Minutes-12/13/2006

Tiffin City Council December 13, 2006 A regular meeting of the Tiffin City Council was brought to order by Mayor Glenn R. Potter, 6: 30 p. m. Wednesday, December 13, 2006' at the Tiffin Fire Station. Council present: John Wright, Ruth Demuth, Mark Petersen, Jim Bartels and Karin Dils. Absent: None. Also present: PZ Melvin Reeve and Attorney Stephen Greenleaf, Public Works Brett Mehmen. Bob Sentman, ( serving 35 years) Chair of the Tiffin Veteran' s Memorial Monument Project and Charles Plymale ( serving 30 years) were present to give a final report on the project. Total donations were $ 16, 904. Costs were $ 7, 000 for granite rock, $ 550 for flag and pole, $ 1,• 550. for bricks and brickwork, $ 325 landscaping, $ 525. 00 electrical, $ 6; 640 for bronze name work. Values approached: $ 12, 000 granite rock, $ 800 flag and pole, 2, 000 brickwork, $ 2, 500 concrete and work, $ 740 electrical, $ 8, 000 bronze work from Phil Michels of Solon. Sentman estimated an insurance, replacement value close to 26, 800: Volunteers including John Wright, MBA and others,- and discounts for materials made savings near $ 10, 000 on the project. The memorial includes the names of 262 veterans of the Tiffin area. During World War II the community of Tiffin with an approximate270 people saw 93 soldiers serving, among the highest of ratios in the nation. Sentman said he knew nearly all of the 93 soldiers listed as serving in WWII. The project bank balance has a remaining $ 184. 23 that will be held for any future needs. The city has agreed to cover the $ 100 cost to Suburban bp for annual electrical costs, and the city will' mow the area. Sentman asked that the PZ see if they could consider the site w in planning work for preservation of visibility. Sentman presented Mayor Glenn Potter with a flag flown over the US Capitol and over the Memorial that can hopefully be displayed in the new city office. Mayor Potter thanked Sentman and Plymale for their efforts to build this memorial to veterans of the area in such an impressive manner. Mike Stafford of the Johnson County Community Foundation explained the matching endowment fund that has been made possible thru the effort of the State of Iowa. The Community Funds work under the umbrella of the county foundations in each county. Johnson County now,has Community Funds in Swisher, Lone Tree. North Liberty, Hills and Oxford are also considering Community Funds. The Tiffin Community Fund would need a 5 to 15 person Board of Trustees to oversee the grant process. The Johnson County Community Foundation would match the first $ 2, 500. 00 placed in the Tiffin Community Fund, thus making a starting balance of$ 5, 000. 00. The grants given under the Tiffin Community Fund would be from the money earned from balance held in the Fund. Mike explained two major components. First, the Community Fund is a tax based project. Any money donated into the Tiffin Community Fund by a person would receive an Iowa tax credit up to 20% ( of total Iowa tax owed).• Second, '/ 2 of 1% of gambling revenues received by Iowa are placed in the Endow Iowa fund and then disbursed to the 85 of 99 counties that do not have casinos within their boundaries. Presently, the Johnson County Foundations holds $ 5. 5 million in contributions. The grants are given to community or organizations with charitable intent. Last year Tiffin received a grant to help with costs of the Tiffin Centennial Book that is now underway. 1