June 2, 2025
Wellman, Iowa
The Wellman City Council met in regular session at the Wellman City Hall Council Chambers at 5:45 pm. Mayor Ryan Miller presided with the City Administrator & City Clerk and the following Council Members: Angela Stutzman, Shannon McCain, Nathan Klostermann, Aaron Fleming & Fern Bontrager. The Consent Agenda was approved by Stutzman, seconded by Bontrager and all voted ayes. The consent agenda includes the agenda, minutes from the previous meeting, Approval of Freeman Foods Cigarette/Tobacco/Nicotine/Vapor License Renewal and the following:
5/27 PAYROLL
Jonathan J Adam $74.57
Carrie R Geno $1,157.51
Gabrielle M Geno $21.94
Melissa J Fleming $449.72
Kelly J Kemp $268.52
Ryan J Miller $276.78
Beth A VanWinkle $1,761.98
Betty J Johnston $132.25
Timothy J Garrett $2,546.15
Travis D Hartley $1,593.30
Josh S VanWinkle $1,478.32
Debra S Hill $706.18
Landon P Humble $106.67
Deana K Nolan $310.14
Damayanti Banuelos Ortega $24.24
Shirley Y Brown $614.72
Kelly L Litwiller $2,445.21
Cynthia S Thrapp $1,421.56
Fed Taxes $4,733.12
State Taxes $1,117.20
IPERS $6,655.06
BC/BS $7,662.08
Aflac $216.44
Cynthia S Thrapp, May Cell Reimbursement $70.00
Cox Sanitation & Recycling, May Recycling & Large Stickers $4,899.00
Josh S VanWinkle, May Cell Reimbursement $70.00
Kelly L Litwiller, May Cell Reimbursement $70.00
Merlin J Hernadez, May Parkside Banquet Hall Cleaning $350.00
William D Nickell, June Yard Waste $175.00
Paws & More, May City Contribution/Customer Donations $637.88
Ryan J Miller, May Mileage Reimbursement $28.00
Treasurer State of Iowa, May Gas Use Taxes $198.45
Shirley Y Brown, May Goodwin Center Food Reimbursement $212.32
Standard Pest Control, June Pest Control $115.00
Timothy J Garrett, May Cell/Water Certifications Reimbursement $194.54
Travis D Hartley, May Cell Reimbursement $70.00
Treasurer State of Iowa, May Sales/Water Excise Taxes $3,816.80
Todd Troyer, May Building Permits $70.00
Beth A VanWinkle, May Cell/Mileage Reimbursements $112.00
Wellman Emporium, June Goodwin Center Condo Fee $136.54
Access Systems Leasing, City Hall New Copier Lease/Copies $270.05
Alliant Energy, City Utilities $971.59
American Water Works Assoc., Membership Dues $450.00
Badger Meter, May Water Meter Fees $329.26
Calhoun-Burns & Assoc., 9th Ave. Bridge Project $1,157.00
Central IA Distributing, Parks Supplies $163.00
Dakota Supply Group, Shop/Water Supplies $363.00
EO Johnson Business Tech., B/W & Color Copies-Old Copier $56.92
Hi-Line, Shop Supplies $83.22
Impressions Computers, Computer Services $118.75
Iowa One Calls, April One Calls $24.30
J&S Plumbing, Htg., & A/C, Goodwin Center Water Heater $1,107.30
Leaf, City Hall Old Copier Lease $108.19
LL Pelling Co., FY25 Sealcoat $97,690.85
Summit Companies Fire Extinguishers/Parkside Sprinkler Head Cleaning $2,184.95
Wash. Co. Environmental Health, Sr. Dining Food License Renewal $150.00
Wellman Co-op Telephone, City Telephones $1,161.80
Wellman Heritage Society, FY25 Insurance Donation $500.00
$153,889.37
In public forum, Nathan Fick questioned what the status of the Campground in South Park and whether the city has considered to do a Dog Park.
A public hearing to receive comments for amending provisions of Chapter 170 (Zoning Regulations) was opened by McCain and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes. Richard Harvey was present and requested more explanation on the lot line changes. McCain made a motion to close the public hearing, Stutzman seconded and all voted ayes.
First reading of Ordinance No. 288 amending provisions of Chapter 170 (Zoning Regulations) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Wellman, IA is as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 288
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 170 (ZONING REGULATIONS) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF WELLMAN, IOWA
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WELLMAN, IOWA:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this ordinance is to amend certain provisions of Section 170.20 of the City Code to clarify residents’ obligations and to remove certain fence regulations that the City Council for the City of Wellman, Iowa has determined is an unnecessary burden on residents.
