West Union City Council Minutes from May 18th
- 6 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Council Chambers, City Hall, May 18, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.
West Union City Council met May 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council
Chambers with Pro-Tem Mayor Kennon Gumm presiding. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attendance Present: Becthold, Gumm, McElree, Tope. Absent: DeBack, Halverson.
Approval of the Motion to approve the agenda as presented was made by Becthold, seconded by
Agenda Tope. All Aye. Carried.
Approval of Minutes Motion to approve the May 4, 2026, Regular Council Meeting as presented was made by Tope, seconded by McElree. All Aye. Carried.
Approval of Motion to approve April 2026 Financials as presented and April 2026
April 2026 expenditures totaling $211,406.41 was made by Tope, seconded by McElree. Financials and All Aye. Carried.
Expenditures
CLAIMS LIST:
AFLAC-Insurance 322.65
All Stop-Fuel 767.28
Allamakee Clayton Econ Dev-Loan 3,000.00
Allamakee-Clayton Elec-Utilities 4,944.30
Alliant-Utilities 6,097.34
Allied Benefit Systems-Insurance 11,932.54
Amazon-Supplies 848.52
American Legion Post-Flags 135.00
Amwins-Insurance 2,725.49
Anytime Fitness-Memberships 760.00
AT&T Mobility-Phones 308.53
Baumler Implement-Supplies 29.05
Becthold Plumbing-Supplies 91.56
Black Hawk Co Landfill-Garbage 85.57
Black Hawk Waste-Garbage 180.00
Black Hills-Utilities 2,180.40
Brandi Burrow-Vision Reimbursement 186.00
CenturyLink-Internet 323.32
Cesar Trinidad-Reffing 30.00
City Laundering-Supplies 440.64
Cline Construction-Trees 6,800.00
College Subscription Services-Magazines 79.00
Collin McManigle-Labor 75.00
Dale Bilden-Janitorial 150.00
Don’s Truck Sales-Repairs 419.51
EFTPS-Taxes 28,836.28
Eurofins-Testing 392.44
Farm Plan-Supplies 202.78
Fay Co Auditor-Geo 1,091.78
Fay Co Road Dept-28E 9,795.14
Fayette Electronics-Repairs 257.50
Fehr Graham-Fees 2,328.55
Fiserv-Fees 80.32
Gerardo Romo-Reffing 35.00
Gordon Flesch-Copiers 171.26
GPM Environmental-Repairs 803.00
Hacker Nelson & Co, CPA-Audit 15,125.00
Hawkeye Communication-Alarms 387.00
Hawkeye Interconnect-Internet 165.96
Hawkins-Supplies 10.00
IA Dept of Revenue-Taxes 1,870.77
IA DNR-Certification 60.00
IA Dept of Public Safety-Services 300.00
Iowa One Call-Fees 51.50
IPERS-Retirement 17,729.13
Jay’s Automotive-Repairs 63.44
Jetco-Maintenance 6,864.00
Kerndt Bank-Fees 81.80
KSB Solar-Utilities 2,264.32
Leslie Lauer & Sons-Snow 922.50
Lincoln Investment-457b Plan 3,705.41
LL Pelling-Asphalt 1,412.40
Lynch Dallas-Legal 340.00
MacQueen Equipment-Testing 1,588.50
Marco-Copier 141.40
Megan McDonald-Dental/Testing 141.78
Midwest Breathing Air-Testing 853.82
Napa-Supplies 2,133.13
North Central Labs-Supplies 435.64
Origin Design-Fees 6,794.25
Parker Bast-Reffing 30.00
Pro Earth-Mulch 400.00
PSN-Fees 64.95
Quillin’s-Supplies 23.46
Reiser Imp-Supplies 381.59
Reliant Fire Apparatus-Supplies 296.34
RNR Solar-Utilities 2,287.52
Ryan Wagner-Firemen Pay 570.00
Signs by Design-Supplies 37.50
Sims TV-Supplies 104.80
Spahn & Rose-Supplies 342.10
Stack Pay-Fees 6.00
State Hygienic Lab-Testing 69.00
State Industrial Prod-Supplies 320.36
Storey Kenworthy-Supp;ies 51.24
Tennessee Child Support-Services 1,376.28
The Standard-Insurance 562.66 The Union-Publications 467.60
Treasurer, State of IA-Taxes 2,871.45
Truck Country-Supplies 353.60
UMB Bank-Fees 600.00
US Postmaster-Postage 538.63
USA Bluebook-Supplies 253.96
Verizon-Phones 203.67
Visa-Supplies 365.30
Washington National-Insurance 125.85
WU District Energy-Geo 224.00
WU Hardware-Supplies 29.48
WU Motors-Repairs 74.50
Wex Bank-Fuel 1,293.49
Wright Way Computers-Updates 787.60
Utility Refunds ---
Total Payroll 85,038.98 ---------------
Total Claims $250,599.41
TOTAL CLAIMS BY FUND: TOTAL RECEIPTS BY FUND:
General $131,609.29 $270.655.36
Fire Equipment Replacement 46.31
Road Use Tax 21,082.24 28,693.02 Employee Benefits 12,921.02 87,741.19
LOST 25,531.64 TIF 75.57
Revolving Loan Fund
Library Donations
Park Equipment 32.04
Pool Improvement 32.04
Cemetery Donations 17.48
Debt Service 600.00 89,644.60
Capital Improvement 2,328.55 1,289.27
Airport Project
Bridge Project 6,794.25
Equipment Revolving 21,241.59
Perpetual Care 6,800.00 10.89
Water 23,955.58 27,262.82 Capital Water Fee 5,899.44
Sewer 31,713.34 26,206.05 Capital Sewer Fee 38,939.84
Sewer Sinking Fund 5.11
Capital Sewer Projects 3,000.00
Storm Water 9,795.14 4,287.70
-------------------- --------------------
Totals $250,599.41 $627,611.96
Set Budget Motion to set Budget Amendment Public Hearing for June 1, 2026, was made by
Amendment Public Becthold, seconded by McElree. All Aye. Carried.
