City of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa
SERGEANT BLUFF, IOWA
City Council Minutes
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Council Chambers
501 4th Street;
Sergeant Bluff, IA
1. MAYOR/MAYOR PRO-TEM TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER:
1.Roll Call @ 5:30 pm
2.Pledge of Allegiance & a Moment of Silence
Attendee Name Title Status
Ryan Panowicz Present
Mark Reinders Absent
Kirk Moriarty Present
Andrea Johnson Assistant Mayor Pro Tem Present
Ron Hanson Mayor Pro Tem Present
Jon Winkel Mayor Present
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Motion by Kirk Moriarty, seconded by Ron Hanson to Approve the Agenda. Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
3.aApprove the minutes of the March 11, 2025 Regular Meeting
Motion by Ron Hanson, seconded by Ryan Panowicz to Approve the minutes of the March 11, 2025 Regular Meeting.
Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
4. CITIZEN’S INPUT:
There was no citizen input.
5. DEPARTMENT HEADS’ REPORTS:
The City Council received the written Department Head Reports.
6.APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
6.a Approval of New Fire Department Volunteers
Motion by Kirk Moriarty, seconded by Ryan Panowicz to Approve the New Fire Department Volunteers:
a.)Chase Lee - High School Program Membership
b.)Nathan Sturgeon - Regular Fire/EMS Membership
c.)Brayden Cook, Mike Montino, Andrew Hoffman - 24/hr Non-Resident Membership Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
6.bBills: Check numbers 90956 to 91087 in the amount of $279,785.69
Motion by Andrea Johnson, seconded by Kirk Moriarty to Approve Bills: Check numbers 90956 to 91087 in the amount of $279,785.69.
Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
Name Description Amount
3E ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES 408.00
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC DESIGN INC PORTABLE MDT 2,824.25
AHLERS & COONEY PC LABOR RELATIONS 1,827.00
ANALYTICAL & CONSULTING SERVICES SAMPLE ANALYSIS 163.50
APPEARA CLEAN LINENS/MATS 220.50
BENTSON PEST MANAGEMENT PEST CONTROL 135.00
BIEGLER, NORA OVERPAYMENT OF ACCOUNT 73.87
BODEN, BRANDON WATER DEPOSIT REFUND 65.99
BOMGAARS AIR HOSE/BRUSH/CLOTH. ALLOW/LUG/SNOW REMOVAL 135.44
BOOT BARN SAFETY BOOTS 199.99
CARNAHAN, HAILEY ELEC DEP REFUND 7.11
CHESTERMAN COMPANY INSPECTIONS WATER 10.00
CHESTERMAN COMPANY DRINKING WATER EXP 9.00
CINTAS SUPPLIES 41.97
CITY OF SIOUX CITY UTILITIES FEB 2025 SEWER USAGE 40,681.05
CJC-CJ COOPER & ASSOCIATES DRUG SCREEN EXPENSE 55.00
COFFEE KING COFFEE SUPPLIES 79.75
COLONIAL RESEARCH GOOD GRIP CLEAR 573.31
DAKOTA SUPPLY GROUP BUILDING EXPENSE 1,237.18
DANKO EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT COMPANY UNIFORM 36.00
EAKES OFFICE SOLUTIONS JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 171.36
ECHO ELECTRIC SUPPLY ELECTRICAL SUPPLIESWATER PLANT 79.10
FIRE SERVICE TRAINING BUREAU TESTING 150.00
GLOVER, TAMMIE ELECT DEP REFUND 4.99
HACH COMPANY SPECTROPHOTOMETER 1,627.00
HANSEN, ANDREW REIMBURSE UNIFORM ALLOW 45.91
ISTATE TRUCK INC BUCKET TRUCK/TURN SIGNAL 189.57
JACKS UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT CLOTHING ALLOWANCE 155.33
JAYMAR ENVELOPES/NO 10 REGULAR 260.90
LEWIS, DAN OVERPAYMENT ON ACCOUNT 147.17
MACQUEEN EQUIPMENT INC AIR COMPRESSOR/UNIFORM 563.98
MATHESON TRI-GAS INC ACETYLENE 71.75
MENARDS-SIOUX CITY CUT OFF 17.94
METERING & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS EQUIPMENT 5,792.50
MIDAMERICAN ENERGY FEB 2025 GAS UTILITY 3,924.99
MIDSTEP SERVICES JANITORIAL EXPENSE JAN 25 750.00
MIDWEST ALARM REC CENTER REPAIRS 143.65
MUNICIPAL ENERGY AGENCY OF NEBRASKA FEB 2025 POWER PURCHASED 196,267.13
PIONEER AUTO 2013 FORD EXPEDITION/2018 SILVERADO 1,421.48
QUALITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMMING 25.00
QUICK LANE TIRE & AUTO CENTER 2022 FORD 73.12
RIVERSIDE TECHNOLOGIES INC ACROBAT PD 179.88
ROBERTSON IMPLEMENT CO REPAIRS 28.50
SAM’S CLUB BUILDING SUPPLIES 65.16
SCHUMACHER ELEVATOR COMPANY ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE 409.86
SERGEANT BLUFF FOOD PANTRY MARCH/ APRIL 2025 FOOD PANTRY EXPENSE 1,600.00
SEXTON OIL COMPANY BULK FUEL 8,480.62
SIOUXLAND REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM SENIOR CENTER TRANSPORTATION 225.00
STATE CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS WASTEWATER PROGRAM 491.13
THOMPSON SOLUTIONS GROUP CAMERA/HARD DRIVE ISSUES 1,635.71
VAN METER INDUSTRIAL INC BUILDING SUPPLIES/WATER PLANT 39.44
VEENSTRA & KIMM INC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 727.50
VERIZON WIRELESS CELL PHONE EXPENSE 1,352.57
WARD, JORY REIMBURSE/TRAVEL 296.35
WESCO RECEIVABLES CORP ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES 115.00
WOODBURY COUNTY STARCOMM STARCOMM SERVICES 3,472.19
Total: 279,785.69
7. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS:
7.aPROCLAMATION: National Library Week (April 6-12) Multiple Board Members and Library Staff were present.
