Wayland to consider snow removal partnership with WACO

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? To partner with the school for snow removal or not, that is a question the Wayland City Council will mull over during its December meeting.

The council met Wednesday night for its regularly scheduled meeting and quickly breezed through its light agenda. However, before Mayor Brad Roth adjourned the meeting, he asked the board if they would like to consider partnering with the school district for snow removal.

?The school called me and they would like to partner with (the city) for janitor service,? said Roth. However, the mayor told WACO Superintendent Fred Whipple he didn?t think the city would want to get into that, but maybe snow removal.

?They (the school) get an extra $18,000 a year (from the state) if they partner with a 28E agreement with the city,? explained Roth.

Roth said the school?s equipment would be used; they would only need the manpower to push the snow.

?Are Barry, Randy and Isaiah going to have time?? asked Councilwoman Melinda Ullery.

City Clerk Beverly Conrad questioned if the city workers would want to work on weekends to clear parking lots if the school has weekend events.

Conrad also told the council they would need to look into how liability would work. If something were to happen while city workers were pushing snow, would it be on the city or the school district.

?I just have a lot of questions,? added Conrad.

Conrad said she would check in with other communities to see if anyone else has similar agreements with the school district and add it to next month?s agenda for further discussion. Roth added he would extend an invitation to the superintendent to attend said meeting.

During the meeting, the council also authorized the advance of funds for the urban renewal project. The project is phase one of the Cummings Street project, which includes water and infrastructure. Street repairs would be the second phase of the project. Conrad said only $60,000 of Tiff funds would be used for this first phase.

The council also discussed how residents may see some smoke this week.

The City of Wayland and Warner Engineering will be smoking the sanitary sewer system today (Nov. 19) and tomorrow (Nov. 20). The Wayland Fire Department and Henry County Dispatch have been advised of the testing, but residents with questions are asked to call City Hall at 319-256-3276.

The council did take a brief pause during the meeting. The mayor relayed word that Winfield?s Public Works Director Rick Rodgers passed away. Following a brief moment of silence, the mayor said if Winfield were to call for any help he?d be more than happy for city staff to assist.

In other business, the council:

? Approved the tax abatement application for Eichelberger Farms and the frame office building at 408 North Way Drive.

? Authorized Conrad and newly elected council members Aaron Barnhart and Chet Fort to attend the Municipal Leadership Academy. The meetings are to be held in Ottumwa on Dec. 10, an online course in January, and in Fairfield on April 9. Conrad said the courses cost $75 each and the council members can decide which they would like to attend.

? Authorized Conrad to attend the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, in Omaha, Neb., May 22-25.

? Approved a building permit for a chain link fence at 1135 Delaware Ave., for Roger and Denise Hill.

The next meeting of the Wayland City Council will be Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall.