City of Van Meter, Iowa City Council Minutes – March 9, 2026 1) The Van Meter City Council met for a regular council meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026, at the United Methodist Church located at 100 Hazel Street, Van Meter, IA 50261. Mayor Herman called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. The following council members were present upon roll call: Joel Akers, Travis Brott, Jason Barney, Jarin Young, and Joe Lake. Staff present: City Attorney Luke Craven, City Engineer Randy Johnson, Police Chief Mike Brown, Officer Andrew Cooper, Library Director Jonatha Basye, Public Works Director Drew McCombs, Parks and Recreation Director Sam Chia, City Clerk Travis Cooke, Frannie Neilsen - Bolton and Menk, and Marketa Oliver – Theia Consulting. 2) Mayor Herman led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3) Introductions were made. 4) Mayor Herman read a Civility Statement setting expectations of respect for the meeting. 5) Akers moved, supported by Barney, to approve the agenda moving item #19 for consideration after the consent agenda. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES; Lake - YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 6) Citizen Hearing: Steve Meyer, 2914 Brookview spoke in support of citizen involvement in the city administrator hiring process, and in support of improved relationships between the city and the American Legion. Allan Adams, 2480 Winston Cir. spoke in support of rekindling relationship between the city, American Legion, and businesses. Jess Drake, 629 Pleasant, spoke in support of city council and staff, in support of hiring a consultant for the city administrator search, and in support of better relationships between the city and businesses. Vince Junker, 901 Main presented a letter to council in support of improved relations between the city and American Legion and businesses. Paul Scieszinski, 414 Wilson spoke in support of improved relations between the city, American Legion and businesses. 7) Mayor Herman asked for a motion to adopt the consent agenda which included the following: a. Minutes of February 9, 2026, City Council Regular Business Meeting b. Minutes of February 23, 2026, City Council Workshop Meeting c. February Claims List and Payroll Report Vendor Description Amount MIDAMERICAN ENERGY GAS AND ELECTRIC4,363.92VERIZON WIRELESS PHONES 657.49WELLS FARGO CC CC CHAGES 2,046.68CITY OF VAN METER PETTY CASH 210.5 SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA LANDFILL DISPOSAL FEES 75 AGSOURCE COOPERATIVE SERVICES TESTING 52.8 ALEX CRIMMINS REF FEES 60 AT&T MOBILITY PD CELL PHONES 281.02 BASE MONTHLY CAFETERIA 30 BOLTON & MENK INC PLANNING SERVICES 4,828.00 BRYNN MARIE WEITL REF FEES 30 CALVIN VERDI REF FEES 90 CHALLENGER TEAMWEAR SOCCER REF GEAR 5,178.29 CONTRACTOR SOLUTIONS SEWER PUMP BUYOUT 417.26 COOPER CHIA REF FEES 110 CULLIGAN WATER 97.91 DALLAS CO TREASURER 601 MAIN PROPERTY TAX 1,324.00 DENMAN AUDIT SERVICES 4,100.00 FENIX USA LLC AUTOMATED METER SERVICE 657.5 FULLER PETROLEUM SERVICE DIESEL 846.83 GABRIEL JACOBSON REF FEES 10 GARRISON THUMMEL REF FEES 260 GATEHOUSE MEDIA IA HOLDINGS MINUTES 114.48 GCMOA FY 27 DUES 70 GENTRY THUMMEL REF FEES 40 HAWKEYE TRUCK EQUIPMENT CUTTING EDGES 1,029.08 HEARTLAND BUSINSES SYSTEM IT 19,710.46 HEARTLAND COOP FUEL 1,275.77 HOLDEN BUSE REF FEES 500 HUDSON SODERHOLM REF FEES 120 I80 CONCRETE CONCRETE REPAIR 1,875.00 INDUSTRIAL CHEM LABS LIFT STATION DEGREASER 918.41 IOWA CODE ENFORCEMENT MONTHLY FEE 600 IOWA LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY BASIC TRAINING SCHWAB 5,125.00 IOWA PUMP WORKS INC SEWER PUMP REPAIR 969.45 JACK DAY REF FEES 180 JILLIAN MAE THUMMEL REF FEES 140 JILLIAN SODERHOLM REF FEES 50 KONICA MINOLTA COPIER CONTRACT 35.8 LOWE'S SUPPLIES 1,509.24 LYDIA THUMMEL REF FEES 300 MATHESON TRI GAS INC OXYGEN 43.48 MEDIACOM INTERNET 576.95 MERCY COLLEGE EMS PROGRAM EMT TRAINING 2,100.00 MIDWEST BREATHING AIR LLC ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 763.9 MOTOROLA SUPPLIES 200 MUNICIPAL SUPPLY INC WATER METER SUPPLIES 1,448.40 NATHAN MARTINEZ REF FEES 160 P&M APPAREL CLOTHING 129 PLUMB SUPPLY COMPANY METER SUPPLIES 930.62 SOUTHERN IA COUNCIL OF GOV FY 26 DUES 5,119.80 STAR EQUIPMENT LTD VEHICLE SUPPLY 1,379.05 STIVERS FORD 2017 FORD EXPLORER REPAIRS 1,832.77 TREAS - ST OF IA SALES TX SALES TAX 839.47 VEENSTRA & KIMM INC ENGINEERING 116,232.60 W L CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY INC RESCUE MASTER BLADE 323 WASTE CONNECTIONS GARBAGE CONTRACT 13,465.41 WASTE SOLUTIONS OF IA KYBOS 39.48 WHITFIELD & EDDY PLC LEGAL SERVICES 3,175.50 THE HARTFORD EMPLOYEE LIFE AND DISABLITY 456.34 GATEHOUSE MEDIA IA HOLDINGS ANNUAL WAGE REPORT 77.84 WELLMARK HEALTH INSURANCE 7,822.69 DELTA DENTAL DENTAL & VISION 522.84 GATEHOUSE MEDIA IA HOLDINGS COUNCIL MINUTES 135.44 IPERS IPERS ADJ FIRE 60.84 TREAS - ST OF IA SALES TX WET TAX 1,904.35 WEX BANK FUEL 840.12ELAN FINANCIAL - EBANK CC DSM REGISTER 24 TOTAL: 220,893.78 City of Van Meter February 2026 Payroll Report 2/13/2026 Payroll Deposit $ 22,617.08 Vendors AFLAC $106.03 FEDERAL $ 8,361.60 IPERS $ 4,936.21 STATE WD $ 870.59 Vendor Total $14,274.43 2/27/2026 Payroll Deposit $ 20,428.72 Vendors AFLAC $ 106.03 FEDERAL $ 8,422.05 IPERS $ 4,971.66 STATE WD $ 879.91 Vendor Total $ 14,379.65 d. December 2025 and January 2026 Financial Reports e. February Building Permit Report Brott moved, supported by Lake, to approve the consent agenda. