Volga City Council

The Volga City Council held the regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 11, 2025 in the Volga City Hall. Mayor Elaine Follon called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. Council members Tom Whittle, Alex Fettkether, Crystal Nicholson, Parker Klingman, and Darren Nading answered Roll Call. Megan McDonald and Mike Howard were also in attendance.

Public Comments: Mayor Follon passed on thanks to Mike and Darren for working together on the coldpatch effort on both sides of the river.

Updates on Focus Areas-Transportation Infrastructure:

Monthly street maintenance plan: Coldpatch has been completed through use of the roller from Moyna’s.

Washington Street Project: Motion by Nicholson to approve the County to process Washington Street Project Payment No. 3. Second by Klingman. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Nading to approve County to process Change Order 3 for the Washington Street Project. Second by Whittle. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Council discussed parking directions in the business district from White Street to Dean Street after the Washington Street project is complete. Motion by Fettkether to keep parallel parking on both sides. Second by Whittle. All voted in favor. Ayes: Fettkether, Whittle, Nading, Nicholson. Nays: Klingman. Motion carried.

Motion by Klingman to authorize an application to Iowa’s Living Roadways Community Visioning and to provide the cash or in-kind match of $2000 as required. Second by Fettkether. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Community Beautification: Motion by Nading to issue letters for trash in yards. Second by Klingman. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Department Updates -Public Works:

Council discussed current mowing arrangements for a parcel of ground adjacent to the County Shop. Motion by Klingman to look into the process of turning over the city’s parcel to the County. Second by Whittle. All voted in favor. Motion carried. Motion by Fettkether to table the lawn mowing topic. Second by Nading. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Public Works presented options to update the lawn mower. Darren and Parker volunteered to work with Mike to find options for council consideration. Motion by Whittle table authorizing the replacement of the City Mower. Second by Fettkether. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Nading to authorize obtaining quotes for all locations covered by the hail damage in the insurance report. Second by Whittle . All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Water/Sewer/Garbage Departments:

Water pressure project: Motion by Klingman to table Payment No. 23 for the Water System Improvement Project. Second by Fettkether. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Administration:

Council discussed the upcoming City Election on November 4, 2025. Paperwork needs to be filed with the Clayton County Auditor’s Office by September 18, 2025.

Motion by Klingman to authorize LP services for winter 2025-2026 through Nexus. Second by Whittle . All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Fettkether to authorize transfer of remaining Sewer Funds from the savings account to checking account. Second by Whittle. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Motion by Fettkether to renew Pasture Rental agreements with no changes for 2026 renewals. Second by Nicholson. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

Council discussed employee classifications and emergency duties status. Motion by Klingman to classify Public Works as Emergency Response Personnel. Second by Whittle. All voted in favor. Motion carried. Motion by Nading to pay Mike for the excess hours above the allowed limit, to do his best to keep under the 480 hour limit and reduce workweek as needed. Future payouts will take place at month end, and issued by check. Second by Klingman. All voted in favor. Motion carried.

The Clerk presented FY 25 Year End Balances to assign funds. Motion by Nading to assign $5500 to coldpatch purchases for additional street maintenance. Second by Klingman. All voted in favor. Motion carried. Motion by Klingman to assign $2000 to the Equipment Maintenance Fund. Second by Whittle. All voted in favor. Motion carried. Motion by Nading to approve grant writing funds to be paid ($2342) from ending balances. Second by Fettkether. All voted in favor. Motion carried

Emergency Services: EMS and Fire attended the Clayton County Fair. Nading reported the new radio project for the entire county will be installed soon.

Clayton County Development Group: The Volga Library Project received the Community Betterment Award at the annual banquet. They are working on the upcoming Farm to Fork dinner.

The Consent Agenda was presented with the following items: 1) Minutes, 2) Claims, 3) Treasurer’s Report-July 2025, 4) Bank Reconciliation-July 2025; 5) Monthly Budget Report, 6) Sidewalk Permit: Del Reimer, 600 Washington Street, 7) Sidewalk Permit: Pat Dillon, 502 Washington Street, 8) Sidewalk Permit: Justin Dillon, 514 Washington Street, 9) Annual Outstanding Obligations Report FY 25, (10) Resolution 2025-15: A Resolution defining the public purpose use of funds for annual support request to Helping Services of Northeast Iowa for FY 25-26,and (11) Resolution 2025-16: A Resolution defining the public purpose use of funds for annual support request to Clayton County Development Group and Tourism & Marketing Campaign for FY 25-26. Motion by Noicholson to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Second by Whittle. A Roll Call vote was taken. Ayes: Klingman, Nading, Nicholson, Whittle, Fettkether. Nays: none. The Consent Agenda was approved.

Council reviewed Delinquent Utilities and lien notices.

Motion by Fettkether to adjourn. Second by Whittle. All voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:51 pm.