ELLIS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR
MEETING
Minutes
February 3, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Present were Council members Steve Ferland, Martin LaBarge, Jolene Niernberger, Sam Polifka,
Tricia Pritchett, and John Walz. Also
present were Public Works Director John Leiker, City
Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Chris Krom, and City
Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Kellie Crnkovich, Glen Keller, Joleen Fisher,
James Bell, Verda Flinn,
Pauleen Edmonds, Barbara Perkins, Doug Williams, John Fischer, Nick Keller, Nickole Byers, and Tammy Leiker
(arrived at 8:07 p.m.).
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing
the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on January 20, 2020 and Bills Ordinance #2086. Council member Sam Polifka
seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS,
PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Tourism: Contract
Glen Keller, Tourism Committee, reported the Committee discussed the
advertising opportunity with the Ellis Recreation Commission for banners at the
K-18 and Co-ed Softball field and determined the banners did not fit in with
the Committee’s overall advertising plan.
Council took no further action.
NEW BUSINESS
Sewer/Sanitation: Accounting &
Billing
Tourism:
Contracts
Joleen Fisher, Tourism Committee, presented the 2020
advertising contracts for consideration.
The Committee proposes renewing the contracts with Eagle Radio, Hays
Post, and Central Brochure Distribution, and to add a google search campaign
with Nex-Tech.
Council member Steve Ferland moved to accept
the 2020 advertising proposal in the total amount of $5,688.00, and to
authorize Mayor David McDaniel to sign the accompanying contracts: Eagle Radio
($2,448.00); Central Brochure Distribution ($600.00); Hays Post ($1,200.00);
and Nex-Tech ($1,440.00). Council member Martin LaBarge
seconded the motion. The motion carried
6-0.
General
Government: Committee
Mayor David McDaniel recommended the appointment of
Council member Jolene Niernberger to the Ellis Alliance Board. The vacant position was previously held by
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner. Council member Martin LaBarge
moved to approve the appointment of Jolene Niernberger to the Ellis Alliance
Board. Council member Steve Ferland seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member
Jolene Niernberger abstaining.
Campground:
Acquisition
Council member John Walz moved to approve the bid from
Jamestown Advanced Products in the amount of $1,694.00 for ten (10) fire rings
for the Campground Expansion Project, with funds to come from the Campground
Fund. Council member Tricia Pritchett
seconded the motion. The motion carried
6-0.
General
Government: City Code
Police Chief Chris Krom and
City Clerk Amy Burton provided numerous sample ordinances for Council to
consider regarding allowing UTV/ATV’s on City streets. City Attorney Olavee
Raub stated that most of the ordinance provisions are
statutorily mandated by the State, however, the City has the ability to
determine registration fees, inspection requirements, and the types of utility
vehicles allowed. In addition to the modifiable
provisions, Council also discussed whether the utility vehicles should be
allowed on the truck route, if golf carts should be allowed, and whether to
restrict use to agricultural or allow recreational use as well. After further discussion, Council decided to continue
to review the research provided and to bring more concrete ideas to the next
meeting in order for City Attorney Olavee Raub to begin drafting an ordinance.
Water
Exploration: Special Project
The Water Advisory Committee recommends Council continue
to move forward with the project. The
next step is to hire an engineer to determine the feasibility of the City
partnering with Trego Rural Water District No. 2 or completing the project on
its own. Council member Jolene
Niernberger stressed the importance of hiring an engineer that has the City’s
best interests in mind, and expressed concern that hiring the engineer already
working with Trego RWD #2 may create a conflict of interest. Council member Sam Polifka
moved to authorize Public Works Director John Leiker to
solicit bids from engineers for the Water Exploration Project. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded
the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Public Works Director John Leiker reported he
met with Brian Spano, Wilson & Company, regarding modifications to the
Water Treatment Plant and repairs needed to 13th Street. At first glance, the engineers believed the
road would be safe to work on without risk of the retaining wall
collapsing. Mr. Spano will attend the
February 17th Council meeting to further discuss both issues.
Public Works Foreman Joe Kreutzer recently attended training on cross
connections and backflow prevention. Mr.
Kreutzer successfully completed the certification test.
Police
Police Chief Chris Krom presented the Monthly
Activity Report for January and the February Staff Calendar. He reported this past weekend was extremely
busy with the Department handling five major incidents – aggravated battery, an
injury accident, interference with law enforcement, an unattended death, and
burglary. Chief Krom
also reported the new patrol car could be delayed as far out as the 3rd
quarter.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the minutes from the recent Campground
Committee, Water Advisory Committee, and Safety Committee meetings. The City received notification that they will
receive a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $412,113 for
waterline improvements. Ms. Burton will
attend the required workshop on February 5th to receive the grant
contracts. Ms. Burton also presented several
2019 summary reports, including the Catastrophic Sick Leave Summary, the Safety
Committee Accident Report, and the City Car Savings Report. The Swimming Pool Project has been put out to
bid and bids will be opened on February 25th at 1:00 p.m. The City has three land leases expiring on
February 28, 2020. All three lessees
have been notified by certified mail and the bid notices will be advertised for
the next two weeks. Council will review
the bids at the February 17th Council meeting.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub
reported that Brent Jaynes, Leisure Real Estate Advisors, informed her that he
has found a potential buyer for the Days Inn.
Ms. Raub asked whom Council would like to hire
as bond counsel. The City has previously
used both Don Jensen, sole practitioner, and Gilmore & Bell. Ms. Raub requested
direction by the next meeting.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel added the 2020 Census to the list of Governing Body
goals for 2020. The Census is very important
to Ellis and significant federal dollars are at stake.
Mayor McDaniel also reported that he and Council members Jolene
Niernberger and Sam Polifka, and City Clerk Amy
Burton recently attended the Northwest Kansas Planning & Development
Commission board meeting in Hill City.
The board agreed by consensus to adhere to the bylaws of the
organization, which state that in order to receive assistance from NWKP&DC,
membership dues must be paid in full.
The same participants also attended the Ellis County Commission meeting
prior to the City Council meeting. Mayor
McDaniel stated he didn’t feel that Ellis County appeared open to paying the
membership dues, but County Commissioners did ask the Ellis County Attorney to
draft an amendment to the NWKP&DC bylaws to determine if a fairer dues
structure could be negotiated. County
Commissioner Butch Schlyer has been invited to the
February 17th Council meeting.
Council member Jolene Niernberger invited the public to the February 17th
Council meeting to hear the discussion with Commissioner Schlyer.
Doug Williams, Grow Hays, expressed sentiments regarding
the situation between the County Commission and Northwest Kansas Planning &
Development Commission. Mr. Williams is
hopeful that an agreement will work out once cooler heads prevail, and that the
Commissioners come to realize the value that NWKP&DC brings to the
Northwest Kansas region. He also added
the NWKP&DC needs to do a better job at selling themselves and addressing their
own issues, such as property management.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Martin LaBarge moved and Council
member Steve Ferland seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The
motion carried 6-0. The meeting
adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
___________________________________
Mayor
_______________________________
City Clerk