City council considers eliminating fluoride in water
he Guttenberg city council at its monthly meeting on Aug. 11 opened a discussion on the fluoridation of city water; appointed a new city attorney, and heard a report on train horns.
Fluoride discussion
A discussion on fluoride in city water was on the agenda, prompted by a request from council member Jane Parker in response to a resident concerns.
Public Works Director Dan Pierce reported that the decision to add fluoride to the water system is a council decision and is not mandated by state regulations. He said that fluoride is currently added in miniscule monitored amounts according to guidelines.
A discussion followed on the pros and cons of fluoridation, including ingested versus topical fluoride. Council member Mandy Ludovissy spoke in favor of discontinuing fluoride treatment but said the council should be in agreement on a decision. After further discussion, Mayor Fred Schaub suggested that the council "do a little homework," seek resident feedback and re-visit the topic at the next meeting.
City attorney
Mayor Fred Schaub announced that long-time City Attorney Michael Schuster was stepping down from that position. The council, on the Mayor's recommendation, appointed Hillary Friedmann as city attorney effective Sept. 1.
Quiet Zone study
Jacob Sprengeler from Anderson Bogert Engineers presented the results of a Quiet Zone study that the council had commissioned. A Quiet Zone is an area where locomotive horns are not sounded when approaching crossings.
Federal safety regulations strictly govern the use of horns at crossings. Sprengeler explained how "risk" numbers are calculated for crossings based such factors as vehicle traffic and the number of trains. He noted that train traffic is expected to increase with the Canadian Pacific - Kansas City merger. There are 13 crossings in Guttenberg. "One of the rules is that if you (trains) are within a quarter mile of a crossing, you have to start using your horn," said Sprengeler. Guttenberg's closely situated crossings mean horns are sounded almost continuously as trains travel through the community.
Sprengeler explained that communities can move toward having designated quiet zones by making improvements to reduce risk numbers, such as closing crossings and using various levels of gate crossings.
Crossing improvements/closures can be expensive, he said, ranging from $350,000-$400,00 each, though there are some railroad and state incentives. He presented a long-term plan with options, and noted that the city can use the Quiet Study "as much or as little as you want" and said it could be used as a planning document moving forward.
Prayer request
Resident Tim Schmitt told the council that he will ask to be placed on next month's agenda to request that each meeting be opened with prayer, a topic he has previously raised with the council. The Mayor again cited the city attorney's opinion on the legality of prayer at meetings, saying it was a "gray area." Schmitt said there were countersuits on the issue, and said if the council agrees to having a prayer there are "different organizations in town that would be willing to give a two-three minute prayer."
River Park Drive
drainage project
The council approved an amendment to the agreement with an engineering firm to proceed with plans to improve drainage and storm sewers on South River Park Drive in front of Clayton Ridge School, covering approximately a two-block area. A spokesperson presented a concept plan and cost estimate and said the firm worked with Public Works Director Dan Pierce to pare the costs. Discussion was held on the possibility of the school handling some of the total cost. The council approved the amendment covering $40,000 in engineering fees to move the project forward.
Other business
Molly Moser was appointed to the Kids Kampus board.
The council set a public hearing for the next council meeting to consider an update to the natural gas franchise.
Approval was given for a downtown street closure for a Smoke Off event on Sept. 6 planned by the Guttenberg Chamber of Commerce.
The council approved installing hand rails at the curb at the Community Resource Center at 510 South First Street.
Adam Clauson was approved as a volunteer firefighter pending department approval.
The council okayed standard updates to city code in order to comply with recent legislative changes.
A resident request for a sewer fee adjustment was approved. —Present for the meeting were Mayor Fred Schaub, City Manager Jamie Blume and council members Mandy Ludovissy, Austin Greve, Jane Parker, Steve Bahls and Michelle Geuder.
