Wayland City Council Meeting Agenda 08/07

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 at 9:12 am CDT

Wayland City Council Regular Meeting Agenda

Wayland City Hall at 7:30 pm

1. Roll Call

2. Consent Agenda
Note: These are routine items and will be enacted by one motion without separate discussion unless a Council member requests an item be removed for separate consideration.
a. Minutes of July 17, 2024
b. Bills for Payment
c. Treas. Report
d. Clerks Budgetary Report
e. Utility Dept. Report
f. Police Dept. Report
g. Firefighter Dept. Report
h. Building Permits

3. Citizen Forum
The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public for items not listed on the agenda. You are asked to state your name and address for the record and to limit your remarks in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak. The Order of Business is at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken.

4. Unfinished Business
a. Discussion/Update on Sewer Hook-Up/Annexation – 1161 Dakota Ave
b.

5. New Business
a. Res. 2024-19 A Resolution Authorizing Wages and Benefits for Wayland Police Chief for the Period of July 29, 2024 Through June 30, 2025
b. Approve WACO Homecoming Parade – September 13, 2024 (4:30 -5:30)
c. Set Date & Time for Main Street Greet & Treat & Citywide Trick or Treat
d. Res. 2024-20 A Resolution in Support of a Property Tax Levy for Emergency Medical Services – Essential Services in Henry County, Iowa
e. Consider Proposal to Sleeve Culvert for Storm Water Drainage

6. Adjournment

Mariannette Miller-Meeks Visits Henry County on Tuesday Evening

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 at 8:37 am CDT

Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks spoke at Saunders Park in Mount Pleasant Tuesday evening in front of constituents as part of her “District Blitz” tour. This was her 7th event of the day, as she continues across the district in attempts to raise support ahead of the election in November. Meeks will face off against not one, but two opponents, as democratic challenger Christina Bohannan and Libertarian candidate Nicholas Gluba both seek the seat.

I was able to ask Miller-Meeks a variety of questions after the meeting.

(Q) Yorke – Tell me about your visit to Henry County tonight. Why are you here?

(A) Meeks –“So typically campaigns, as they get closer to election time, will reach out to their constituents or reach out to people. And so we are on our 20 county tour, there are 20 counties in Iowa’s first congressional district, and we’re hitting all of these counties. We typically do that on the official side as well, but we’re doing this on the campaign side, making sure we reach out to people, we’re available to people, we’re there to answer their questions so they can know what we are working on, what bills we have passed, what we’re going to work on in the future, and also ask questions about what they see happening in their federal government.

(Q) – What is the key to winning the contested race against Bohannan and Gluba?

(A) Meeks – “The key to winning is exactly what we are doing now, and that is to continue to reach out, to be accessible, to answer questions, to be all over the district, to be ourselves. To be authentic, to be real. And I think people in Iowa were, you know, because we’re the first in the nation caucus, we’re used to having access to our candidates. So I think that goes a long way. We are going to continue to do all that hard ground work, whether it’s door knocking, having meet and greets, whether it’s being around people. And then we’re also going to raise the money so that we can compete on the airwaves as well.”

(Q) – (Christina) Bohannan has attacked your views on abortion recently. What do you have to say about that? What are your views on abortion?

(A) Meeks – “So I am pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother, I’ve been very consistent upon that. Christina Bohannan is lying about my record, but more importantly the extremes on abortion are the democrat party. They voted for a bill, in Congress, that would have abortion up until the birth of the child, so up until birth. That is an extreme position, such as North Korea and China have. That is no in keeping with the majority of Americans or the majority of Iowans. So you have an extreme party who has nothing else to run on, they have high gas prices, high food prices, high interest rates so young people can’t afford a house and don’t think they can get ahead in the United States. They have open borders with record amounts of fentanyl coming across the border, the cartel is in control of the southern border, record number of people and people on the terror watch list, crime has risen. And then you have chaos that is abroad, and this is, uh, these are the people who want to continue to control our country, have nothing to run on so they are going to run on abortion. And they are going to lie about people’s records.”

