Minutes-05/05/1965

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting, Tiffin, Iowa, May 5, 1965 Present: Wayne Stratton, Ted Spivey, Glenn Potter Absent: Bill Verry, Bill Bream OLD BUSINESS: Sewer. Mayor O'Toole reported on his talk with Richard Phillips of White-Phillips in Davenport, who explained that there was no need for our concern as they are waiting to hear from the attorney in Des Moines. He had looked at the schedule and said the $4.35 monthly rental would be adequate. He will get in touch with us as soon as he hears from the attorney. Conference with Glenn has been held and he finally agreed to do some more work on the damaged areas. They started work immediately, then left the job incomplete; Mayor called Wayne Reed and said if they didn't get the job done in the next few days we would haul them into court. They came right back. Wayne Stratton brought up the point that sodding and other promised services had not been performed on his yard. Annexation. Mayor explained to Mr. Maurer of the First National Bank, who is in charge of the trust including the Langenberg farm, the saving they would accomplish in taxes paid by petitioning into Tiffin. He then said he would recommend that they come into town. Municipal Gas Plants. In the course of the discussion at White-Phillips, they found on the 1965 gas map of Iowa that the prime gas line closest to Tiffin is just south of Wellman. Wellman is getting a municipal gas system; they will bring in the line 3-5 miles and then put in the distribution, pressure reduction and regulation system; they are doing this all on Revenue Bonds. They explained that this is much cheaper than any of the other utilities to install. They will then get their gas wholesale (the government requires the gas company to sell it wholesale) for 36-38% and sell it at the going rate which is about $2.00 in this area. The revenue bonds are paid off from the revenue collected. For a town our size, it costs about $10,000 a mile to put in a pipeline adequate. White-Phillips has a man in Illinois who does nothing but investigate gas bonds. He is a specialist who will investigate and then tell the council point-blank whether or not they can do it. In Iowa, the law is written so that Revenue Bonds are just as solid as G. O. bonds, but bankers don't know this so the interest is higher on Revenue Bonds. Water. The situation hasn't changed much from the last report. Geol. Survey has analyzed some water from Clyde Woolf's 250' well, and it is the same as is all over at that depth--800 parts sulphate and a lot of iron. The analysis of the test well water hasn't come through yet. Wayne Reed is working on the water thing. He hopes to have a report for us by the next meeting. Housing Ordinance. Suggestion was made to add to this ordinance a stipulation that if a house is vacant for a period of time, the building must be brought up to specifications before it can be occupied. Ted moved, Glen seconded the motion that Hebbs will be contacted to see if they wish to rent the farmland around the sewer plant for the season. Carried. If they do not wish to use it, Art Schertz will be contacted.