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 7.5) Marketa Oliver from Theia Consulting presented a proposal for city administrator search services. Motion by Akers to approve the hire of Theia Consulting for the City Administrator search. Seconded by Young. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 8) Motion by Brott to open the public hearing on proposed Ordinance No. 1-2026 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 165 – Zoning Regulations – Accessory Dwelling Units at 7:27 PM. Seconded by Akers. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) Frannie Nielson, Bolton and Menk explained the need for the changes. No other comments written or oral. Motion by Brott to close the public hearing at 7:28 PM. Seconded by Lake. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 9) Motion by Brott to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 1 – 2026, waive the second and third readings and move to adopt. Seconded by Lake. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 10) Motion by Akers to open the public hearing on proposed Ordinance No. 2-2026 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 165 – Zoning Regulations – Board of Adjustment at 7:31 PM. Seconded by Brott. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) Frannie Nielson, Bolton and Menk explained the need for the changes. No other comments written or oral. Motion by Akers to close the public hearing at 7:33 PM. Seconded by Lake. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 11) Motion by Brott to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 2 – 2026, waive the second and third readings and move to adopt. Seconded by Lake. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 12) Motion by Akers to approve Resolution # 2026-16 – A Resolution Providing for the Levy of Taxes to pay General Obligation Urban Renewal Bonds Series 2026. Seconded by Barney. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 13) Motion by Barney to approve Resolution #2026-17 – A Resolution Approving Sick Time Payout. Seconded by Lake. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 14) Motion by Akers to approve Resolution #2026-18 – A Resolution Setting Wages for Public Works DNR Water and Wastewater Certifications. Seconded by Young. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 15) Motion by Brott to approve Resolution #2026-19 – A Resolution Setting Wages for Police Officer Cooper for SRO Certification. Seconded by Barney. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young– YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0)16) Motion by Lake to approve Resolution #2026-20 – A Resolution Appointing City Clerk Travis Cooke as Interim Administrator for the City of Van Meter Iowa and Authorizing a Weekly Stipend. Seconded by Young. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0)17) Motion by Akers to approve Resolution #2026-21 – A Resolution Approving Maddie Lavallee as Deputy City Clerk. Seconded by Barney. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0)18) Motion by Brott to approve Resolution #2026-22 – A Resolution Approving Maddie Lavallee as an Authorized Signer on City Bank Accounts. Seconded by Barney. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 19) Motion by Brott to Approve Resolution #2026-23 – A Resolution Approving Interim City Administrator/City Clerk Travis Cooke as an Authorized IPAIT Account Manager. Seconded by Barney. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 20) Motion by Young to approve Civic Systems Software Services Agreement for CivicPlus Agenda and Meeting Management software. Seconded by Barney. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 21) Moton by Akers to approve Employee Assistance Program Services Agreement with Employee and Family Resources. Seconded by Lake. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) 22) Staff Reports: Presented as written in the packet. 23) Adjournment. Motion by Brott to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Lake. On roll call the votes were as follows: Akers – YES; Barney – Yes, Brott – YES; Young – YES. YES (5) NO (0) ABSTAIN (0) ABSENT (0) The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 pm. Joe Herman, Mayor ATTEST: Travis Cooke, City Clerk Publication Dates LIOW0483606