(Q) – Kamala Harris picked her Vice President candidate pick in Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, how do you feel about this?

(A) Meeks – “I think that this is a left-wing progressive that is in-keeping with Kamala Harris extreme California left-wing progressive view. So it’s not a surprise that they’re together. If you want more of the same that we’ve had the past four years, with high food prices, high gas prices, increasing crime, open borders, then they are right in keeping with that. They are responsible for that. People don’t feel that they are doing better than they did four years ago, they think they’re doing worse. And, uh, to me the answer to that is to reelect your congresswoman Marrianette Miller-Meeks, help elect republicans up and down the ballot, and to reelect President Donald Trump.”

 

She admitted that this will be a “brutal election” as the democrats want her seat back. Bohannon is outraising Meeks so far this cycle, but Meeks doesn’t seem worried. When it comes to the importance of this election, she mentioned that the House must be controlled by republicans. If not, she fears, democrats will attempt to impeach President Trump, if elected, from day one, and that nothing will get done due to constant “disruption”.

Meeks will be meeting with constituents at a fundraising event in Iowa City on September 7th, ahead of the annual Iowa-Iowa State football game.

Representative Miller-Meeks at Saunders Park in Mount Pleasant

Catherine Campbell

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 at 6:46 am CDT

Catherine (Cathy) Sue Campbell, 74, of West Point, died Sunday, August 4, 2024, at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center surrounded by family.  She was born March 21, 1950, in Galesburg, Illinois, to William George and Rozella Mae Williams Conroy.  She married Michael Wayne Campbell Sr on June 30, 1967.  She met her new partner in life, Dennis E. McGregor, on December 10, 1985, and they were married January 26, 2010.

She was a 1968 graduate of Galesburg High School and received an associate’s degree from Southeastern Community College in 1990.  Cathy worked in retail for Flowerama and Woolworth’s in Westland Mall in the 1970s and early 80s.  She then started her life-long career with the State of Iowa, first as a Manpower Aide II, then a Job Service Interviewer for the Iowa Department of Employment Services.  Cathy later moved to the Iowa Department of Human Services as an Income Maintenance Worker.  She then became a Social Worker II and finally retired in 2010 as an adult worker specializing in elderly and disabled care.  After retirement, she opened a rustic primitive consignment store called Starlings Roost on the square in West Point, and later converted it into an aquatic pet store named Gilly Fin’s Island.

She was a past member of the Burlington Altrusa Club and the Burlington Lion’s Club and loved volunteering for various organizations and causes.  Cathy loved animals of every sort and was known for her many in-home domestic and exotic pets.  She also loved crafting, developing beautiful creations of many varieties over the years, and had a great love of eclectic collections.

Survivors include her husband, Dennis E. McGregor of West Point; a son, Michael W. Campbell Jr. (Krystal Johnson) of Burlington; a daughter, Kristina K. Campbell (Stacy Cleek) of Takoma Park, Maryland; a stepdaughter, Shannon R. McGregor (Carl Shirts II) of Burlington; several grandchildren, Tara (Dan) Bryant, Tyler Campbell, Rayanna Thompson, Lucas Hall Johnson, and Lauren Johnson; two great-grandchildren, Caedan and Aurora Bryant; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Carole Lee (Conroy) Sobotta; a brother, William George Conroy II; and one nephew, Danny Sobotta.

According to her wishes, her body has been cremated and a memorial service will be at 2:00 pm Monday, August 12, 2024, at Elliott Chapel, New London, with Pastor Shane McCampbell officiating.  The family will greet friends at a visitation at the chapel on Sunday, August 11, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.  Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com and donations in her name may be made to the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital at Iowa State University.

Gene “Doc” Hill

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 at 6:45 am CDT

Gene “Doc” Hill, 68, of Winfield, passed away on Monday, July 29, 2024.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Winfield.  Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Winfield-Scott Township Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the family in Doc’s memory.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com. 