Hearing
Heartland SuperFoods City Administrator Wallis noted that the Heartland SuperFood building has been
Update stabilized and one lane of traffic has been reopened on Linden St.
City Council Training Wallis shared that Lynch Dallas will be able to do the City Council Training on
Update June 8 or June 22. Wallis will schedule training and share date and time with Council.
Discuss UERPC Wallis spoke to Aaron Detter of UERPC about strategic planning for the City.
Planning Opportunities Council agreed to have Wallis move forward and get quotes for their services.
Approval of Tobacco Motion to approve tobacco license for Dollar General and liquor licenses for
and Liquor Licenses Lucky Wife Slushies and Senor Cantina and to table tobacco license decision for
Licenses BP Express was made by Tope, seconded by Becthold. All Aye. Carried.
Discuss Plow Damage Wallis and Council discussed Street Dept process for fixing damages done while
Repairs on 4th Ave plowing.
Discuss Street Dept Motion to place a moratorium on work done outside of town by the Street Dept
Working in Other was made by Tope, seconded by Gumm. No – Becthold. All Rest – Aye. Carried.
Towns Previously, the Street Dept had done sweeping for other towns as a way to create
extra revenue.
Discuss Park and Rec After some discussion, motion to table request from Park and Rec Board to do
Board Request to Mow some cleanup and mow additional trails at 64 Acres was made by Becthold,
Additional Trails at 64 seconded by McElree. All Aye. Carried. Motion to table Iowa DNR to post trout
Acres and to Allow stocking stream sign at 64 Acres was made by Becthold, seconded by McElree.
IA DNR to Post Trout All Aye. Carried. Wallis will check with insurance on liability.
Stocking Stream Sign
Approval of Motion to move forward with granite chipping test section on N Vine St from
Streetscape Granite Main St to Lauer and Lauer in the travel lanes was made by McElree, seconded
Chipping by Tope. All Aye. Carried.
Discuss Sidewalk Jon Biederman of Fehr Graham will put together an agreement for taking bids for
Replacement the June 1 Council meeting. A committee for overseeing project will be comprised of Council members Becthold and Tope.
Discuss Streetscape Motion to designate Streetscape Maintenance as a priority of the City of West
Maintenance Union was made by Tope, seconded by Gumm. All Aye. Carried. Motion to
have Jon Biederman develop a plan regarding adequate maintenance procedures
and timelines and to have Wallis confer with Biederman to create plan by June 1 and put into place by June 15 was made by Tope, seconded by Gumm. No –
Becthold. All Rest – Aye. Carried.
Discuss Yard Waste After some discussion, Council agreed that Chief Becthold should move forward
Site with getting a quote on a camera to install at the yard waste site.
Comments and Councilman Tope would like a report on the cash reserve balances.
Items to Discuss
Councilman Tope confirmed sawhorse was returned to Fay Co Road Dept.
Councilman Tope raised concerns over cracks not being completely filled on
S Pine St. Wallis and Street Dept will reach out to contractor.
Councilman Gumm asked about getting quotes to repair some sections of streets
that crack sealing was failing.
Councilman McElree asked about the nuisance abatement process. Wallis shared
that red tags have gone out and certified letters will be going out this week.
Councilman Gumm asked about the process for charging residents when
nuisance lawns are mowed by the City.
Councilman Gumm would like property on Rickel St looked at for junk vehicles,
etc.
Adjourn With no further business to bring before the Council, a motion to adjourn was
made by Tope, seconded by Becthold. All Aye. Carried. Meeting adjourned at
7:20 p.m.
Next Council Next regular council meeting will be May 4, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Council
Meeting Chambers.