Michael Aguirre, Library Board President, stated that the Library has wonderful staff and volunteers. He thanked the Mayor and City Council for their support, City staff have been helpful.
Anthony Gaul thanked the Library Director Mary Torgerson for her assistance in repairing a historical document.
Mayor John Winkel proclaimed April 6th-12th to be National Library Week.
7.bSIMPCO Presentation of Draft 2025 Transportation Safety Action Plan (Sioux City & Sergeant Bluff)
Ryan Brauer, Regional Planner with SIMPCO, explained that in 2023 SIMPCO was awarded a USDOT grant to create a Safety Action Plan. This plan will make the City eligible to apply for implementation funding for the projects included in the plans. He reviewed the draft plan which included various goals to reduce injuries and deaths on roadways. The plan was developed by steering committee members who have backgrounds in engineering, Siouxland District Health, transportation, law enforcement, and Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff Public Schools. A public input survey received approximately 200 responses. Frequent themes in survey data include; speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, running stop signs, and bike and pedestrian safety in school zones. A map was provided showing high injury locations across Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff. There will be a review session with the Steering Committee tomorrow, they will be opening a 15-day public comment period on March 31st, and they will bring the final draft forward for approval at the end of April. There were two projects listed in the plan for Sergeant Bluff, a pedestrian bridge over the railroad and highway, and the other project is on Sergeant Square Drive and 1st Street by C Street to address the crosswalk.
7.cPresentation of Annual Report From Safe Routes to School/Complete Streets Committee Dawn Kimmel, Regional Planner with SIMPCO, reviewed the annual report from the Safe Routes to School/Complete Streets Committee. They completed their annual sidewalk inspections, 121 letters were sent to property owners for curb repairs, a curb cut report was completed, and they updated their priority improvement list. She reviewed repairs and new installations of sidewalk throughout various areas of town. The Safe Routes to School map was updated, they promoted bike-to-school and walk-to-school day, conducted a parent poll in the elementary newsletter, completed pedestrian counts on Topaz from Port Neal to Cameo Court, supported middle school traffic pattern changes, modified pedestrian traffic flow at dismissal, and added an adult crossing guard at Topaz and Cameo at dismissal. Their future plans include completing the annual inspections of the SW portion of the city, S Lewis sidewalk installation, install street lights on Port Neal from Huntington to Dogwood, updating the code to include connections to commercial properties, curb cut installations, sidewalk connections across Old Lakeport to East Campus and the sidewalk on the northside of Warrior Road from S Lewis Blvd to Kingston.
7.dRecommendation to Woodbury County for Speed Limit Change on Old Lakeport Road from First Street to K45 (Old Hwy 75)
Aaron Lincoln said that he met with the new County Engineer regarding this road. Lakeport Road all the way through is joint jurisdiction between the City and County, if we want to change the speed limit both entities need to agree.
Police Chief Jereme Muller stated that he believes it should be 35mph through the whole stretch.
There was discussion regarding parts of the road being in Sioux City’s jurisdiction and prior efforts to change the joint jurisdiction section to 35mph.
Motion by Kirk Moriarty, seconded by Andrea Johnson to Recommend to Woodbury County to Change the Speed Limit on Old Lakeport Road from First Street to K45 (Old Hwy 75) to 35mph.
Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
7.eApprove Employee Manual & Policy Handbook Amendment which modifies the Parks & Recreation Director Residency Requirement
Aaron Lincoln said that this change will provide greater consistency with other requirements for Department Heads, allowing the Parks & Recreation Director to live within a 10-mile radius. There is also a minor wording correction to the existing Police Chief requirement.
This was recommended by the Personnel Committee.
