Lansing City Council approves budget, conducts first reading of ordinance to approve adoption of revised city code

by Julie Berg-Raymond

During its regular meeting Monday, March 21, the Lansing City Council opened the public hearing for the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Budget at 7:14 p.m. and closed the hearing at 7:15 p.m., with no comments or questions. The budget was approved and adopted.

The council also opened and closed a public hearing for the proposed 2022 Municipal Code adoption. No comments or questions were offered. Mayor Melissa Hammell conducted the first of three readings of Ordinance No. 202, approving the Code adoption. A copy of the 2022 Municipal Code is available for public review in the Lansing City Clerk’s office.

The council reviewed and considered the use of City property for long-term and VIP (closer to town) parking and camping for RAGBRAI riders. Details, including amount of compensation to the City via a percentage of VIP parking funds raised, will be discussed at a later date.

Lansing Chief of Police Conrad Rosendahl told the council that he has selected a design created by Kee High School junior art student Jacob Rolfs for the new police department patch. He said only a few minor adjustments will be made to the background.

CITIZEN CONCERNS
Raleigh Buckmaster addressed the council during the period set aside for Citizen Concerns, inquiring about the status of the splash pad at the city park and asking whether it was ready to be re-opened for the season. Lansing Street Superintendent Ken Ripp said the City had added more concrete to the area, and still had to add black dirt around the concrete and seed it down. City Clerk Katie Becker advised the council that the Splash Pad fund is currently empty.

Buckmaster also expressed concern about the condition of the Lansing City Hall building, saying it seems “pretty shabby.” Becker noted that some windows are rotted out and agreed that “it’s in rough shape.”

Mayor Hammell wondered whether there might be any grant funding available for building improvements, but Becker said she thought that might only apply if the building also contained a tornado shelter and a community center. Mayor Hammell noted that fundraising efforts would be starting soon for lighting the new bridge and said raising additional donations for building improvements would be challenging.

A suggestion was made that community help could perhaps be enlisted to paint the soffit and trim, and councilman Steve Murray suggested the possibility of involving high school students in the effort. Mayor Hammell agreed, saying perhaps the building could be given “a little temporary facelift until we can do more.”

Another citizen concern involved a request to turn a residential lot near the Scenic Valley Motel into a commercial lot. Councilman Murray said he would look into this question and report back on the matter at the next regular council meeting.

PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT
Marlene Duffy told the council that no applications had been received yet for head or assistant coaching positions for summer recreation programs, but that prospects are in the works. Additionally, Duffy offered an update to the department’s memorial policy, noting that “a list of needs around the city as alternatives to benches or trees” is being compiled with some examples being noted in the board’s March 8 meeting minutes: “pool umbrella, park picnic tables, share bench, Main Street Plaza Memorial Wall.”

The Park and Recreation Board minutes for March 8 also indicated that Music in the Park has been scheduled for the season. Dates are Thursdays, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18 and September 1. A $500 mini-grant was received through Allamakee County Community Foundation for the project; bands will be paid for by donation from businesses and cash donations on the nights of performance.

The March 8 meeting minutes also note the first Farmers Market of the season is Thursday, June 2. Money paid to the market manager will come from the $5 vendor fee for each vendor per market. No City money will be used to pay the market manager.

SOME MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS
The council approved a letter of support for a T-Mobile Hometown Grant toward improving the downtown plaza and making it more user-friendly. Mayor Hammell presented the request on behalf of Main Street Lansing.

T-Mobile is committing up to $25 million over the next five years to support small towns across America by funding community projects. Grant amounts are up to $50,000 per town. The City would not be required to match any portion of the grant; applications are due at the end of March.

The council also discussed purchasing new banners for Main Street. The current banners are about 10 years old and are reportedly in rough shape. The council decided not to order them yet, and to look into the possibility of a new design.

PEOPLESERVICE REPORT
PeopleService representative Duane Estebo advised the council that the valve at Main and Third Street needs to be replaced. He said he is looking into alternatives to conventional replacement so half of Main Street doesn’t have to be shut down and left without water.

A resident reported in early February that their meter had frozen, resulting in a leak. The resident had the line repaired and PeopleService replaced the meter. A leak detection company was called later that month after another resident complained of low water pressure. The leak was determined to be private, and the resident had it repaired. February 15, a main broke on Bench Street; PeopleService repaired it, with help from the Street Department.

OTHER BUSINESS
In continuing business, the council reviewed and considered the Lansing ambulance quarterly invoice in response to Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Director Conrad Rosendahl’s question at an earlier council meeting regarding a high bill charged to the EMS, which appeared to have been for utilities. City Clerk Becker said the reason the bill for EMS was high last time was because a majority of it represented a yearly insurance payment that was due. Rosendahl noted some questions regarding fuel charges still need to be looked into; those questions will be taken up at a later meeting.

The council approved a letter of support toward a grant application for a $15,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging station; the grant application is due April 8.

Lansing Street Superintendent Ken Ripp advised the council that a sidewalk is collapsing on the west side of town due to water damage, and said it is creating a hazard. He said he will put gravel in place, for now.

Liquor license permits were approved for The Gourmet Traveler, D&J’s Expresso and T&J’s Red Barn Restaurant; a resident’s earlier request to have his property severed from city limits was tabled until the resident could provide more information to the council; a burn permit was approved for Steve Murray, pending notification of the fire and street departments and an inquiry into whether the State might need to be asked, as well.

The next regular meeting of the Lansing City Council is Monday, April 4 at 7 p.m. at Lansing City Hall.