January 2026 Meeting Minutes

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

January 5, 2026

The City Council of the City of Woden met in regular session on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 6:00pm, Council Chambers.  Meeting was moved to the Library to accommodate attendance.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Buns at 6:03pm.

Council members present: Bill Rout, Jeff Stucki, Andrew Plessel and Dylan Brandt (6:16 Arrival)

Absent: Tip Piper

Plessel made the motion to approve the agenda, minutes written for December 1, 2025, payment of bills totaling $19,392.66 and financial reports, Stucki seconded

 Ayes- 3 (Piper and Brandt Absent)               Nays- 0            Motion Carried

OLD BUSINESS

Water Tower Repair:  Repair has been completed.

Skipped ahead to New Business B at his point to accommodate citizens attending the meeting.

City Clerk Wage Resolution: Motion was made by Brandt, 2nd by Rout to approve resolution 26-1, City Clerk Wages.

Ayes- 4 (Piper Absent)                                    Nays- 0                       Motion Carried

                                                             NEW BUSINESS

Council Duties Review: Council reviewed the current list of duties and decided to leave as is with no changes.

150 Fox Ave. Livestock Complaint Letters: Matter was discussed at length with the owner of the property and a few citizens that also attended the meeting.  Most of these discussions centered on a property adjacent to 150 Fox, and not the livestock issue.  The owner of the property made a request of the council to allow her to continue to have 10 miniature goats on the property.

After council went to closed meeting, future discussions were had pertaining to the request for the goats, and a motion was made by Brandt, 2nd by Rout to allow the requested 10 miniature goats to remain for a period of one year, with all the rest of the livestock having to be removed within 60 days of notification.

Ayes- 4 (Piper Absent)                                    Nays- 0                       Motion Carried

Council Member Plessel left the meeting to go to work at this point.

69 1st St.: Property has been sold multiple times in the past 6 months starting with a tax sale.  It was determined by the Council that the current amount of $2357 Owed the city is non-collectable and will be written off by the city.  Motion was made by Stucki, 2nd by Rout

Ayes- 3 (Piper and Plessel Absent)                 Nays- 0                       Motion Carried

Initial Budget Planning Session: Council discussed if any upcoming projects would influence the next fiscal years budget planning.  It was determined that no projects are planned and further budget discussions will continue at the next Council meeting.

Open Discussion: Susan Brandt attended the meeting and discussed the option of forming a council to care for, maintain and upgrade the town parks.  Nothing was determined at this time.

Adjournment: Brandt made motion to adjourn at 7:50 PM, Stucki seconded

Ayes- 3 (Piper and Plessel Absent)                 Nays- 0                       Motion Carried

City Clerk                                                                                           Mayor

Income for December

General             $10,328.01                Benefits           $153.26          Water   $3,273.67

Library               $172.47                    Road Use        $1,624.91        Sewer  $6,490.22

City Staff Annual Wages (2025)

Verla Bartelt                            $2040.00

Dylan Brandt                           $780.00

Paul Buns                                $2500.00

Angela Dahle                          $276.00

David Ewald                           $9530.00

Nancy Harms                          $726.00

Benjamin Patten                      $23991.00

Tip Piper III                             $660.00

Andrew Plessel                       $720.00

William Rout                          $780.00

Jeff Stucki                               $780.00

Lisa Swingen                          $5694.00

Matt Swingen                          $5498.00

Claims Paid

Name Memo Amount

Paul M Buns Water Operator $200.00

Hancock County Law Enforcement Contract $940.00

First State Bank (v) Lock Box $9.00

Patten, Ben Vendor Supplies $66.54

Ag Source Samples $145.50

Ewald, David Office Supples $154.85

Michael  D. Troe Sept - Nov Contract $1,350.00

Hancock County Auditor Elections $677.87

Gold-Eagle Diesel $1,385.04

Hobbs Farm Repair John Deere Repair/Maintenance $1,638.41

Bill Deibler Excavating Dig up Water Line Valve $425.50

Patten, Benjamin Wages $1,533.85

Ewald, David Wages $643.60

Five Star Shop Service Supplies $136.50

Bartelt, Verla Wages $123.92

Swingen, Lisa Wages $320.15

Swingen, Matthew Wages $1,173.94

USDA Loan loan Payment USDA $2,809.00

USDA Loan loan Payment USDA $761.00

USDA Loan loan Payment USDA $738.00

Alliant Energy Electric $22.77

Alliant Energy Electric $230.27

Alliant Energy Electric $104.12

Iowa Department of Revenue & Finance 12/25 Sales and Wet Tax $233.77

Iowa Department of Revenue & Finance 4th Quarter, 25 State Payroll Taxes $393.71

United States Treasury 12, 2025 Payroll Taxes $1,339.36

IPERS 12, 2025 IPERS $780.19

ClerkBooks Inc Transaction Fees $83.90

WCTA-General Phone/Internet $93.33

Prairie Energy CO-OP Electric $45.97

Alliant Energy Electric $638.59

WCTA-Library Telephone/Internet $77.58

Amazon Books & Supplies $116.43