Gene Allen Hill was born on July 4, 1956, in Washington, Iowa the son of Dennis A. and Bertha Z. (Hesser) Hill.  He was a 1975 graduate of Winfield High School.  Doc worked at Blue Bird in Mt. Pleasant until their closing, Alaniz as a forklift driver and then worked for The Door Shop at Mid-Am Building Supply in Mt. Pleasant where he retired.  He enjoyed camping, sitting on his bench and watching traffic go by and riding his motorcycle.

Doc will be deeply missed by his siblings, Jason (Tracy) Hill of Olds, Jerry Hill of Red Oak and Jackie (Greg) Morrow of Wayland and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Doc was preceded in death by his parents.

Burglary at K Mart – Suspect Apprehended

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 at 6:43 am CDT

On August 3rd, 2024 at approximately 6:32am, the LeeComm Dispatch Center received a call in reference to a burglary at 707 Palean Street, West K Mart.

Keokuk Officers arrived on scene at approximately 6:33am. Officers arrived on scene and noted that forced entry was made into the store. Officers took photos, collected evidence, and interviewed the reporting party, learning that several items were missing.

Through an investigation, it was determined that Bryan Vanskike, 32, of Oquawka, Illinois was a suspect in the crime. Vanskike was discovered at 708 Bank Street in Keokuk. The residence was secured and the Keokuk Criminal Investigations Divisions (CID) was contacted. A search warrant was applied for and granted for that residence.

Keokuk Police Officers served the search warrant on August 3rd, 2024 at approximately 11:45pm and items that support the charges were discovered.

Bryan Vanskike is charged with 2nd Degree Theft a class D felony, Forgery a class D felony, Possession of Methamphetamine a serious misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia a simple misdemeanor, 3rd Degree Burglary a class D felony, and 5th Degree Theft a simple misdemeanor.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation supported by probable cause and all parties are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office, LeeComm Dispatch, and the Lee County Narcotics Task Force, provided valuable assistance during this event.

We encourage the public to contact our police department with any additional information regarding this event. The community plays a large role in helping our department suppress crime and keep our community safe. You can reach our department through our social media (Facebook Messenger), the LeeComm dispatch center (319-372-1310), Lee County Crime Stoppers, calling our department directly (319-524-2741), or coming to the police department in person (1222 Johnson Street, Keokuk).

Sports, August 7th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Football

Winfield-Mt. Union will be hosting their final night of their youth football camp from 7:15 to 8 pm for 1st through 6th graders. 7th through 12th graders will practice from 5 to 7 pm tonight through Friday, August 9th.

WACO will have their football practice starting at 5 pm. 

Fairfield will continue their 5th through 8th grade football camp tonight from 6 to 8 pm. The high school camp will continue through tomorrow, August 8th, from 4 to 6 pm with all camps being held at the high school practice fields.

Mt. Pleasant will continue hosting their morning football camp for the high schoolers and the Panthers will host West Liberty for a scrimmage tonight. The team will travel to West Liberty on Friday for another scrimmage at 5:30 pm. 

Van Buren County will be having an informational meeting tomorrow at 5:30 pm in the classroom directly across from the wrestling room at the high school. Football camp for the high schoolers starts today at 7 am and runs through Friday.

High School Volleyball

Mt. Pleasant will be hosting their volleyball camp tonight with 5th through 8th graders practicing from 4 to 5:30 pm and high school players going from 6 to 8:30 pm at the high school gym.

High School Cross Country

New London will start practicing on Monday, August 12th, at 9 am and runners must have a current physical and signed concussion form.

Junior high runners are encouraged to join the high school practices for extra conditioning as their first practice is scheduled for Friday, August 23rd, at 4 pm.

If you were unable to attend the informational meeting last night, please contact Coach Bridget Swailes at bridget.swailes@nlcsd.org.

