Lansing City Council reviews issues noted in annual State Auditor’s agreed-upon procedures report, removes construction moratorium
by Julie Berg-Raymond
At its regular meeting Monday, May 16, the Lansing City Council reviewed Auditor of State Rob Sand’s agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Lansing, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.
A press release issued May 2 by the Office of Auditor of State, State of Iowa, indicated that “Sand reported fifteen findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds …The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, errors in the utility reconciliation, disbursements exceeding budgeted amounts, excess TIF collections, and the need to seek legal counsel regarding the relationship between the City and the Lansing Fire Department, Inc. (Non-profit Fire Department). Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings.”
City Clerk Katie Becker addressed each item on the report, explaining some of the discrepancies and noting where action has been taken or corrections have been made or are in the process of being made. Progress on addressing the matters highlighted in the report will continue to be monitored.
PARKS
The council did not approve payment of an invoice for $8,000 submitted in April by Damon Construction, of New Albin, for pool project work. After viewing a photograph taken at the site, council members felt the work was incomplete and will confer with the contractor for clarifications before approving payment.
Addressing a request to consider two street name changes on Mt. Hosmer (from the gate to the Veterans Memorial, name the street Harriet Hosmer Way; and from the Veterans Memorial around the loop, name the street Veterans Memorial Loop), the council postponed a vote until it could confer with the Parks Department on the question.
BIDS AND HIRES
The council accepted a Dust Control bid of $.75/gallon from Welch, Inc., of Waukon, and a bid of $2,000 from Andrew Rethwisch of Lansing to install a new roof on the park restroom building. It approved the hiring of Laura Colsch and, pending age confirmation, Rylee Mudderman as assistant softball and t-ball coaches at $9.50 per hour.
STREET DEPARTMENT
Street Superintendent Ken Ripp told the council he is hopeful that the splash-pad will be open before Memorial Day weekend. He also advised that the new water pump on Mt. Hosmer doesn’t work and the restrooms there will remain closed.
BANNERS
The council approved the purchase of new two-color banners for Main Street. The new banner design includes a drawing of an old-fashioned streetlamp and the text, “Discover Lansing/Where Main Street Meets the Mississippi.” The light on the streetlamp and the words directly underneath it are yellow; the streetlamp, itself, and the rest of the words are white. The background color of the banners is black.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the council approved the following: posting a street sign on the southwest corner at the intersection of North and 7th Streets to direct people to the City Pool via Bench Street; and closing Diagonal Street from 3rd Street to the street’s dead end June 4, from 3 to 8 p.m., for a private party. In a special meeting held Thursday, April 28, the council removed the moratorium on new building construction within Lansing city limits and approved a liquor license for Fajitas Grill on Main Street.
The next regular meeting of the Lansing City Council is scheduled for Monday, June 6, at 7 p.m., at Lansing City Hall.
