Contract offered for the hire of
new McGregor city clerk-administrator

By Trudy Balcom

 Lively discussions about bars, boathouses and parking regulations nearly overshadowed the most important event at the McGregor City Council meeting: offering a contract to the prospective new city clerk-administrator.
    The council unanimously approved a resolution to offer a contract to Tom Meyer of Clear Lake. He was in attendance at last Wednesday’s meeting as an observer. The contract will be finalized when it is signed by both parties. 
    Meyer is expected to begin  his duties July 1. His starting salary will be  about $36,000. Meyer’s experience includes 14 years directing a regional housing authority in north central Iowa. 
    Several members of the Dock Commission attended the council meeting at the council’s request. The council has expressed concern that the riverfront in town looks shabby because of several dilapidated boathouses.
    Cathy Corpian, chairperson of the Dock Commission addressed the council and told them about recent efforts to repair structures, noting that high water hindered their efforts. Most of the structures, she said, were “in pretty good shape.” She said that the Dock Commission planned to meet soon and look over the structures to create a list of needed improvements.
    Mayor Roger Knott expressed the council’s gratitude for their efforts, and asked if the Dock Commission could draw up some guidelines to create some uniformity of appearance for the boathouses. Corpian said that there are no guidelines in the ordinance, but she would be willing to look at any guidelines the council might suggest.
    Chuck Boeder of Marquette addressed the council, updating them on the condition and situation of the Frater Building on Anne Street. Boeder told the council that he and his wife, attorney Anne Loomis, had taken over management of the property which occupies more than four city lots behind Main St.
    The building is owned by the Frater Family Trust. It is the former home of Scotlin Ceramics, operated by Charlie and Linda Zahn. Boeder noted that they planned to lease the building as business space, and that they intended to “brand” the building.
    “We know what we don’t want [in there],” Boeder said, saying he had turned down an offer from a tattoo parlor.
    Carl Hexom, owner of Crazy Carl’s Silver Dollar Saloon, addressed the council about improvements he wants to make to his business in order to respond to complaints about noise and public consumption. He also explained how his planned improvements would help him comply with the new smoking ban set to take effect on July 1.
    Hexom requested that the city allow him to construct a 20 x 20-foot privacy fence at the rear entrance to the bar on city parking lot property. He went on to explain that the fence would help cut down on noise, and contain outdoor activity, including smoking, next to the bar.
The council agreed to look over the location for the proposed outdoor enclosure and take the matter under consideration.
    The council also passed two amendments to city parking regulations for two different locations.

Personnel
matters dominate Marquette Council meeting

By Trudy Balcom

Personnel matters, including employee insurance and the progress toward hiring a new city manager captured the council’s attention at the June meeting.
    With the employee insurance package set to expire July 1, the Marquette City Council found itself in a bit of a quandary.
    The council is very dissatisfied with some of the service they have received from their current agent, Irene Iben. Iben appeared before the council at the meeting on May 21, and was grilled by Councilman Tracy Melver. Melver contended that Iben had changed the insurance policy without council approval, adding vision coverage and a term life policy.
    So the council began checking the coverage offered by other area cities and shopping around for a new insurance agent.
    Councilwoman Mary Jo Pirc said that she had called 13 other Northeast Iowa cities and she noted that they were all reviewing their insurance coverage due to high premiums. She also noted that most of the cities offered coverage similar to  what Marquette offers it’s employees.
    Employee insurance costs will increase 40 percent this year; however, costs have gone up and down over the past several years, depending on the number of claims. Current health insurance premiums of $823 per employee per month for a family policy are less than the 2005 cost of $894 per month.
    Currently Marquette employees receive fully paid individual or family health insurance, dental insurance, disability and life insurance, and the $750 health insurance deductible is reimbursed by the city.
    “I do think the city goes above and way beyond [what most employers] offer,” noted Councilman Jason Winter. Other council members agreed, and felt benefits should be reduced somewhat to cut down on overall costs.
    On the topic of city manager search, the Personnel Committee interviewed the first three candidates during the week of June 9, additional interviews were conducted this past weekend. When the finalists are selected they will be interviewed by the full council and possibly a citizen committee.