Brad Landwehr, president of the board, was the lone dissenting vote. Landwehr said Tuesday a discussion during a Jan. 24 special meeting of the Board of Aldermen on the issue never produced a vote. It was, he said, only a discussion. City minutes from the meeting, however, noted, “The board agreed the street department should also blade those streets” after Mayor Otis Schulte “brought up snow plowing streets which were not owned by the city, however, had houses on them.”

Landwehr told The Republican there was no motion, second, or vote on the issue last month. “It was discussed only and we moved to another subject,” said Landwehr.

A lengthy discussion was held during two different portions of the meeting this past week concerning the snow blading on non-city streets. Schulte expressed his anger that his house with a snow-bladed driveway had appeared in the last edition of The Republican. Schulte told the board, “If I had my way I’d bar her (Republican reporter Linda Trest) from the meetings,” referring to the reporter who wrote the story published Feb. 6.

“I didn’t need the city to blade my road,” Schulte continued during the Feb. 7 meeting. “I have my own tractor and can do it myself. I just wanted to help out others who live on streets that the city doesn’t own.”

Yet, when Schulte ordered Nick Grube, the city’s public works director, to go back out and plow non-city streets, he only mentioned four streets — Meadow, Merk, Borror Lane and Keagan Place, his own street.

An audience member asked, “What’s wrong with being a good Samaritan?”

She was reminded that a property owner on West End once objected that the city had pushed off all his rock on that private street with the equipment used.

Joe Purschke, the city’s attorney, twice told the board that other cities do not do work on streets they don’t own. The board was asked if the streets in trailer parks and apartment complexes would be bladed. It was decided that they would not.

The board then approved a motion to have the city snow-blade approximately 10 non-city streets. The motion carried with Landwehr casting the lone no vote. The rock road into Schulte’s subdivision has never been accepted as a city street.

In other city business, culverts and ditches will be cleaned out and repaired before the city will begin its street work this spring. It was not decided which streets in Gerald would receive chip and seal.

The board also held a closed session to discuss personnel issues. Wheeler reported the following day that two motions had been made during executive session. Alderman Richard Johnson made a motion that compensative time be given as straight time only, not time and a half. Landwehr seconded it and all voiced approval.

The city of Gerald will ask for the resignation of Dean Todaro as animal control officer and also ask for restitution on the five cats that Todaro did not admit to shooting, but were listed on his report as “destroyed.” Landwehr made the motion and Alderman David Luechtefeld seconded the motion.

Jeff Huck with Cochran Engineering spoke to the board about needed updates at the lagoons. Meters will be installed to track the infiltration of rainwater into the lagoons. Grube was told to get three prices for these meters before choosing one.

An ordinance that requires immunizations, licenses and registration for pets kept within the city limits was passed unanimously.

The “junk” ordinance was amended to allow police to ticket a vehicle that has current license plates, but is disabled and not garaged. The 2007 budget was amended to reflect actual income and expenses.  

Purschke has reviewed the city municipal fines and bonds. These have been raised in most cases. A list of these fines will be given to Court Clerk Carmen Angell so that offenders may pay certain tickets any time City Hall is open, rather than waiting to pay the fine at City Court.

Clyde Zelch was present again to offer his services to do a study of the city water system and make a recommendation of what needs done. His fee would be $7,500. The board requested he bring a contract to their next meeting.

(Reporting for this story by Linda Trest).