Motion by Andrea Johnson, seconded by Kirk Moriarty to Approve the Employee Manual & Policy Handbook Amendment which modifies the Parks & Recreation Director Residency Requirement.
Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
7.fSpecial Event Permit Application - American Legion - “Motorcycle Poker Run - Fundraiser” on April 5, 2025
Motion by Ron Hanson, seconded by Ryan Panowicz to Approve the Special Event Permit Application submitted by the American Legion for the “Motorcycle Poker Run - Fundraiser” on April 5, 2025.
Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
8. RESOLUTION(S):
8.aRES 25-10 Authorize Subdivision Bond From 3Guys & a Shovel LLC to Guarantee Completion of Remaining Requirement & Public Improvements After Approval of the Final Plat for Serenity Point Second Addition
Motion by Andrea Johnson, seconded by Kirk Moriarty to Approve RES 25-10 Authorize Subdivision Bond From 3Guys & a Shovel LLC to Guarantee Completion of Remaining Requirement & Public Improvements After Approval of the Final Plat for Serenity Point Second Addition.
Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
8.bRES 25-11 Accepting & Approving the Final Plat of Serenity Point Second Addition Hank Baker was present to represent the developers. He provided a handout to the City Council. He said they have been able to list the first four and hopes to have them on the market by the end of the week. He has a list of about 12 parties that are interested in the development. There are 38 total units, the 39th lot is the ground where the putting greens will be.
Motion by Ron Hanson, seconded by Ryan Panowicz to Approve RES 25-11 Accepting & Approving the Final Plat of Serenity Point Second Addition.
Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
9. ORDINANCE(S):
9.aORD 759 Amending the Code of Ordinances Chapters 35 & 156 Adopting the 2024 Edition of the International Fire Code (First Reading)
Anthony Gaul, Fire Chief, explained that the City has been going off of the State Code. Over the last year the metro-area Chiefs have met to collaborate, some of the cities have gone to modern standards that will allow the City to enforce some necessary items.
Andrea Johnson asked what would happen if something were to contradict the State of Iowa’s code.
Anthony Gaul said that cities can adopt their own code, we are able to make a more stringent code.
Sarah Kleber, City Attorney, said that we can add greater restrictions but cannot waive State code. She also asked the City Council regarding their preference of the proposed ordinance regarding to whom an appeal of the Fire Chiefs determination should go to. The presented
options suggested either the City Council or the City Administrator. It was the consensus that the appeal should go through the City Administrator.
Motion by Andrea Johnson, seconded by Ron Hanson to Approve ORD 759 Amending the Code of Ordinances Chapters 35 & 156 Adopting the 2024 Edition of the International Fire Code (First Reading) with the appeal process language going through the City Administrator. Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
10. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Aaron Lincoln said that Long Lines is finishing phase 3 of their fiber installation, a lot of the work will be starting in the SW corner of town, A&A Underground will be in town. Another subcontractor, Schon Construction, will be working in the Camelot/Oak Hills area. A third contractor will be working on the trailer courts by May.
Ron Hanson encouraged residents to accept the free Long Lines fiber box installation even if they don’t purchase the service to avoid fees later if they change their mind.
Aaron Lincoln said that we need to have a final budget workshop meeting so that the Budget can be approved on April 22nd.
After discussion, it was the consensus that April 3rd at 7:30am would be the budget workshop meeting.
11. COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORTS & COMMENTS:
Kirk Moriarty thanked Public Works and the rest of City staff for their work on the bad weather day. He saw nothing but positive comments. He gave a shoutout to the Fire Department for helping a resident change a smoke alarm battery. He said he would like to assist with the Golf Cart ordinance. He also wished the Mayor a Happy Birthday.
Andrea Johnson said that she received a message from a resident who wanted her to commend the Public Works department for their fast and thorough removal of the snow last week. All the departments did great work. She thanked the Library and Library Board for their tireless efforts to move our library forward.
Ron Hanson said that the Public Works department did a fantastic job addressing power outages and getting the streets clean during the snow storm. The Police Department and Fire Department did a great job with traffic issues. The Library is doing a great job and is loved by the community. He wished the Mayor a Happy Birthday.
12. MAYOR’S REPORT:
Jon Winkel said that we are working on the Kiwanis Park bids by the next City Council meeting. In addition, Aaron will be in Iowa City for the next week. He also received a lot of positive comments regarding all departments of the City as it pertains to the recent storm. He discussed the value of having two electric feeds to serve our community. There were guys out during 40mph and 50mph winds getting a branch off our lines.
13. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion by Kirk Moriarty, seconded by Ryan Panowicz to Adjourn at 6:41pm. Motion Carried. [Unanimous]
Mayor/Mayor Pro-Tem
Attest:
Danny Christoffers, City Clerk
Published in the Sergeant Bluff Advocate weekly newspaper, Thursday, Apr. 3, 2025. The SB-Advocate is the Official Newspaper for the City of Sergeant Bluff and is an Official Woodbury County newspaper. (PN#040325-00070)