SECTION 2. SECTION AMENDED. Section 170.20 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Wellman, Iowa (“City Code”), is hereby amended and superseded, as follows:
170.20 FENCE AND HEDGE REGULATIONS.
1. Generally. All fences and hedges are subject to the following location and height restrictions:
A. No portion of a fence or hedge shall exceed seven feet in height.
B. Fences and hedges shall be located so no part thereof is within three feet of an alley or three feet of a street right-of-way without City permission.
C. In residential districts, fences or hedges within the front yard shall not exceed five feet in height.
D. Fences and hedges may be erected along the lot line on the condition that the entirety of the fence or hedge is located within the confines of the property.
E. Fences and hedges must be placed so that they do not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including safety and sight distance concerns.
F. Fences shall be constructed of wood, chain-link, PVC/resin, metal, stone or masonry materials only. Wood fences shall utilize standard building lumber only.
G. The decorative side of any fence shall be faced outward from the property being fenced.
H. Fences may be constructed within both public and private utility and drainage easements provided:
(1) The fence and its design is subject to the approval of the City Administrator and the City Planning & Zoning Administrator.
(2) Removal and/or subsequent replacement of the fence or a portion thereof for the purpose of utilizing the easement shall be at the property owner’s expense.
I. If a fence or hedge violates the provisions in this section, it shall be removed at the owner’s expense.
2. Swimming Pools. Fenced enclosures shall be provided for outdoor, in-ground swimming pools with a depth of 18 inches or more, and shall be subject to the following requirements:
A. Fences must be at least four feet in height from ground level but shall not exceed seven feet from the top rim of the pool, and have no spaces that would allow a four-inch diameter sphere to pass through.
B. Fences must have a self-closing and self-latching device on the gate.
C. Fences must be located so no part thereof is within three feet of an alley or three feet of a street right-of-way.
3. Barbed Wire and Electric Fences. Barbed wire and electric fences are subject to the following requirements:
A. Barbed wire and electric fences shall not be allowed in residential or commercial zones.
B. Barbed wire and electric fences shall be prohibited within five feet of a public sidewalk or within four feet of a street right-of-way where a public sidewalk does not exist.
C. Electric fences shall not be permitted in any district except for the enclosure of livestock operations in Agricultural Districts (A-1).
D. No electric fence shall carry a charge greater than 25 milliamperes or a pulsating current longer than one-tenth (1/10) per second in a one-second cycle. All electric fence chargers shall carry the seal of an approved testing laboratory.
SECTION III. REPEALER. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION IV. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision, or part of this ordinance shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any section, provision, or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION V. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall be effective after its passage and publication as required by law.
Bontrager made a motion to approve the First reading of Ordinance No. 288, Klostermann seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.
Resolution No. 25-24 A resolution authorizing and approving a loan and disbursement agreement and providing for the Issuance and securing the payment of $2,700,000 Water Revenue Bond, Series 2025 was introduced and caused to be read. McCain moved to approve resolution No. 25-24, Stutzman seconded and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes.
McCain made a motion to approve Health Insurance Renewal, Bontrager seconded, and the vote was 4 ayes: Stutzman abstained.
Klostermann made a motion to approve the renewal of Certificate of Deposit – Library Funds, Fleming seconded and all voted ayes.
Bontrager made a motion to approve CIT Sewer Solutions quote – Sewer Main Point Repairs of $48,900, McCain seconded and all voted ayes.
Upon motion by Fleming, seconded by Klostermann and upon roll call the vote was unanimous ayes council entered into closed session at 5:55 per Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual request a closed session.
Upon motion by Bontrager, seconded by McCain and all voted ayes, the council entered into an open session at 6:28pm.
Discussion and action on closed session was had. Klostermann made a motion to offer Jerry Sanders the position for $24/hour with the understanding that this comes with getting certified in Gas, Fleming seconded and all voted ayes.
With no further business to be discussed Bontrager moved to adjournment at 6:40pm, Stutzman seconded and all voted ayes. The next regular City Council Meeting will be Monday, June 16, 2025, at 5:30pm in the Council Chambers of the Wellman Municipal Building.
Minutes transcribed by the City Clerk are subject to Council Approval.
Published in The News, Thursday, June 12, 2025 L-158 O-125