Danville will be having an informational meeting tomorrow, August 8th, at 6:30 pm at the high school chorus room about the upcoming season. You will get to meet the coaches, learn about the team expectations, and get details about a practice schedule.

If you are unable to attend, then you can email Coach Gourley at lucas.gourley@danvillecsd.org.

Fairfield’s team camp will conclude today with departure at 7 am at the high school. There will be voluntary practices tomorrow and Friday at 8 am at the high school.

Practices will officially get underway at 7:45 am on August 12th at Waterworks.

Iowa State Football

The Iowa State Fair will be exhibiting a new feature called “Catch the Cyclone Vision.” Visitors will get to pick from a couple different unique campus experiences that feature a series of 360-degree videos highlighting the event. One of the experiences includes being in the huddle of an Iowa State football spring game; all visitors have to do is scan the QR code displayed with the information about the experience with their smartphone.

The exhibit will be open in the Varied Industries Building from 9 am to 8 pm every day of the fair starting tomorrow, August 8th.

Iowa Football

The Hawkeyes will be hosting their annual “Kids Day at Kinnick” on Saturday, August 10th. The open practice will begin at 11 am with the gates opening at 10 am. Team members will be signing autographs for kids around 10:30 am along the front of the west and south stands. Admission is free for all fans.

Award Watch List

Both the Hawkeyes and Cyclones might be looking to run the ball this fall with each team getting a member placed on the Doak Walker Award Watch List, which is given to the nation’s top running back.

For the University of Iowa, senior running back Leshon Williams looks to lead the ground game for the second consecutive season after averaging 4.8 yards per carry to finish with 821 yards last year. Williams was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection last season along with being Iowa’s Roy Carver Team Offensive MVP.

Iowa State’s Abu Sama III crashed onto the scene during his freshman season last year. The freshman finally broke the century mark in the 10th game of the season and never looked back as he finished with 614 yards and six touchdowns, while breaking the team’s freshman single-season record of yards per carry at 7.3. Sama also totaled five touchdowns of 60 yards or more, the most in a single season for Iowa State since 1971.

Prospect League

Game two of the Prospect League Championship will take place tonight at 7:05 pm with the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp acting as the home team against REX. The Pistol Shrimp can claim the championship tonight, but if they lose the two teams will participate in a winner-takes-all match tomorrow, August 8th, at 7:05 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1936 – Twenty-two nations line-up as the first basketball competition in the Olympic Games starts in Berlin; Estonia beats France 34-29 in the first game.

1948 – American Alice Coachman becomes the first Black woman from any country to win an Olympic gold medal when she takes out the high jump at the London Games.

1999 – Wade Boggs becomes the first MLB player to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit in a Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ 15-10 loss to Cleveland.

Prep Girls’ Basketball: Shawn Hopper Set to Lead Holy Trinity Catholic

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 at 3:01 pm CDT

Fort Madison, IA- The Holy Trinity Catholic girls’ basketball team had one of their best seasons in their program’s history this past winter, an exclamation mark to former head coach Tony Johnson’s career. Stepping up this season will be Shawn Hopper.

Johnson stepped down in March after contemplating if he had the time to both tend to his business and coach the team. After nine years, he decided that he did not have the energy to continue coaching.

Hopper, aged 52, was coaching the junior high basketball teams two years ago before catapulting his way to an assistant coach for Johnson this last season. Now, he takes over the program that has seen great success under Johnson’s rule.

In his nine seasons at the helm, Johnson collected a 134-96 record with six winning seasons, which tripled the program’s amount.

Last year, with the help of Mary Kate Bendlage’s record-breaking senior season, the Crusaders finished as the SEISC South Division and Shootout champions with a 20-3 record, falling to Montezuma in the regional semifinal.

Hopper inherits a team that graduated three starters: Bendlage, Natalie Randolph, and Reagan Holvoet. The trio provided an average of nearly 39 points and 17 rebounds per game.

