ELLIS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR
MEETING
Minutes
April 16, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present
were Council members Bret Andries, Susan Eaton, Jolene
Niernberger, Dena Patee, and Bob Redger. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates,
Fire Chief Dustin Vine, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member
Holly Aschenbrenner was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Mayor David McDaniel requested discussion of business incentives as an
addition to the agenda under Old Business.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Myles Vine, Westin Vine, Barbara Perkins, and Glen
Keller.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Dena Patee moved to approve the
consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on April 2, 2018
and Bills Ordinance #2043. Council
member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The Council
approved the consent agenda 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS,
PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Fire: Report
Fire Chief Dustin Vine announced the City’s ISO rating improved from a
“5” to a “4”. Council directed City
Clerk Amy Burton to inquire with the City’s insurance provider to see if any
financial adjustment is available on the City’s insurance package. Chief Vine also reported the
Department received $251.30 from Ness County for relief aid received from FEMA
for the Department’s mutual aid efforts for the large grass fire in Ransom in
2017.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Capital Improvement: Special
Project
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman discussed
several options for adding sidewalks between 14th Street and 15th
Street in the area of Washington Elementary School. At the last Council meeting, Council member
Bob Redger relayed concerns from a School Board
member regarding the lack of sidewalks for children walking between the elementary
school and the high school. The City
would bear the costs to add the sidewalks and handicap accessible ramps, but
then each property owner would become financially responsible for maintaining
and keeping the walkways clear. Council
requested tabling further discussion until the next meeting in order for
Council members to personally view the area.
Mr. Scheuerman will prepare a rough map illustrating
the options discussed, including cost estimates.
Public Works: Special Project
Mr. Scheuerman requested discussion on
designating a location for the City’s stockpile of asphalt and concrete. Most of the City’s land is currently under various
lease agreements, and Council agreed it would be the most cost effective to use
land the City already has available.
Therefore, Council member Dena Patee moved and
Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion for the Public Works Department
to create a dirt berm at the old temporary sludge pit to use as the location to
stockpile concrete and asphalt for future crushing. The motion carried 5-0.
Streets: Repair/Maintenance
Mr. Scheuerman announced that Ellis County
Commissioners have approved the maintenance work on Washington Street from 3rd
Street to the Bridge. The County will
pay to perform the maintenance work on the center driving lanes; however, the
City will be responsible for the eight feet of parking lanes on each side. The County has provided an estimate of
$24,007.28 to perform this maintenance work.
Mr. Scheuerman recommended Council approve the
project as Washington Street is shaped like a “W” and the work will even out
the street and improve drainage. The
City will have additional costs in lowering three manholes and three valves for
the work to be performed, and then raised again once complete. Also, the County plans to seal the roadway in
the fall, and the City would pay for the costs to seal the parking lanes. Council member Bob Redger
moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a
motion to approve Ellis County performing maintenance work on Washington Street
at a total cost not to exceed $28,000, with funds to come from the Capital
Improvement – Street fund. The motion carried
5-0.
General Government: Economic
Development
Council once again discussed incentives to bring new businesses to
downtown. Ideas discussed included the
sales tax rebate program presented in March, Neighborhood Revitalization Plans,
and Community Improvement Districts.
Council would like to invite Aaron White, Ellis County Coalition, to a
future meeting to provide ideas and explanations on the various incentive plans
available.
NEW BUSINESS
General Government: Contract
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented
two invoices from Flatlander Dirt Works for the demolition and removal of the
properties at 208 W. 12th Street and 1309 Fauteux. The invoices are slightly higher than the
approved bids due to the increased municipal waste present in the properties
that had to be disposed of. Mr. Scheuerman explained that the contractor’s submitted bids
based on a street assessment of the property; they were not allowed to enter
the property to evaluate the contents.
Council member Dena Patee moved and Council
member Bob Redger seconded a motion to ratify the
invoices from Flatlander Dirt Works in the amount of $5,740.35 and $6,329.50
for the removal of the two condemned properties, with the funds to come from
the Capital Improvement – Special Projects fund. The motion carried 5-0.
Water: Acquisition
Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the
bid from Brenntag in the amount of $1,095, plus
hazardous materials fees, for the purchase of chlorine for the Water Treatment
Plant, with funds to come from the Water Utility fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded
the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Personnel: Insurance
City Clerk Amy Burton requested authorization to sign an agreement
allowing Freedom Claims Management, Inc. to solicit employee health insurance
bids on the City’s behalf. Council
member Bret Andries moved to authorize the City Clerk
to sign the Consultant of Record Agreement and to authorize the Clerk to sign
similar type agreements in the future.
Council member Dena Patee seconded the
motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Campground: Policy
Mayor David McDaniel proposed Council approve a policy allowing local
non-profit groups, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, to use the Lakeside
Campground free of charge. Currently,
the groups must appear before Council to obtain approval. Mayor McDaniel would like for Council to
adopt a policy allowing the groups to use the campgrounds free of charge
without having to petition Council for approval. City Clerk Amy Burton explained that her
office is currently not authorized to grant free stays at the campground, and
that the groups have petitioned Council for approval in the past because it is
forgiveness of revenue for the City.
Council discussed the pros and cons of granting blanket authority to
allow these local non-profit groups to use the campgrounds at their discretion,
but came to a consensus that the groups should still appear before Council to
request approval. Therefore, no action
was taken.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented
the Comparative Water Report for the period February 10th – March 10th
and the current water well levels.
A resident has filed a medical claim regarding an injury due to the
uneven asphalt and curb and gutters on 14th Street from Monroe to
Walnut St. Mr. Scheuerman
added that 14th Street from Monroe to Madison has the same
issue. The areas could be patched to
avoid further injuries; however, Mr. Scheuerman
stated the patches won’t hold as the underlying asphalt and concrete are broken
up. It was the consensus
of Council to have the Public Works Department patch the areas as needed
and to budget for the proper repairs in 2019.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates reminded Council of the DARE graduation in
May. All officers have completed their
required 40 hours of training for the fiscal year.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Health Insurance Savings Report for
March. Blue Cross Blue Shield has
submitted their renewal proposals for employee dental and term life and
disability insurance. Ms. Burton will
include the proposal for consideration at the next Council meeting.
Interviews for summer swimming pool help will begin this week. Ashley Rohleder and
Alyssa Dawson have agreed to co-manage the pool again this year.
Council then entered into a lengthy discussion regarding the City’s
website. Tourism Committee member Dena Patee reported that efforts to obtain a grant to build a
new website appear to have fallen through.
Council directed Ms. Burton to contact our current web host provider to
gather more information about the City’s current site.
Attorney
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayoral committee appointments are to be made by the first of May. Mayor David McDaniel asked for Council
members to offer possible names for consideration.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session
at the request of Police Chief Taft Yates.
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 5 minutes to
discuss staffing in the Police Department pursuant to the non-elected personnel
matter exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) with Police Chief Taft Yates present. The open meeting will resume at 9:17 p.m. Bob Redger seconded the motion.
The motion carried 5-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open
meeting resumed.
Personnel: Exit
Police Chief Taft Yates announced that he will begin advertising for the
soon-to-be vacant position in the Police Department.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.
The motion carried 5-0. The
meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
___________________________________
Mayor
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City Clerk