collected recycling includes non-acceptable materials.
• approved a one-year maintenance agreement with Iowa Pump Works to provide inspections on pumps in the sewer system list stations for a fee of $3,865 per inspection.
• approved renewals of liquor licenses for Still Smokin’ BBQ, Dollar General and Rumors Bar and Grill.
• set a March 1 public hearing for a CDBG application sewer main and waste water treatment plant improvements.
• set a March 15 public hearing on the FY22 city budget.
• heard a request from Kristin Wise for the city clear snow from an alley behind her house to allow access to her garage.
City administrator Brent Wise told the council the city does remove snow in alleys surrounding the square to allow deliveries. He added the city removed snow from three other alleys in town to allow access for garbage pickup. Otherwise, property owners are responsible for other snow removal in alleys.
After some discussion, the council informed Wise that she would be responsible for any snow removal in the alley.