Nevertheless, the team has plenty of experience returning in starters Anna Bendlage and Teagen Snaadt, who will be seniors, along with Presley Myers and Adalyn Kruse.

Hopper does not plan on changing the philosophy of the team with a pressure defense leading into quick buckets in transition. The transition has certainly been quick for Hopper, but he knows Johnson will be there if he needs him,

“…I’m sure I’ll have Tony on speed dial in case I have any questions.”

The regular season will start on December 3rd for the Crusaders with a home matchup against Central Lee.

Hang up the Phone! New Policy in Place for New London Students

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 at 12:04 pm CDT
Below is a statement from the New London Community School district ahead of the upcoming school year…
The New London Middle and High School has seen an increase in issues regarding cell phones/personal electronics around social media, student focus, student mental health, and student behaviors. Therefore, during the upcoming school year, the New London Community School District will be moving to a policy where we will not allow cell phones/personal electronics during the school day. We do recognize that cell phones can be a safety measure in getting to and from school, so we are providing the following plan:
1. Phones and all personal electronics must be turned off during the day and placed in the student’s bag or locker. At no time is a device allowed to be out or used during the school day.
2. Students will only be able to use their cell phones and other personal electronic devices (headphones, tablets, smart watches, etc) before the first bell of the school day and after the final bell of the school day.
3. This policy will not limit the use of a personal computer that is needed for coursework.
It is our goal that this plan will ensure that students will have access to the benefits of a phone/electronic device while walking, driving, or riding the bus to and from school. In addition, they will have their phone when school is dismissed in the case they need to stay after school for an event.
If a student does need to communicate with parents during the school day, a phone is available to them outside the office in the main hall.
To help accomplish this goal, please remind your students to have your phone numbers memorized or written down so that they can contact you during the day if needed. If parents need to communicate with students, they can call the office or send an email to their child, which the student can return at an appropriate time.
The consequences of bringing a cell phone/electronic device to school and having it out/using it will be as follows:
1. For the first offense, the cell phone/electronic device will be confiscated and turned in at the MSHS office until the end of the school day.
2. For the second offense, the cell phone/electronic device will be confiscated and turned in to the MSHS office until a parent/guardian claims it from the office.
3. For the third violation the cell phone/electronic device will be confiscated and turned in to the MSHS office until a parent/guardian claims it from the office and a one-day out-of-school suspension will be assigned. For each subsequent violation, the number of days of suspension will increase by 2 days.
*Failure by the student to relinquish their cell phone/electronic device at any time will result in an automatic out-of-school suspension. For the first offense it will be one day out-of-school suspension. For each subsequent offense it will increase by two days.
*Administration reserves the right to accelerate consequences/levels of offense if it is determined that the violation is severe enough.
As always, our focus is supporting students by using practices that foster a safe and nurturing environment where all students learn at high levels. Your support and understanding is appreciated.
Clark Elementary’s Handbook
Cell Phone Policy
New London Community School District’s cell phone policy states that cell phones/personal electronics are prohibited during the school day. If students need to communicate with parents during the school day, they should come to the office to contact them, during non-instructional times. Should parents need to communicate with students, they can call the office, and school staff will pass along the information. As always, our focus is supporting students by using practices that foster a safe and nurturing environment where all students learn at high levels. Your support and understanding are appreciated.
1. Any cell phone seen or heard, during the instructional day (8:15-3:30) will be taken and kept at the office. The phone will be returned to the student at the end of the day.
2. A second violation will result in school-administered consequences and the phone will be kept at the office until a parent comes in to pick it up. The student is required to turn their phone/electronic device to the office each morning for 15 school days.
3. A third violation will result in school-administered consequences and the phone will be kept at the office until a parent comes in to pick it up. The student is required to turn their phone/electronic device to the office each morning for 30 school days.
4. A fourth violation will result in the cell phone being confiscated and turned in to the office until a parent claims it from the office. and a one-day suspension will be assigned. The student is required to turn their phone/electronic device to the office each morning for the rest of the school year.